We are excited to introduce Kymone Freeman, local activist and co-owner of We Act Radio in Anacostia, DC, as the newest co-chair to join the “Put A Price On It, DC” campaign!”

We Act Radio tackles the biggest issues facing District residents—from the affordable housing crisis to homelessness and gentrification—and isn’t afraid to take local politicians to task for making empty promises. In 2017, Washington City Paper named his radio station DC’s Best Social Justice Radio. Kymone is also an award winning playwright and the founder of the Black LUV Festival. In addition, Kymone hosted environmental justice salons for our campaign during the fall. Check out photos from those empowering events here and here.

Kymone has brought prodigious talents to the DC community. He is a founding board member for the non-profit Words Beats & Life, which focuses on propelling individual lives and communities through hip-hop. He is also the co-founder of Bum Rush the Boards, which is the largest annual youth chess tournament in DC. And he one first place in “Public Radio News Directors Incorporated’s” award  for his Lion and the Map Commentary with the Anacostia Unmapped radio series on NPR. Listen to that series here:

Kymone was featured in the most controversial Ebony magazine in recent history and also on the PBS Online Film Festival for the short film “Fresh Prince of Anacostia”. Currently, he is directing his first feature film “Patriotic Treason: The Story of John Brown”. Kymone, along with a few others, has led massive non-violent protests against police brutality in the nation’s capital.

Kymone is a true activist who works everyday to make his community a better place. We are lucky to have him!

What is your name and what do you do?

Nicole Bera, Put a Price on it Intern

What woke you up to the climate crisis?

I grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and my parents have always been very environmentally conscious. I did not realize how serious things were until I did a research project my freshman year of highschool.

Why does the campaign to put a price on carbon in DC and rebate the revenue matter to you?

I think it is one of the only effective ways to combat climate change on a local level. After Trump was elected and started deconstructing our federal environmental policy, I knew that working on a smaller scale would be the only way the fight against climate change would continue in the US.

How is this campaign different from other environmental campaigns you’ve experienced in the past?

I have not worked on a environmental campaign before. I used to work for The Nature Conservancy which was the exact opposite of this campaign. As an intern at the nature conservancy, I would be outside doing hands on work like removing invasive species, assisting the DNR in collection species samples, and assisting on the Clean Boats, Clean Waters initiative.

How has climate change impacted your own community?

I am lucky enough to have grown up in a place away from ocean coastline that does not suffer from earthquakes or prone to wildfires. What Wisconsin is known for is the cold. Due to climate change, the winters in Wisconsin have gotten colder and the summers have gotten hotter. There is also a frequent fluctuation of temperatures and a delay in the start of constant cold weather. This disrupts agriculture all year long leading to lesser yield and higher dependence on pesticides, fertilizer, and water.

What was your favorite moment in this campaign?

It was great attending the 350 fossil free event. There was a variety of incredible speakers including Bernie Sanders, the mayor of New York City, and repestives of grassroots organizations from around the world.

Tell me about a time you’ve witnessed community power.

Last year was my first year in D.C. Due to the presidential election it was quite an interesting year to be here to say the least. I was a part of the incredible Women’s March on Washington in January and multiple protests after the inauguration. While Trump is still in office, I think the women’s march showed the country and the president that we stand against him.

What was your biggest accomplishment on this campaign?

I am excited to see what I accomplish here at the campaign in the next few months!

One word summing up your experience with this campaign:

Developing

Who is your inspiration?

Eleanor Roosevelt!

We are pleased to announce that Brenda Lee Richardson, activist and resident of Ward 8 in Washington, D.C., has joined the “Put A Price On It, D.C.” movement as campaign co-chair. Thank you, Brenda!!

Ms. Richardson is an eco-feminist and has been working on welfare reform, environmental justice, economic development and health issues for the past 25 years.   

She currently serves as the Interim Managing Director of the Earth Conservation Corps. Their work has restored the Anacostia River (“the forgotten river of D.C.”), reintroduced bald eagles to the capital, planted trees and, most importantly, transformed the city’s youth into stewards of the environment.  She is also the President of Chozen Consulting, LLC, a consulting company that focuses on community engagement, facilitation, training, board development and government relations, and is the Principal for “Women Like Us,” an initiative that focuses on design thinking for women.

Formerly, Ms. Richardson was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Councilmember Marion Barry.  Ms. Richardson also served as the Managing Director of the Metropolitan Dialogue, a group of people of faith who met monthly to discuss civic issues in D.C., for many years.  From 1995 to 1996, Ms. Richardson was the Director of Resident Services for the D.C. Housing Authority, and prior to that, she was the Executive Director of the Anacostia/Congress Heights Partnership.

Read more about her work here, or watch the video below about how her work with Earth Conservation Corps inspires young people to care about environmental issues and follow her lead. 

We’re glad to have her on board!


Ms. Richardson is currently a board member of the Blue Alley Youth Orchestra and Chair of Georgetown University Hospital’s Lombardi Cancer Center Community Advisory Group. She is a former board member of A Greater Washington, Anacostia Watershed Society, Congress Heights Main Streets, DC Public Library Trustee, DC Water Trustee. She has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Faces of the Campaign is an ongoing series featuring our key organizers and stakeholders involved in “Put A Price On It, D.C.” Our coalition of nearly 50 organizations is comprised of racial justice activists, union workers, health advocates, moms, dads, kids, retirees, and business-owners alike. Mark Rakhmilevich, Member Services Assistant with Green America, is a key organizer with the campaign.  Here’s his story.

What woke you up to the climate crisis?

I really began to care about climate change, for one, when I started to see winters get shorter. As a season pass holder at Tyrol Basin, my local ski resort, seemed like I’d have fewer weekends each seasons to go snowboarding. But two, from my experience working with AmeriCorps VISTA in Hazleton, PA where I served, I immediately saw the need to move off of fossil fuels, and coal specifically, as an energy source given its devastating effects on the health of the community and on wildlife. From there I became interested in the overarching issue of climate change and was determined to get involved to make local policy changes to reduce our emissions through clean energy innovation.

How has climate change impacted your own community? 

Climate change has been a challenge on native Wisconsin ecosystems. From my time working on conservation projects for WE Badger Volunteers especially as a student in the Madison-area, it has definitely impacted the region by decreasing yields of feed crops for dairy farmers because of longer droughts leading to poor soil conditions, but also trended in the direction of further deforestation and declining populations of native species.

Why does the campaign to put a price on carbon in DC matter to you?

I think it’s crucial to fight climate change now and grow clean energy markets. Our window of opportunity to act is closing fast, and really, as one of the top polluting nations, we owe it to those disadvantaged communities in developing countries who suffer most. The campaign to “Put A Price On It, DC” can serve as the progressive model to be used abroad, and lower our carbon emissions while also reinvesting in our communities.

How is this campaign different from other environmental campaigns you’ve experienced in the past?

My involvement in this campaign is really more holistic because I’ve worked to gain stakeholder support in a number of different sectors such as businesses and policymakers, whereas in the past I would only be involved on a very grassroots level, talking to residents at their door or at community events.

What was your biggest accomplishment on this campaign?

Growing support from the local business community. I helped host a webinar and business roundtable in partnership with American Sustainable Business Council about this campaign, where businesses had the opportunity to make their voices heard and sign on to this campaign.

Tell me about a time you’ve witnessed community power. 

The People’s Climate March was an amazing display of community power. There were so many committed friends and allies from organizations all across the board all working together in a grand coalition to step in where this administration won’t, and make common sense changes to our laws to favor the interests of the people over the greed of the fossil fuel industry.

If you could tame a wild animal to do your bidding, what would it be?

Swordfish!

 

“We are a city that is told what we can’t do. Now we can show what we MUST do, and lead the country by example.” – Councilmember David Grosso

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By Danniele Fulmer

Wednesday was a beautiful fall morning for climate action in the District of Columbia. Ideal for a breakthrough moment in our campaign to put a price on carbon pollution.

On the steps of the D.C. Council building, we gathered with faith leaders, union members, and advocates of all kinds to rally in support of the “Put A Price On It, D.C.” campaign. We were joined by Councilmembers Robert White, David Grosso, and Charles Allen; a huge turning point for our campaign, to be standing side-by-side with three Councilmembers, all joining together with nearly 150 people(!) to announce support for a carbon fee-and-rebate policy.

We had a powerhouse lineup of speakers whose energy was unparalleled, with the underlying and persistent theme of “We Can’t Wait.” Judith Howell, a coalition partner from 32BJ SEIU, kicked off the rally with a strong message needing to help those who have contributed the least to climate change but will suffer the most. Reverend Kip Banks, representing faith leaders across D.C. who are ready to put a price on carbon in the District, called for a carbon price as a moral solution to climate change. CCAN’s own Mike Tidwell came out, leading the group in a chant of “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop,” to wrap up the rally. It was also particularly exciting to see the Councilmembers step up as speakers and sponsors at the rally. Relive the excitement by watching the Facebook Live feed here.

On a personal level, I was thrilled to be able to re-engage in the campaign that I had spent my whole summer advocating for as an intern. Now, in my full-time position at CCAN, it is amazing to see how the D.C. campaign has grown over the past several months.

Last week’s action at the D.C. city council illuminated the strength of our coalition and the support of our citizen advocates. But we definitely have our work cut out for us in coming months. It’s never been more important to get involved.

As Councilmember Robert White told the group, “The free market won’t change without a little kick in the butt. We’ll be that kick in the butt.” D.C. can and must be the national leader on this issue.

It’s time to put a price on it, because we simply can’t wait.

 

Advocates expect “Climate & Community Reinvestment Act of D.C.” to be introduced in D.C. Council this year

In the face of recent megastorms and other extreme climate events, an historic effort to address carbon pollution in DC gained new momentum on Wednesday, October 25 as three Councilmembers spoke in favor of the bill before a cheering crowd at the Wilson Building. Advocates for the proposed “Climate & Community Reinvestment Act of D.C.” say the campaign has new momentum heading into the fall and expect a bill to be introduced no later than December with the majority support of the Council.

Councilmember Robert White (At-Large) stated: “I’m glad to support a policy that will address climate change while maintaining robust economic growth in the District. Increasingly extreme climate events harm our businesses and threaten the health of our community. The proposal for a carbon rebate is a common-sense solution that would benefit everyone.”

The proposed “Climate and Community Reinvestment Act” would place a fee on carbon pollution in the District and rebate the large majority of revenue raised back to D.C. residents. According to an economic study by the Center for Climate Strategies, this policy would raise incomes for the majority of D.C. residents and result in stable economic growth with a steady boost in jobs. It would also reduce planet-warming carbon emissions 23 percent by 2032 for electricity, natural gas, and home-heating oil consumed in the District.

Councilmember David Grosso (At-Large) stated: “We are currently at a time when our federal government refuses to do anything to address or acknowledge the real threat that climate change poses. In their absence, D.C. must continue to lead and ensure a bright future for ourselves. Though we’ve made significant progress, there is still more work to be done. That is why the carbon fee proposal is so attractive—it provides another avenue through which we can further reduce our carbon footprint.”

Councilmembers Robert White (At-Large), David Grosso (At-Large), and Charles Allen (Ward 6) spoke alongside nearly 150 advocates during the lunchtime rally.

Advocates for the proposed policy say the campaign has new momentum heading into the fall Earlier this month, Mary Cheh, head of the Committee on Transportation & the Environment, told a crowd of Ward 3 Democrats Cheh that the proposed carbon fee-and-rebate policy is a “fabulous concept” that will “have to have Council support and the mayor’s support – and [it] will.” The coalition expects a bill to be introduced no later than December with the majority support of the Council.

Reverend Kip Banks, Senior Pastor at East Washington Heights Baptist Church, stated: “For too long, climate polluters have not paid for the damage they’re doing to our communities and to our climate. I’m calling as a faith leader for polluters to take responsibility for the harm that their pollution is causing for ‘the least of these.’ This effort in DC can be a beacon to the rest of our country and a source of hope in our warming world.”

Mike Tidwell, Executive Director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated: “The urgent nature of our climate crisis requires a significant, immediate response. The movement for strong climate action in D.C. has never been more powerful, and now, with the support of several Councilmembers, we are ready to win. There’s no more time to wait. The time for a progressive and equitable carbon fee-and-rebate policy in D.C. is now.”

Judith Howell, SEIU 32BJ member and security officer in D.C., stated: “Fossil fuel pollution and haphazard development affects the citizens in each and every ward of our city. It is time for those who profit from fossil fuels to pay for the damage to our environment. But we must also ensure the policy would not put the burden on working families. We urge the Council and the Mayor to pass a strong climate rebate bill quickly, for the health and prosperity of our working-class families.”

The “Put A Price On It, D.C.” coalition is comprised of more than 40 climate and justice advocacy organizations, including more than a dozen local businesses.

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