Beverly Wright, Ph.D. – Founder and Executive Director - is a professor of Sociology and the founding director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ). For more than a decade, she has been a leading scholar, advocate, and activist in the environmental justice arena. She has created a unique center, formerly at Xavier University, and currently at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. The DSCEJ is one of the few community/university partnerships that addresses environmental and health inequities in the Lower Mississippi River Industrial Corridor, the area commonly referred to as Cancer Alley.

Since Hurricane Katrina, much of the work at the DSCEJ has focused on research, policy, and community outreach, assistance, and education of displaced African-American residents of New Orleans. Dr. Wright has been an advocate of the safe return of residents, addressing the critical issues of health and environmental restoration and monitoring fairness as it relates to standards of clean up. The center has been a resource to the community providing education, training, and job placement to displaced citizens of New Orleans.

Dr. Wright served as chair of the Second National People of Color Leadership Summit in 2002, and is the co-chair of the Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative. In 2003, Dr. Wright was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, and in 2006, was the recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Award. She continues to serve as a strong voice of the grassroots environmental justice movement.  504-816-4005, bhwright@aol.com.

Deborah Bates, BS – Project Specialist - recruits community residents to participate in training efforts, sets up and administers training for small businesses and contractors, and conducts environmental inspections and assessments of homes in target communities. Ms. Bates is a certified Lead Inspector and licensed realtor.  She also has training in OSHA 1910 guidelines. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Southern University at Baton Rouge. 504-816-4025, Dhbates10@aol.com.

Celeste Cooper, BA – Executive Assistant –She maintains travel schedules for staff and project consultants. She assists in the preparation of all documents including grant reports and presentations at conferences. She prepares and maintains detailed records of all fiscal transactions related to grant activities. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Xavier University of Louisiana. 504-816-4005, ccooper@dillard.edu.

Myra M. Lewis, Ph.D. – Assistant Director – assists the director in all matters related to the design, implementation, and administration of the Minority Worker Training grant. She works with the director to ensure successful implementation of all program components. Dr. Lewis works closely with the grant partners in coordinating outreach activities, oversee the administrative aspects of basic skills training, work with consultants to assure compliance on all grant matters, supervise the activities of the program manager, job developer, community outreach coordinator, and assure the expenditures for the grant remain within the specified parameters. She has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education with an emphasis in Multi-cultural Counseling from the University of New Orleans. 504-816-4036, mmarlewis@aol.com.

Tran Paul, BA – Job Placement Specialist - coordinates job activity in the region with other job development personnel at other sites, maintains records of technical training conducted, notifies the state of pending training sessions, submits documentation to the state for licensing, and prepares and maintains student files, inclusive of certifications conferred within the programs. Mr. Paul has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Southern University Baton Rouge. 504-816-4037, tranpaul2@aol.com.

Ebony C. Turner, Ph.D. – Program Manager for Education and Training -  responsible for collecting all data and reports from all sites, and entering data for all program sites. She coordinates weekly conferences and be responsible for the day-to-day workings of the New Orleans program, and will have primary responsibility for the Community Outreach/IRecruitment and the Education and Training component. She will be responsible for maintaining student records, and producing basic training program reports. She will also interface with the fiscal manager on matters regarding student incentives and consultant salaries, and will assist in the training of staff members at the Detroit and Baton Rouge sites. She has a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University. 504-816-4022, turner1596@aol.com.

Mary I. Williams, M.Ed. – Program Manager for Community Outreach – Develops and administers community outreach activities for the Minority Worker Training program, Mississippi River Avatar Advisory Board and the Katrina Survivors’ Board. Her duties also include establishing networking and resource opportunities to community residents, corresponding with board members, conducting board meetings, and sharing educational information through seminars and workshops. She is counseling coordinator for the Minority Worker Training program. She also develops and implements workshops, toxic tours, and volunteer opportunities for the Students for Environmental Justice Club. She has a Masters in Counselor Education from the University of New Orleans. 504-816-4028, mivorywill@aol.com.

Environmental Justice Intern

Kristen Mitchell – Environmental Justice Intern – Is a senior at Xavier University of Louisiana majoring in Political Science. Kristen conducts research on miscellaneous environmental topics, assists with the logistics of meetings and conferences, assists with assembling course materials, and is a contributing writer for the student section of the Environmental Justice Voice Newsletter. She also assists with developing and implementing activities for the Students for Environmental Justice Club.