How education can help save our planet: A conversation with Alexia Leclercq of Start Empowerment

Alexia cofounded Start Empowerment, a social-environmental justice education nonprofit, working with schools to implement an interactive justice-focused curriculum. In addition, she works as an organizer and research analyst for PODER, a woman and Indigenous-led grassroots environmental justice organization founded in 1991 to combat environmental racism in East Austin. 

Alexia is determined to address the need for political education & organizing as the solution to climate injustice. Read more about the leading work she is accomplishing in our EMA exclusive interview. 

What led to your passion for environmental justice work starting from the beginning?

I'm from Austin, Texas. I became interested to see the pollution problem in various settings, experiencing that myself when I was very little. When in Taipei, my mom said, "don't play in the rain; it's acid!" We lived in Singapore, where the country would be shut down due to pollution for weeks in the summer despite its cleanliness. Even in the French alps, where there are beautiful ecosystems, truck traffic from tunnels going to Italy and Switzerland causes air pollution that gets trapped on top of the villages because of the topography. 

Like many cities in the U.S, Austin is segregated and is a classic example of environmental racism. For example, the East, where all of the industry is, is where communities of color live. During high school, I became involved with this work, inspiring me to develop my major in college, politics and economics of inequality.  

How did that passion develop into developing an environmental justice curriculum? Was it an "Aha" moment or an eventual build-up? 

I wanted to learn how things work and how to create change. I started in the mainstream climate movement. I then shifted to environmental justice after attending a conference in D.C., where an ecological law firm dismissed questions about environmental justice. This response made me realize there's more work to do. 

So, I started in the EJ space with PODER, then eventually cofounded Start Empowerment in 2019. I kept noticing a gap in EJ education, yet a lot for environmental sciences.

The expansion of Start Empowerment into other initiatives, such as Renewable Riker, is impressive. Why do you believe your organization has gained the momentum it has in a short amount of time? 

Our curriculum is accessible and integrative in mainstream education. We collaborate with many grassroots organizations in major cities, such as New York City. They lack certain resources, which Start Empowerment aims to provide through collaboration. This includes everything from social media literacy, research, and education. In addition, our curriculum is effective because we make sure it aligns with state standards and various lesson plans. Examples of issues presented are locally based as well so students can resonate greater. Other curriculums don't seem to focus on justice and the social-political aspect of environmental problems. 

Your involvement with PODER, while equally important, seems to focus more on policy. Are there commonalities between a justice-centered school curriculum and bill proposals at a state level? 

I believe education is a building block for any justice program. It can lead to policy, community work, and even grassroots organizing. The EJ curriculum includes exercises that foster activism. A most notable example is when we had middle schoolers write letters on climate justice to congress representatives, known as the "EJ for All" bill. 

At Start:Empowerment, we believe connecting education and action is essential. 

PODER is based on grassroots organizing and does various work, including policy.   

You are very involved at such an inspiring level regarding diversity in the environmental space. Where do you believe progress still needs to be made in 2022? 

EJ orgs get very little funding compared to large environmental firms on national and global levels. In Austin, for example, there is a proposal to build a new tank farm this year. This has serious social repercussions for the city. Yet, the cumulative impact is not taken in seriousness or not considered. 

Like what happened in Flint, Michigan, some people don't have access to clean water in East Austin. This shows a couple of issues happening at the city level, but there are many more at every level. There is still continuous exploitation of land and communities for profit in our capitalist and colonial world, and we see this happening every day. Real EJ work is from the ground up and is based on community organizing. Non-EJ organizations need to learn how to support the work and not co-opt the EJ language as it becomes better known.   

What advice would you give to other aspiring activists looking to make environmental resources more accessible and inclusive? 

I would recommend connecting with existing local networks in any capacity. Power exists in the community. 

You have mentioned political education & organization as the solution to climate injustice. What can someone do today to become more aware and involved? 

Looking up EJ organizations is a great place to start. Such examples include the EJ Forum or Environmental Justice Health Alliance in this space. Go and reach out to them, regardless of if they are looking for assistance. It will benefit both sides because there is always room for help through volunteering. For example, at Start Empowerment, we are starting a summer community school with Sustainable Brooklyn. 

In addition, political & EJ education is a great way to learn and inform your current work. 

Since the EJ space is small, making that initial connection will lead to lots of opportunities for the future.

At EMA, we strive to bridge the gap between science and communication. What benefit do you see that storytelling can bring to the movement for positive change? 

Storytelling is at the core of humanity and a fundamental fabric of modern society since a lot of what we receive is through some medium. Science or politics can be abstract to some, making storytelling vital as it is the most accessible form of communication. Being able to tell a powerful message can make significant issues, such as environmental racism and climate change tangible by explaining the real-life effects. 

Written by Demitri Fierro, ESG Contributor (MBA Candidate in Sustainable Management)