Originally published in State of the Lehigh Valley 2021, Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) Peter K. Crownfield, Internship Coordinator, Alliance for Sustainable Communities – Lehigh Valley; and Devon Jewell, Junior at Moravian Academy The most basic level of environmental justice is making sure that poor or minority communities, often called ‘EJ … [Read more...] about The Future Of Environmental Justice
Voices of the Valley
‘Fragile Beauty’
by Tara Zrinsky “The gentle entanglement of vines and grass form an image that is both beautiful and fragile. At any moment, a single strand could be pulled to unravel what has been crafted and crowned with and silenced by a single rose. Yet, if you look long enough and the features of the intense stare, a delicate nose and strong jaw line subtly reveal the vulnerability … [Read more...] about ‘Fragile Beauty’
Seeing in the Dark
by Kate Brandes 5:45 PM. The sun sets in ten minutes. I leave my house and walk down Linden Lane in the direction of the woods and open fields. I carry no flashlight, no phone. My intention is to walk out there in the dark, alone. This walk is inspired by another one a few weeks ago when I chaperoned my fourth grader’s overnight field trip to the Poconos. … [Read more...] about Seeing in the Dark
Bicycling in Bethlehem
by Angelys Hernandez, William Rodriguez, & Scott Schaffer This is about our need for a Bike Park: Bethlehem is one of the many known cities in Pennsylvania. The people of Bethlehem, love the environment and beauty of the city. With the culture and popularity of Bethlehem, many want to see us grow into even a better city. One group, and a large one is those who love … [Read more...] about Bicycling in Bethlehem
Let’s Talk Solar
by Emely Rodriguez * The Lehigh Valley has already made changes to create a cleaner, more sustainable future for our community. For example, Allentown installed solar panels on their courthouses in 2010, public transportation buses became hybrid electric buses in 2014, yet there is so much more our community can do. Becoming a more sustainable community starts with … [Read more...] about Let’s Talk Solar
Addressing Climate Change
by Matt Subjin Climate change is one of the biggest issues of our lifetime and there is more we can do as a community and as a city to both reduce its impact, and lower our carbon footprint. Liberals are one of the biggest groups that will support my call to action because they want more action to be taken as a community and government to help stop climate change. … [Read more...] about Addressing Climate Change
“No. It’s Capitalism, Stupid.”
by Gary Olson The title is a riff on James Carville’s disingenuous (and stupid) phrase from 1992 when he was Bill Clinton’s campaign director. Carville’s pithy quip, “It’s the economy, stupid,” became the campaign’s de facto slogan. It functioned as a clever ruse to help Clinton beat Bush by pandering to workers and creating the impression that his policies would actually … [Read more...] about “No. It’s Capitalism, Stupid.”
american soil
by Eden Bailie there were only elements and planetary breaths, water cooling magma, birth, creation-eating-creation, fungi feeding from a purer deathno cathedrals for praise, only treetops, trees for everyonewith swaying leaf steeples reaching up and out to touch a creator’s fingertipand early-age worshippers led home in quiet night forests by shaman oaks. then theft, … [Read more...] about american soil
Dance of the Blossoms
Elaheh Farmand Baba looked out the window into the dark alley. Anxiously, he began tapping on the window ledge with the fingers of his right hand as he held on to the other side with his left. He began to whistle. He always whistled when he was worried. “Ey baba, kojast? Where is she?” Baba asked out loud. His little girl entered the room, and stood behind him. “Baba? … [Read more...] about Dance of the Blossoms
Remembering Martin Boksenbaum
Nancy Tate Martin Boksenbaum, a LEPOCO supporter since the 1980s and a Lehigh Valley leader on much work for the environment and in building community, died on August 7. His work and his dedication to that work is missed by so many including LEPOCO. Martin Boksenbaum and Janet Goloub came to the Lehigh Valley in 1980. They first lived in Allentown and then in … [Read more...] about Remembering Martin Boksenbaum