The Environmental Law and Justice Center is a public interest, environmental project founded in 1994 to lend the expertise and commitment of the Civil Rights and Environmental Movement to disenfranchised minority and low-income communities in Texas and neighboring states throughout the South, burdened by various environmental abuses.

The Center's Director, staff, and student interns provide a full range of services, including but not limited to: research, legal representation at state or federal administrative hearings and in state and/or federal court, training, outreach, and educational workshops.

MISSION
The Environmental Law and Justice Center is committed to the idea that quality education and dedicated community services to the underrepresented in our society must work together, whenever feasible, to advance the concept of equal justice under the law. The Center endeavors to assist various impacted community groups and individuals in identifying and addressing severe environmental problems within their local municipal areas.

To achieve its goals, the Center networks with other public interest activist groups and research facilities in an effort to expand potential resources in addressing client "problems." In this manner, Center participants utilize legal, social, and/or medical data--a multidisciplinarian approach--to render aid to minority and low-income communities.

AIM AND GOALS
The foremost purpose of the Environmental Law and Justice Center-in addition to providing services to impacted communities-is to offer students the opportunity to examine legal/ethical issues involving contaminated and/or exposed populations. The Center works to educate and empower underserved community groups identify and address severe environmental problems and social issues in their local municipal areas.

The Director, staff, and student interns operate the Center. Legal interns in the Center maintain the same attorney/client confidentiality and conduct themselves as attorneys. The Director monitors all legal representation and no action is taken unless approved by the Director.

STAFF

DIRECTOR
As Director of the ELJC, Ms. Cartwright supervises intern/students in the Center, oversees the drafting and filing of legal motions and pleadings in federal and state court and oversees the community/client intake process. Ms. Cartwright is responsible for developing legal strategies for cases filed and/or pending in the Clinic. She provides instruction in federal and state environmental law, as well as develops and directs informational community meetings and workshops.

Ms. Cartwright received her Juris Doctorate degree from the American University, Washington College of Law where she pursued a concentration in International and Environmental Law. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in History from the University of Baltimore, Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts.

Ms. Cartwright has published several articles and essays on Environmental Justice. She has served as panelist and/or speaker at a number of conferences on Environmental Justice and the Law. She has also taught or teaches the following classes at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law: Caribbean law Clinic; Environmental Law; Environmental Justice Clinic; Hazardous Waste Law; and Toxic Tort.

As Director of the ELJC, Ms. Cartwright supervises intern/students in the Center, oversees the drafting and filing of legal motions and pleadings in federal and state court and oversees the community/client intake process. Ms. Cartwright is responsible for developing legal strategies for cases filed and/or pending in the Clinic. She provides instruction in federal and state environmental law, as well as develops and directs informational community meetings and workshops.

Ms. Cartwright received her Juris Doctorate degree from the American University, Washington College of Law where she pursued a concentration in International and Environmental Law. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in History from the University of Baltimore, Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts.

Ms. Cartwright has published several articles and essays on Environmental Justice. She has served as panelist and/or speaker at a number of conferences on Environmental Justice and the Law. She has also taught or teaches the following classes at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law: Caribbean law Clinic; Environmental Law; Environmental Justice Clinic; Hazardous Waste Law; and Toxic Tort.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Juan Parras brings a wealth of organizing experience to his position of Community Outreach Coordinator for the Clinic. Mr. Parras served as an International Union representation for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union (AFSCME) for over ten years. He has worked for the Louisiana Labor-Neighbor Project as a community organizer and has served as a Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace, USA, in the Southern District Office.

While working with Greenpeace, Mr. Parras participated in a National Campaign to stop the construction of PVC production facilities in the South and to keep current PVC facilities from expanding. Indeed, organizations such as: St. James Citizens for Jobs and the Environment, Greenpeace, Louisiana Labor-Neighbor Project, Louisiana Environmental Action Now (LEAN) were successful in keeping a wholly-owned Japanese subsidiary from building the largest PVC plant in the United States in Convent, Louisiana.

Mr. Parras provides public education, organizing and technical assistance to communities fighting workplace conditions and adverse environmental effects.

Mr. Parras has the demonstrated ability to bridge the gap between communities of color and Environmental Justice organizations committed to the Cause.