The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was in Spartanburg on Sunday to present the ReGenesis Project with the 2009 Environmental Justice Achievement Award.
Praising the collaborative effort that made it happen, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was in Spartanburg on Sunday to present the ReGenesis Project with the 2009 Environmental Justice Achievement Award.
As part of the Congressional Black Caucus and EPA Environmental Justice Tour, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and several other agency officials recognized ReGenesis' executive director, state Rep. Harold Mitchell, for his long-term project addressing environmental hazards, economic development, health care and housing in the Arkwright community.
Mitchell also presented Jackson with a resolution from the S.C. General Assembly, and City Councilman Robert Reeder gave Jackson a key to the city.
Jackson, who in January 2009 became the first African-American to lead the EPA, told a standing-room-only crowd of city, county and state officials, as well as many community members, at the C.C. Woodson Community Center that environmentalism is not necessarily about mountain vistas and other open spaces in nature.
"Environmentalism is a city block," Jackson said, "environmentalism is a playground, environmentalism is a school, it is about a child with asthma. ..."
Jackson and other EPA officials applauded Mitchell's "tireless" work on the ReGenesis Project and said it has become an inspiration and a model for other programs and initiatives across the country.
Charles Lee, director of the EPA Office of Environmental Justice, called ReGenesis a "powerful testament to the vision of environmental justice and healthy, sustainable communities."
"We owe a debt of gratitude to (Mitchell)," Lee said. "His vision and passion galvanized the formation of the ReGenesis partnership that has led us on this remarkable journey. Your work is incredible, and you are truly an inspiration to the nation."
Lee said ReGenesis began with a $20,000 EPA grant in 1998, and since then more than $250 million has been leveraged in public and private funding through partnerships with more than 120 organizations.
Mitchell thanked many for helping to tackle what officials once called an "impossible task" in turning around neighborhoods filled with crack houses and numerous environmental concerns, but he began with the people of Arkwright.
"The one thing that we did have was the mark of the people within the community itself," said Mitchell, who added the project is still only about halfway complete. "We went through three mayors, four city managers, turnover on (City) Council, but the only thing that didn't change was a little acorn, which was you, the community, and that was the piece that kept everything moving here."