Learning from local leaders about Environmental Justice | Waterfront Ambassadors photo diary

ABOVE: The Waterfront Ambassadors met with Kannan Thiruvengadam, Director of Eastie Farm

For their third week of stewardship and community projects in and around East Boston, the Waterfront Ambassadors met with local leaders to learn about climate change and environmental justice.  

“This week our theme was ‘deepening relationships,’” noted Jessica Zhou, Waterfront Ambassadors Assistant Program Manager. “We had the privilege of learning from many organizations who are leaders within, and advocates for, their own communities. The concept of environmental justice was brought up in almost every activity we participated in, giving the Ambassadors insights into some of the important steps that local organizations are taking to create positive change.” 

Over the course of the week the Ambassadors partnered with: Malú Rivas-Chavez and Amelia Murray-Cooper, interns from Speak for the Trees, to learn about the importance of tree identification and the benefits of trees in Boston neighborhoods; Kannan Thiruvengadam, Director of Eastie Farm, to help with stewardship work at their new site, The Secret Garden; and Melinda Vega, Community Building/Environment Coordinator at Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH), for an informational tour around East Boston.  

For this week's photo diary, the Ambassadors shared some of their favorite photos and moments from their week of partnership work and learning:  

On July 23rd The Trustees Waterfront Ambassadors went on a tour around East Boston learning about environmental justice and how the NOAH organization fought to save green spaces in the East Boston neighborhood. -Jeffrey

On July 23rd The Trustees Waterfront Ambassadors went on a tour around East Boston learning about environmental justice and how the NOAH organization fought to save green spaces in the East Boston neighborhood. -Jeffrey

This photo was taken when we did some work with Speak for the Trees. We were learning about different trees and how they help the environment. Also, how we wrote it all down in chalk on the ground so people can read about them. -Kevin

On July 23rd, the Waterfront Ambassadors went on a tour with the organization NOAH.  We explored the neighborhood of East Boston and learned about their fight for environmental justice. -Angela

On July 23rd, the Waterfront Ambassadors went on a tour with the organization NOAH.  We explored the neighborhood of East Boston and learned about their fight for environmental justice. -Angela

On Monday, the ambassadors were out and about, identifying trees with Speak for the Trees. This is a picture of a bunny I saw while walking. -Emily

I found this picture fascinating since this plot used to be untended and trashed but with the help of NOAH and Eastie Farms, Our Garden became a community garden.  It improves the environment by making use of collected storm water, providing pollen for organisms, cleaning the air, and providing residents the opportunity to grow and enjoy fresh produce. -Gloriann

I chose this picture because you can see how beautiful the garden is, and how much it has grown in the last few years. Also, there is so much green in this picture, which helps our community and all the people who live around it. -Joel

I took this picture while on our walk around East Boston (Our Garden). I picked this photo because I like the different type of colors and the people in the background. It shows the different type of flowers they grow in the garden and that people come to relax and enjoy the area. -Kayla

On Wednesday, we went on a scavenger hunt and as we explored the list of things to find, one of them was a seal (outside of the aquarium). There were many things on the list, but the seal was what really attracted my eye and I wonder how it got there and if it’s happy there. -Nailyn

These pictures were taken at Eastie Farm while the Ambassadors were on a tour around East Boston with the organization, NOAH. -Priya

These pictures were taken at Eastie Farm while the Ambassadors were on a tour around East Boston with the organization, NOAH. -Priya

As humans, we’re extremely self-involved so we don’t notice what the other living things around us are doing. If you look closely at photos from one of the Eastie Farm gardens, you can spot a butterfly and some bees at work. Though I don’t know what these insects are doing, I know they are simply trying to survive, just like we are. We could learn something from them—you can help yourself without being detrimental to the natural environment. -Quin

As humans, we’re extremely self-involved so we don’t notice what the other living things around us are doing. If you look closely at photos from one of the Eastie Farm gardens, you can spot a butterfly and some bees at work. Though I don’t know what these insects are doing, I know they are simply trying to survive, just like we are. We could learn something from them—you can help yourself without being detrimental to the natural environment. -Quin

I took this picture while on a tour of East Boston with the organization NOAH. In this picture, you can see the different levels of blurriness occurring where the yellow leaf cannot be seen clearly while the leaves behind are seen perfectly. Overall, it was a cool sight. -Sergio

To learn more about the Waterfront Ambassadors and see past blog posts visit: onewaterfront.thetrustees.org/ambassadors