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Youth Town Hall
WITH THE WHITE HOUSE
DEC 15, 2022
What's a Youth Town Hall
A youth town hall is a platform where elected officials and government leaders come together to discuss issues affecting young people. It serves as a forum for open dialogue, allowing young individuals to voice their concerns and ideas directly to decision-makers. Panelists, including elected officials and experts in relevant fields, actively engage with the youth participants, listen to their perspectives, and collaborate on finding solutions. The panelists play a crucial role in representing youth interests, incorporating their input into policymaking, and working toward positive change. These town halls promote inclusivity, and transparency, and empower young citizens to actively shape their communities and societies.
What is Environmental Justice?
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, concerning the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. It aims to ensure that no population, particularly those historically overburdened or marginalized, suffers disproportionately from environmental hazards or degradation. Environmental justice is a movement that recognizes the interconnections between social and environmental issues and seeks to address those issues holistically.
Who are the panelists?​
The panelists represent years of experience working with the Federal government and advocating for environmental justice. Learn more about them below!
Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome serves as the Senior Director for Environmental Justice with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, leading key initiatives of the Biden-Harris Administration such as the Justice40 initiative and the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.
Dr. White-Newsome formerly served as an Environmental Justice Policy Analyst for WE ACT for Environmental Justice, a Harlem, New York community-based environmental advocacy group, with a new office in Washington, D.C. She was the inaugural post-doctoral Kendall Fellow in Climate change and Public Health with the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Holly Wilson is a dedicated public servant who has made significant contributions to environmental protection and community engagement. Having served as the "Senior Advisor for Community Engagement" at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and currently working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), she has played a pivotal role in shaping policies and initiatives that prioritize sustainability and address pressing environmental challenges.
During her time at the CEQ, Holly Wilson worked tirelessly to ensure that the voices of local communities were heard and incorporated into environmental decision-making processes. She fostered collaboration among policymakers, stakeholders, and community leaders to promote inclusivity and environmental justice. Transitioning to the EPA, Holly Wilson continues to drive forward initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy, and advance sustainable practices across sectors.
LaTricea D. Adams is a proud native of Memphis, Tennessee, and is the Founding CEO & President of Black Millennials 4 Flint (BM4F), a national grassroots, environmental justice, and civil rights organization to bring like-minded organizations together to collectively take action and advocate against the crisis of lead exposure specifically in African American & Latinx communities throughout the nation.
LaTricea Adams is the youngest African American Woman appointed to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Ms. Adams is also a member of the Climate Power 2020 Michigan State Advisory Committee and the inaugural Chair of the Shelby County Lead Prevention and Sustainability Commission. In addition to her work in environmental justice, LaTricea has spent over a decade serving as an educator at both the classroom and district levels.