Environmental Justice…for Who? On the Power of Storytelling With Arielle V. King

When we talk of environmental justice, whose stories are told? Whose stories get left behind? And what’s at stake for all of us when we only hear stories from certain parts of the community?

This week’s podcast guest, Arielle V. King, is here to help answer these questions. Arielle V. King is a strategist and The Joy Report host with training in environmental law, civil rights, and environmental justice, including research on the Flint water crisis.

Arielle’s work on the Flint Water Crisis opened her eyes to the power of storytelling. Feeling like the real story was not being shared, she traveled to Flint and talked to directors of homeless shelters, firefighters, leaders of places of worship, and people who worked at grocery stores - she interviewed anybody and everybody she could.

This experience was a direct look at the way communities of color are plagued by environmental racism. She shared other examples such as Cancer Alley and the South Bronx’s “Asthma Alley,” rooted in redlining and layered policy. We also discussed a growing environmental injustice: data center expansion.

Arielle shared that staying curious is what strengthens our ability to radically imagine a better future. What inspired me most about Arielle was her willingness not only to ask the tough, uncomfy questions, but also to persist until she gets answers. She lets her curiosity guide her and encourages us all to keep asking why.

Listen now to find out how Arielle has been unwinding lately!

Find out more about Arielle’s work and listen to the Joy Report.

Support the podcast: patreon.com/c/unwindmovementmedia

Find zines, take classes with Carly, and more: unwindmovementmedia.com

Follow on Substack: unwindmovementmedia.substack.com

Music produced by M Baxley of Bear Witness Media