La’Meshia Whittington-Kaminski is Deputy Political Director for Advance Carolina and Organizing Campaigns Director for the NC Black Alliance.

In this episode La’Meshia explains how the environmental justice movement began in North Carolina and the disproportionate impacts that low-income communities and communities of color have faced in the state, including GenX in drinking water, pollution from factory farms, and hurricane damage. She discusses the role political maps - specifically gerrymandering - has played and why there is a lack of public awareness of environmental justice issues. La’Meshia says that organizations have improved situations for communities through partnerships, communication, and grassroots support.