The Legacy Project at County College of Morris presents dynamic environmental programs
RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – The Legacy Project at County College of Morris (CCM) presents two dynamic programs on New Jersey and the environment this month.
The first event is a lecture and Q&A on environmental justice in New Jersey, while the second event is a film screening and Q&A with the film’s producer and director. Both events are free and open to the public.
Lecture and Q&A with Melissa Miles: “Environmental Justice in New Jersey”
The first event, a lecture and Q&A with Melissa Miles on “Environmental Justice in New Jersey” will take place on Tuesday, April 16, at 12:30 p.m. in Sheffield Hall 100.
Miles is an environmental and climate justice advocate who began her career as a community organizer while living in an environmental justice community in Newark. She holds an M.A. in Anthropology from The New School yet maintains that her knowledge of environmental justice is rooted in her lived experience, the training she received from veteran organizers and her accountability to her community.
Miles is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, which is an alliance of New Jersey organizations and individuals committed to creating healthy, sustainable and just communities by eliminating environmental injustices in low income and communities of color. She is a recipient of the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for her work on the landmark Environmental Justice Law (2020).
She serves as co-chair of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Additionally, she is a steering committee member of the Coalition for Healthy Ports and is the Environmental Justice Director for the New Jersey Reparations Council. Melissa is also a proud alum of the inaugural cohort of the Environmental Justice Disrupt Design Fellowship of the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School.
Film Screening and Q&A: “American River”
The second event, a film screening of “American River” and a discussion with its producer and director, Scott Morris, will take place on Wednesday, April 17, at 6:30 p.m. in Dragonetti Auditorium.
“American River” is an 86-minute documentary film that follows Mary Bruno and guide Carl Alderson on a four-day, 80-mile adventure down the Passaic River, from its pristine source in a wildlife refuge in Morris County to its toxic mouth in Newark Bay. The river’s amazing history, geology and ecology are revealed as the kayakers navigate challenges, travel through urban landscapes and head toward the industrial disaster that has poisoned the Passaic River for the past 60 years.
The film premiered at the 2021 Montclair International Film Festival in four sold-out screenings and won Audience Awards for Best of Festival and Best Documentary at the 2021 Teaneck International Film Festival. The screening event is co-sponsored by The Great Swamp Watershed Association.
The Legacy Project at CCM is an interdisciplinary initiative that presents engaging lectures for students, faculty, staff and members of the public. The events present an opportunity for audience members to learn important academic lessons outside the traditional classroom setting.
RSVPs are requested for both events by emailing The Legacy Project at legacy@ccm.edu.
