Literacy for Environmental Justice was founded in 1998 to empower young people who envisioned a healthier future for their community. By tackling local environmental issues, LEJ enables local youth to enhance their well-being and in the process build a deeper connection to gardens, parks, and open spaces,
While environmental justice is always at the forefront of our work, LEJ’s programs reflect topics relevant to our community, such as flooding and food insecurity. Hands on experience growing locally sourced native plants, restoring Candlestick Point Park, and participating in environmental justice advocacy provides apprentices with the necessary green job and leadership skills they need to ensure future economic security. Our program is a safe and healing environment for young people to become confident in themselves, in their abilities and to see themselves as empowered contributors to a healthier community.
The best part of the program? All of this takes place in their own Bayview Hunters Point community.
In 2018, LEJ provided paid internships to 17 young adults, offered environmental learning and recreation programs to 481 youth, and grew & planted 1,691 native plants in public open spaces. Since 1998, LEJ has served over 20,000 low-income youth, including 130 ‘green-collar’ apprentices.
Click here to donate to LEJ and support this critical work.
To gain more insight into how the program impacts its participants, please meet, Quang Pham, one of our newest Eco-Apprentices.
I’m from SF and was raised in the Bayview area. I went to college in Las Vegas. I’m first generation Vietnamese-American and my family is originally from Phu Quy.
I have been with LEJ since August 2019. I joined LEJ to be more involved in my community after visiting my family in Vietnam and volunteering in the community doing street and park clean ups. I’ve seen a lack of change in the Bayview and the situation was similar to my family’s home. Seeing trash being dumped on the sidewalks in the Bayview and having trash wash up on the beaches on Vietnam. From seeing those situations in my life, I wanted to be more proactive with how I can better the environment in my community.
Being with LEJ, I have found opportunities to learn about my community by engaging and running volunteer events. I have learned a lot about the history, people, and area by being a part of these events. All the information that I have taken in helps me understand my community’s history more.
I want the opportunity to become a better leader to my peers, co-workers and family members. My goals for my time at LEJ are to develop my work skills and to have a better connection to the community.
— Quang Pham
Support LEJ’s work and the Eco-Apprentice program by making a donation!