Meet your Site Leaders!
Gigi Gonsalves
Contact Information
Contact Information
- Phone number: 7062667004
- Email: ggonsalves770@gmail.com
- Impact email: impact.ftmyersfl.sb@gmail.com
- I was just walking through Tate when I stumbled upon a tabling event for IMPACT. I didn’t even know what IMPACT was, but after reading all the posters and talking with a few site leaders who’d not only gone on the trips but led them as well, I realized I definitely wanted to spend at least one of my breaks doing service. I chose the Food Justice trip in Durham, North Carolina, and it is one of the most influential, enlightening and wholesome trips I’ve ever participated in. I learned and gained so many new perspectives from it that I decided to help continue the flow of intentional service and knowledge and became a site leader myself.
- I’m really interested in sustainability, and one of the most important parts of sustainability is the way people interact with and within their natural environment. In regard to environmental justice, many people don’t have a say in how they interact with their environment or with natural occurrences because they’re socially limited by their income status, race, and/ or any other form of marginalized identification. I’m also interested in environmental justice because it’s a type of injustice that isn’t completely “in your face.” In other words, it can be hard to quickly or clearly see the effects of environmental injustice on a community. I want to not only help prevent those effects from occurring but raise awareness about the issue, as well.
- I studied abroad in Italy one summer and learned how to grow grapes and make wine!
Adia Aidoo
Contact information
I'm involved in a laundry list of organizations on and off-campus. I'm in the Redcoats, Young Democrats, Sigma Alpha Iota, UGA Whitewater Club, and I'm the President of the College Democrats of Georgia.
Contact information
- Phone number: (513)560-9493
- UGA email: aba81839@uga.edu
- Impact email: impact.ftmyersfl.sb@gmail.com
- I got into IMPACT through the open house that was in October. I had a great conversation with my future Site Leader (Christy ily 😊💖). That conversation really hyped me up and got me excited for going on a trip. I was super interested in the topic I applied for because it's an issue that affects the identities I belong to disproportionally.
- I'm interested in my trip because I think environmental justice is an issue that gets overlooked a lot. The adverse effects that occur as a result of environmental injustice/ racism often are long term so they're not obvious or they only affect lower-income areas and minority-majority areas so they are always in the public eye. I feel like people believe that climate change is an issue that's larger than individuals or a community, so they aren't aware of the local effects of climate change.
I'm involved in a laundry list of organizations on and off-campus. I'm in the Redcoats, Young Democrats, Sigma Alpha Iota, UGA Whitewater Club, and I'm the President of the College Democrats of Georgia.
Key Terms:
Environmental Justice- Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, culture, national origin, income, and educational levels with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of protective environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Pollution- the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse change
Climate Change- a change in global or regional climate patterns attributed largely to the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels
Conservation- preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife
Environmental health- The branch of public health that strives to understand how interactions with the environment can result in illness and death.
Environmental Racism- Environmental racism is a concept in the environmental justice movement, which developed throughout the 1970s and 1980s in the United States. The term is used to describe environmental injustice that occurs in practice and in policy within a racialized context.
Overburdened Community- Minority, low-income, tribal, or indigenous populations or geographic locations in the United States that potentially experience disproportionate environmental harms and risks. This disproportionality can be as a result of greater vulnerability to environmental hazards, lack of opportunity for public participation, or other factors. The increased vulnerability may be attributable to an accumulation of negative or lack of positive environmental, health, economic, or social conditions within these populations or places. The term describes situations where multiple factors, including both environmental and socio-economic stressors, may act cumulatively to affect health and the environment and contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.
Disproportionate Effects- Term used in Executive Order 12898 to describe situations of concern where there exist significantly higher and more adverse health and environmental effects on minority populations, low-income populations or indigenous peoples.
NIMBY- Not In My Backyard; the idea that certain groups of people don’t want unpleasant or potentially dangerous facilities in their own neighborhood, such as a landfill or hazardous waste facility. They also raise no objections to similar developments elsewhere
PIMBY- Places In Minorities’ Backyards; goes along with NIMBY in that the privileged people refusing the undesirable facilities in their own neighborhoods typically leads to those facilities being built in poor, disadvantaged, minority communities.
LULUs- Locally Unwanted Land Uses; a term used to describe those unwanted facilities that could reduce the value and safety of their homes and community
Green- a term used to imply that a service, product, or technology is environmentally
friendly (i.e. sustainable).
Green Economy- A rapidly growing billion-dollar sector that includes renewable energy sources, organic produce and products, green buildings, alternative fuel vehicles, and more
Green Wave- Refers to the exploding economic activity in the “environmentally sustainable”
sector (i.e. the Green Economy)
Social education- The building and sustaining of a caring community through a learning process that is intentional and integrated.
Superfund- A US federal government program designed to locate, investigate and clean up uncontrolled and abandoned toxic waste sites nationwide.
Environmental Justice in Athens:
Athens Land Trust- Athens Land Trust preserves land through conservation easements. ALT is committed to preserving many types of land, including woods, stream corridors, wetlands, wildlife habitat, productive farms and forests, historic sites, and scenic vistas. This “green infrastructure” helps sustain clean air and water, biodiversity, water supply and productive soils.
Clean Air Campaign- A nonprofit organization that helps Georgians to take action to improve air quality and reduce traffic that is working with government agencies, employers, schools and residents in Athens to help motivate commuters to use alternatives to driving alone to work, such as riding Athens Transit, carpooling, teleworking, vanpooling, biking and walking.
Georgia Climate Change Coalition- A group of citizens and organizations that aims to increase awareness about climate change through education, advocacy, and action.
Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful- A non-profit organization working to educate and empower citizens and businesses to take action as environmental stewards of litter prevention, waste reduction, and beautification.
Rivers Alive- An annual event where hundreds of volunteers come together to clean and protect our local rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.
Sandy Creek Nature Center Inc.- A private non-profit organization that partners with Athens-Clarke County to support, promote and protect the environmental education and preservation work of Sandy Creek Nature Center.
Wild Intelligence- The goal at Wild Intelligence is to care for the Earth and our children by awakening and strengthening our connections with nature, community, and self. Offers programs teaching nature awareness and skills.
Environmental Justice at UGA:
Bag the Bag- A group of concerned individuals advocating for the reduction of single-use plastic waste while promoting sustainable and reusable alternatives.
Odum School of Ecology- The mission of the UGA Odum School of Ecology is to advance ecological knowledge and understanding through a comprehensive search for principles and patterns regarding how organisms interact with each other and with their environment.
UGA Office of Sustainability- Coordinates sustainability initiatives on the university campus in the areas of teaching, research, service & outreach, student engagement, and campus operations. This mission includes efforts to reduce energy and water use, improve air and water quality, provide sustainable food and transportation options, minimize waste, and increase recycling.
UGArden- UGArden is a student-run learning and demonstration farm located just south of the main University of Georgia campus. The mission of UGArden is to build a community of students centered on a sustainable food system.
Watershed UGA- A town & gown initiative to involve the UGA and Athens community in restoring the health of tributary streams to the Oconee River, transforming them into a living laboratory through teaching, research, and service.
Environmental Justice- Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, culture, national origin, income, and educational levels with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of protective environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Pollution- the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse change
Climate Change- a change in global or regional climate patterns attributed largely to the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels
Conservation- preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife
Environmental health- The branch of public health that strives to understand how interactions with the environment can result in illness and death.
Environmental Racism- Environmental racism is a concept in the environmental justice movement, which developed throughout the 1970s and 1980s in the United States. The term is used to describe environmental injustice that occurs in practice and in policy within a racialized context.
Overburdened Community- Minority, low-income, tribal, or indigenous populations or geographic locations in the United States that potentially experience disproportionate environmental harms and risks. This disproportionality can be as a result of greater vulnerability to environmental hazards, lack of opportunity for public participation, or other factors. The increased vulnerability may be attributable to an accumulation of negative or lack of positive environmental, health, economic, or social conditions within these populations or places. The term describes situations where multiple factors, including both environmental and socio-economic stressors, may act cumulatively to affect health and the environment and contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.
Disproportionate Effects- Term used in Executive Order 12898 to describe situations of concern where there exist significantly higher and more adverse health and environmental effects on minority populations, low-income populations or indigenous peoples.
NIMBY- Not In My Backyard; the idea that certain groups of people don’t want unpleasant or potentially dangerous facilities in their own neighborhood, such as a landfill or hazardous waste facility. They also raise no objections to similar developments elsewhere
PIMBY- Places In Minorities’ Backyards; goes along with NIMBY in that the privileged people refusing the undesirable facilities in their own neighborhoods typically leads to those facilities being built in poor, disadvantaged, minority communities.
LULUs- Locally Unwanted Land Uses; a term used to describe those unwanted facilities that could reduce the value and safety of their homes and community
Green- a term used to imply that a service, product, or technology is environmentally
friendly (i.e. sustainable).
Green Economy- A rapidly growing billion-dollar sector that includes renewable energy sources, organic produce and products, green buildings, alternative fuel vehicles, and more
Green Wave- Refers to the exploding economic activity in the “environmentally sustainable”
sector (i.e. the Green Economy)
Social education- The building and sustaining of a caring community through a learning process that is intentional and integrated.
Superfund- A US federal government program designed to locate, investigate and clean up uncontrolled and abandoned toxic waste sites nationwide.
Environmental Justice in Athens:
Athens Land Trust- Athens Land Trust preserves land through conservation easements. ALT is committed to preserving many types of land, including woods, stream corridors, wetlands, wildlife habitat, productive farms and forests, historic sites, and scenic vistas. This “green infrastructure” helps sustain clean air and water, biodiversity, water supply and productive soils.
Clean Air Campaign- A nonprofit organization that helps Georgians to take action to improve air quality and reduce traffic that is working with government agencies, employers, schools and residents in Athens to help motivate commuters to use alternatives to driving alone to work, such as riding Athens Transit, carpooling, teleworking, vanpooling, biking and walking.
Georgia Climate Change Coalition- A group of citizens and organizations that aims to increase awareness about climate change through education, advocacy, and action.
Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful- A non-profit organization working to educate and empower citizens and businesses to take action as environmental stewards of litter prevention, waste reduction, and beautification.
Rivers Alive- An annual event where hundreds of volunteers come together to clean and protect our local rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.
Sandy Creek Nature Center Inc.- A private non-profit organization that partners with Athens-Clarke County to support, promote and protect the environmental education and preservation work of Sandy Creek Nature Center.
Wild Intelligence- The goal at Wild Intelligence is to care for the Earth and our children by awakening and strengthening our connections with nature, community, and self. Offers programs teaching nature awareness and skills.
Environmental Justice at UGA:
Bag the Bag- A group of concerned individuals advocating for the reduction of single-use plastic waste while promoting sustainable and reusable alternatives.
Odum School of Ecology- The mission of the UGA Odum School of Ecology is to advance ecological knowledge and understanding through a comprehensive search for principles and patterns regarding how organisms interact with each other and with their environment.
UGA Office of Sustainability- Coordinates sustainability initiatives on the university campus in the areas of teaching, research, service & outreach, student engagement, and campus operations. This mission includes efforts to reduce energy and water use, improve air and water quality, provide sustainable food and transportation options, minimize waste, and increase recycling.
UGArden- UGArden is a student-run learning and demonstration farm located just south of the main University of Georgia campus. The mission of UGArden is to build a community of students centered on a sustainable food system.
Watershed UGA- A town & gown initiative to involve the UGA and Athens community in restoring the health of tributary streams to the Oconee River, transforming them into a living laboratory through teaching, research, and service.
