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Being at Clean Water for almost a year has been one of the best working experiences I have ever had in my career. Bob Wendelgass, Clean Water’s President and CEO and Michael Bochynski, DC's State Director, have inspired me and supported me in ways I could have never imagined. I love my work as an eco-feminist in Washington, DC and it has been very rewarding as I work on climate change issues in disfavored communities for the Anacostia Parks and Community Collaborative.

Brenda Lee Richardson

Our celebration continues! February marks Black History Month in America, a time to reflect on important advancements and milestones in history and honor those who sacrificed and impacted the Black movement for justice and equality. And while we must look back to see the tremendous progress we have made; it is also important to uplift and celebrate Black leaders of today – Clean Water leaders.

Today’s Black History Water Champion is Brenda Lee Richardson, who coordinates the work of the Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative, a coalition of groups in the communities west of the Anacostia River in Washington DC. Brenda is a long-time eco-feminist and has been working on welfare reform, environmental justice, economic development, education, behavioral health, and health issues for the past 30 years. Before joining the Clean Water team, Brenda was a volunteer in APACC. Brenda is also a business owner serving as President of Chozen Consulting LLC, a consulting company that focuses on community engagement, facilitation, training and government relations, and is the Principal for "Women Like Us," an initiative that focuses on design thinking for woman. She has and continues to displayed passion and commitment to her work and and is deserving of this recognition.

Congratulations Brenda Lee Richardson! You are a Clean Water Champion.

Black History Month Water Champion: Brenda Lee Richards is a Water Champion
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Introducing Brenda Lee Richardson

An Interview with Brenda Richardson

Learn More About Brenda's Work

Citizens’ Poplar Point Working Group

The Citizens Poplar Point Working Group is a broad-based, collaborative effort of residents interested in the future of the Poplar Point area of the District of Columbia. Three respected DC-based nonprofit organizations joined forces to create the citizens’ working group: The Anacostia Coordinating Council, the Anacostia Park and Community Collaborative, and the DC Environmental Network.

The Anacostia Park & Community Collaborative

Clean Water is demonstrating what environmental justice looks like in action by organizing among first-line community groups and grassroots leaders in the Anacostia watershed. The Anacostia is an almost 9 mile long river situated among several working class African American neighborhoods and historically black communities in the east end of the greater Washington D.C. metro region.

Environmental Justice in Anacostia Park

Anacostia Park is a 1200 acre park system adjacent to the Anacostia River, managed by the National Park Service. It is a greenspace that has and still does play an important role in the culture and community health of several predominantly Black neighborhoods in Southeast and Northeast D.C. Advocacy to support investments in the stewardship and infrastructural maintenance of Anacostia park has been a long-standing challenge.