 DC Environmental Justice Program |
Regional Projects: Washington, D.C.
Campaign Highlights Sierra Club organizer Irv Sheffey first got involved with the Sierra Club as a volunteer doing tree plantings throughout the city with the Casey Trees Endowment. Today, as the DC Environmental Justice organizer, Irv continues to work with local communities on tree plantings and clean-up. In addition, Irv has convened numerous conferences, community events, and educational talks to raise awareness about the numerous environmental justice issues facing the nation's capitol. Of DC's Anacostia River, Irv has said, "This river runs through the African-American community in the District and its neglect is reflected in those communities, as are its hopes. In restoring the river, we also restore the possibilities of those who live along it." In 2007 the DC EJ Program had a number of major accomplishments, including assisting in the formation of the Ward 8 Environmental Council, a group responsible for identifying environmental issues and needs of the greater Anacostia community. The group hosted the first East of the River Eco-Expo, which brought together forty federal and district agencies, environmental organizations and eco-centric businesses directly to the attention of over 200 residents of the Ward 7 and 8 communities. Over four hundred volunteers were enrolled in various projects related to the restoration and cleaning of up tributaries of the Anacostia River. Over 2000 pounds of trash and debris was removed from along the shores of these creeks as part of a concerted regional effort to have a trash free Anacostia by the year 2012. The EJ Program also participated in many events such as, four formal presentations/panel discussions on environmental justice and matters related to the Sierra Club's work in the District of Columbia. These events were sponsored by George Washington University, the Environmental Law Society of the University of the District of Columbia, the American College of Cardiology and Alice Ferguson Foundation Trash Free Potomac Conference. Irv has also been involved in educating residents about new, green jobs in Washington. In February 2008 Irv and the Sierra Club EJ program co-sponsored a highly successful event entitled "Planting Seeds for a Green DC: A Community Briefing and Mini-Charrette on Green Collar Jobs and Green Business". Community members and representatives from the green building and numerous other industry sectors packed a large church in Southeast Washington, DC- a clear example of green jobs in action. Learn More
About the Organizer Originally from New York City, Sheffey attended Queensborough Community College and the State University of New York at Old Westbury before completing his undergraduate studies at Antioch College's Baltimore/ Washington campus in Human Services Administration. Sheffey has served as a caseworker advocating for the homeless and as a youth advocate in Washington, DC. Working to improve service delivery in nonprofits and the public sector, Sheffey has consulted in training staff and administrators in supervisory, managerial, team-building and other human development skills. Sheffey earned a Masters of Science in environmental studies from Antioch New England graduate school and is a self-trained naturalist. He volunteered as a docent with the New York Botanical Garden, leading tours of their forest for children and adults. He loves trees and first connected with the Sierra Club while planting hundreds of trees throughout Washington, DC as a Citizen Forester with the Casey Trees Endowment. Get Involved To learn more about the Washington, DC, EJ program or to find out how you can help, email Irv Sheffey at irv.sheffey@sierraclub.org. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club |
