ENGAGE FOR CHANGE JOURNAL WELCOME-SPRING 2022 Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Engage for Change Journal! This new digital, community-based journal is affiliated with Millersville University and focused on Lancaster County and the surrounding area. The Journal, to be published once a year, focuses on public engagement and issues affecting the community. To be truly inclusive, submissions come from undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, our Lancaster GAIL E. GASPARICH County community members, and collaborations within and between the University and community. Contributions can be made in a variety of forms including evidence-based research and impact articles, common ground articles (to highlight different perspectives and where these views might intersect to make progress), creative articles, perspective articles, as well as reviews, resident recognitions, and resident critiques. The Journal has several goals including: “providing a platform for sharing research and perceptions on social, political, and economic issues; integrating diverse voices from students, faculty, and members of the community on key public issues; promoting collaboration, engagement, and exchange of ideas on public issues affecting the community; operating as an outlet for discovering ideas, strategies, and actions to support the community; and, perhaps most importantly, serving as a potential pathway and catalyst for change.” The mission of the Engage for Change Journal is “to identify relevant public issues affecting the community; facilitate understandings of public issues through research, critical reflection, and discussion; provide an outlet for community members to express their informed and researched perceptions on issues; and represent diverse voices from Millersville students, staff, and members of the Lancaster community.” The tag line, engage in what matters, is well-aligned with the Millersville University EPPIIC value of Public Mission. As a public institution, Millersville University is committed to engaging with our community partners on issues of concerns to bring about a change hat benefits the region. This first issue covers the very timely topic of Environmental Justice. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines Environmental Justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.” (www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/learn-about-environmental-justice) Examples of cases in environmental justice sometimes make the news when they become egregious such as the case of high levels of lead in the drinking water in Flint, Michigan and communities in Arizona dealing with contaminated water, air and soil due to uranium mining. In both cases, the contamination overwhelmingly impacted marginalized and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Studies have shown that trash processing plants and hazardous waste sites are disproportionately found in or near socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, where those that live there have little political voice and the inability to move. Additionally, these are the same communities that experience food deserts and a lack of healthy foods. This first issue of the Engage for Change Journal focuses on environmental justice issues in the Lancaster region. Articles include the decrease in pollinating bees and the impact that might have on farms, sewage in the Susquehanna, agricultural run-off, environmental racism, and homelessness in the region. All are meant to educate and provide opportunities for the local and regional community to engage in what matters and work to bring about change where needed. I hope you are able to find something in this issue that engages you and calls you to action for the benefit of your community. Stay healthy,
FOUNDER AND CO-EDITOR
Kerrie R.H. Farkas, English & World Languages Co-Editor: Tatiana Pashkova-Balkenhol, McNairy Library
EDITORIAL BOARD:
Adam Lawrence, Department of Government, Policy, and Law Angela L Cuthbert, Department of Geography Caleb Corkery, Department of English and World Languages Carrie Lee Smith, Department of Criminology, Sociology, and Anthropology Justin Mando, Department of English and World Languages Nancy Mata, Department of Art & Design Nivedita Bagchi, Department of Government, Policy, and Law and Coordinator, Department of International Studies R. Jill Craven, Department of English and World Languages
JOURNAL STAFF:
Hannah Carricato, Digital Journalism, Web Design Specialist Sarah Solomon, Biology major, Marketing and Outreach Specialist Alison Koch, Biology major, Creative Writing and Publishing minor, Project Manager for Authors Hayley Billet, Master of Arts in English major
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: ENGL317 STUDENTS
Emily Brosky, Digital Journalism Conor Cook, Sports Journalism Maeve Corrigan, Communication Studies with a minor in English Madeline Engleman, Early Childhood Education and minor in English:Writing Studies Kaatia Fedrow, English Brigette Garcia, English TJ Henry, Secondary English Education Jenna Karr, English-Writing Studies Alison Koch, Biology with a minor in Creative Writing and Publishing Connie Kolakowski, English with a concentration in Linguistics Sean McClain, English Olivia Miller, Multidisciplinary studies of Digital Journalism Gracie Mummau, History Peter Mylonas, Communication: Public Relations with a History Minor Tina Santangelo, Communication: Public Relations Luke Schwanger, English - Writing Studies Kylee Shellenberger, Design with minor in Creative Writing and Publishing Hannah Sutton, Media Arts Production with a General English minor Trevor Teubner, Sports Journalism Mekdes Woldu, Communications: Public Relations Michael Zabkowski, Dbl Major- Media / Arts Production and Sports Journalism
GRAPHIC DESIGN:
Gail E. Gasparich, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Millersville University
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Engage f o r Change | J O U R N A L
Cheryl Lockley, University Marketing Kelly Herr, University Marketing
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
We would like to express gratitude for support received from the Center for Public Scholarship and Social Change; the Dean’s Office of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; and the Office of Grants, Sponsored Programs, and Research.