Environmental justice movie night with Pitt law students focuses on air quality | The Homepage

Panel discussion brought Hazelwood residents, legal experts and law students together over popcorn and food from Rice ’n Stew

By Juliet Martinez, managing editor

University of Pittsburgh law students on Nov. 19 discuss air quality and other local environmental issues with a panel facilitated by Brooke Christy (center, in light blue), Tiffany Taulton (second to the right, in green) and Michael Parker (right, in gray). Photo by Chris Gassman

The Nov. 19 screening of the short film “The Air We Breathe” at Hazel Grove Brewing set the stage for a conversation about environmental justice in Hazelwood. University of Pittsburgh law students learned what they could do to support Pittsburghers’ work and health while enjoying popcorn and dinner from Greenfield restaurant Rice ’n Stew.

Brooke Christy, an Equal Justice Works fellow at Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, moderated the discussion with panel members Tiffany Taulton and Michael Parker.

Tiffany Taulton is the director of community visioning and adaptation at the Congress of Neighboring Communities. She is also a Hazelwood resident.

Michael Parker is executive director and managing attorney with Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services. The nonprofit offers affordable environmental justice-related legal services.

The focus was on air quality, Ms. Christy wrote in a Dec. 9 email. The movie night created space for young law students to learn about local environmental justice advocacy.

“The law is merely one tool in environmental justice advocacy, and the power behind our work is truly community connections and support,” Ms. Christy wrote.

Fair Shake organized the event with the University of Pittsburgh Law School’s Energy and Environmental Law Society. Dasawn Gray, owner of the Hazelwood Café, and Chris Gassman represented Hazelwood. Mr. Gassman is a new Hazelwood resident and executive director of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Sustainable Business.

Mr. Gassman wrote in a Dec. 11 email that he attended the event because the topic relates to his work building partnerships that promote resilient, responsible and profitable business strategies.

“The variety of efforts underway to bring a vibrant future into the present are impressive,” he wrote, adding that he learned more about the experiences of his neighbors.

Ms. Taulton wrote that she was grateful for the invitation to speak on the panel.

“We still have a lot of work to do to improve our air quality here, but I feel hopeful that we can get there after seeing how eager the students are to get involved!”

Visit fairshake-els.org or call 412-664-5546 to learn more about Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services.