Kim Gaddy and Amy Goldsmith

Amy (A) talks about how she and Kim (K) first met. A says she was on the search for a great organizer who could navigate Newark city hall.

K talks about what kept her at Clean Water Action (CWA): the great staff and mission of the company. K says her children had both been diagnosed with asthma and she realized through working with CWA on non-toxic cleaning products that the products she was using were causing increased asthma attacks in her children. K says there were also not many people of color in the field.

A talks about how CWA’s work has come a long way from dealing with cleaning products to tackling pollution.

A reflects on the long way that CWA has come from working on non-toxic cleaning products to passing national landmark legislation. A says she is motivated by her hatred of polluters for making everyone sick.

K says a lot of the constituent service work she did tied her environmental work to her job. She recalls talking with residents about lead and dust and seeing first hand how it was affecting their lives.

A recalls a training CWA did with highschool students where the students were asked to map their neighborhood. She says two students who went down the same street had completely different perspectives: one saw no issues and the other saw many such as trash, abandoned lots, etc. A said it reminded her how often we normalize bad things.

K emphasizes the importance of getting elected officials to understand the depth and breadth of environmental issues. She explains how CWA has been able to effectively communicate with and work with the mayor and council members.

A discusses the cumulative impact law and other big legislation CWA has been able to accomplish in regards to trash, waste, and warehouses. A adds that CWA has also been involved in issues of democracy.

A highlights the need to end the death cycle. She explains how even though more people in Newark were dying from asthma than from homicides, the homicides are what gets the attention and media coverage.

K and A discuss the importance of CWA’s canvassing team. They talk about how they trained and paid people from Newark to go out and canvas. A highlights why Kim as someone from Newark herself, has been pivotal in CWA’s canvassing success.

A recalls a training she did for the South Ward Environmental Alliance and how inspirational it was to see the fruits of Kim’s labor in creating an anchoring organization for the South Ward. K reflects on how the South Ward Environmental Alliance has been able to pour into individuals and create leaders in the community.

A expands on CWA’s involvement in minimizing waste at the Dodge Poetry Festival and training people to install solar power. A highlights CWA’s approach of getting people to think about the changes they would like to see in Newark and then having them be a part of the change. K talks about the Green Job Council for the state of New Jersey and how as the only environmentalist on the council, she emphasizes the need to have marginalized populations be a part of the workforce that moves New Jersey towards green, renewable energy.

A shares what she hopes her legacy at CWA will be: creating strong leadership to carry the baton. A says a green jobs agenda and banning fossil fuels is also important to her.

K shares her hopes: electing local leaders who are environmental champions. She talks about the prevalence of flooding in New Jersey and the importance of electing leaders who prioritize a sustainable city. “Our environment is everywhere,” K says.