Krishna Polius, a PhD student in Environmental Science and Management, knows what it means to fight for a cleaner community. A geochemist by training, her experiences include testing drinking water during the crisis in Flint, Michigan, and serving in the AmeriCorps to raise awareness about water quality issues in New Jersey.<\/p>\n
Still, she was surprised by what she saw in Newark\u2019s Ironbound and the proximity of polluters to children playing in the streets. \u201cIt was startling to me because of the health risks,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
The industrial neighborhood \u2013 a concentration of factories and warehouses, a power plant, chemical refineries, the state\u2019s largest garbage incinerator and a Superfund site \u2013 has long been the focus of protests and activists dedicated to uplifting this overburdened community of color, continuing a fight for clean air and land.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stories we heard of the activism \u2013 what\u2019s been, what\u2019s in the works, what\u2019s going on \u2013 that aspect gave us hope,\u201d adds Leanna Sanchez \u201922, who joined Polius and other students in a ÌÇÐÄvlog Anthropology class for a tour around the Ironbound.<\/p>\n