students MONITOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS CLIMATE ADVOCATES
Philadelphia ranks as one of the nation's 25 worst metro areas for ozone and year-round particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association. The air quality is primarily affected by ozone, a gas pollutant. Unfortunately, people of color living in low-income communities are disproportionately impacted by this environmental crisis, especially in West Philadelphia. This is why a group of high school students in the area started a Youth Environmental Justice Council to monitor air, water, and soil and keep the community informed.
CLICK ON PHOTO TO MONITOR AIR QUALITY
STUDENT EMPOWERMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
As future community leaders who advocate for change, we learn about the impact of climate and pollution on the local environment. Thanks to grants and sponsorships, we are given the opportunity to voice environmental justice concerns to local elected officials, state legislators, and the community at large. Since starting WPYEJC, we’ve appeared on talk radio shows, Facebook Live and traveled to the state capital to advocate for clean air, water preservation, and prevention of soil contamination.
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
Each summer students spend six weeks engaging in experiential learning using environmental coursework, scientific experiments in a laboratory, and field trips to collect sample materials. Data collected during 2025 includes water, soil and air samples collected this summer. We’re analyzing these samples and will let you know what we find. With thousands of residents living in the West Philadelphia area, the risk of increased asthma rates
and lead in water are issues of concern.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
CCCEEC, Inc. has a grassroots effort o keep communities healthy. Our Youth Council started a movement in the summer of 2022 to advocate for “Clean and Green” alleys. We wrote letters to city officials and state legislators to complain about grungy alleys cluttered with debris and overgrowth of weeds. This effort resulted in Senator Anthony H. Williams providing funds in 2023 for CCCEEC, Inc. to implement a pilot program in West Philly to clean and maintain the alleys. So far, 55 alleys have been cleaned.
SUSTAINABILITY INTERNSHIP
SUSTAINABILITY INTERNSHIP
WPYEJC has 16 new members who joined this year as Sustainability Interns. Our new members are studying environmental impacts that are prevalent in West Philadelphia, due to contamination by former industries. Sustainability Interns test for the presence or the potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants in the local air, soil and water and create a report. The program offers topic-specific training that is allowing us to conduct a green audit on our school and write a sustainability plan.
WATER PRESERVATION
SUSTAINABILITY INTERNSHIP
WATER PRESERVATION
As part of the Sustainability Internship, our new members are learning how freshwater mussels provide filtration and clean water coming from the Delaware River watershed. Each mussel can filter 10 gallons of water a day. During a field trip to the Discovery Center this past summer, we explored measuring freshwater mussels. As a community partner, the Discovery Center provides an opportunity for a hands-on data collection experience that illuminated the filtering benefits of freshwater mussels.
THE SCIENCE LAB
SUSTAINABILITY INTERNSHIP
WATER PRESERVATION
A state-of-the-art laboratory located at the Environmental Center in Cobbs Creek is complete with scientific equipment. As members of WPYEJC, we have access to a variety of educational programs to engage us in experiential learning, including collecting and analyzing water and plant samples from the two different creeks, a wetland and four trails in Cobbs Creek Park. This unique experience includes hands-on projects that exposes youth to future jobs and careers in science and environmental sustainability.
GRANT LAUNCHES CIVIC EDUCATION PILOT IN WEST PHILADELPHIA
The Honorable Joanna McClinton, Speaker of the PA House of Representatives, has again sponsored a grant from the PA Dept. of Education. CCCEEC, Inc. is bringing We, The People -- Elevating Student Voice Through Civic Education to eight high schools in West and Southwest Philadelphia. This is an opportunity for students in The Philadelphia School District to participate in a model nonpartisan civics program where their voice is heard, understood, and acted upon.
Our Youth Council views democracy and the right to vote as a way to advocate for social and environmental justice. As partners with this program, WPYEJC members are given the opportunity to voice environmental and social justice concerns to local elected officials, state legislators, and the community at large.
