We are finishing up our Black History Month Spotlights with a pioneering environmental advocate, and founder of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Dillard University – Dr. Beverly Wright! Dr. Wright has dedicated her life and career to research and community outreach, bringing awareness to the disproportionate environmental health issues present in Black communities.
Dr. Beverly Wright was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, near a highly polluted area along the lower Mississippi River commonly referred to as “Cancer Alley”. The area encompassed 85 miles of land between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, LA and housed 150+ chemical plants and refineries, severely reducing the air quality for those who lived there. Growing up close enough to observe the environmental and health challenges these communities were facing first-hand, Wright was inspired to pursue a career focused on investigating how infrastructure, policy, and environmental decision-making play a role in shaping public health and well-being. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Grambling State University and later completed her PhD in the same subject from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
Once she had finished her education, Dr. Wright returned to Louisiana and founded the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) in 1992, making it the first environmental justice center in the country! The goal of the Center is to research the impacts of environmental and health disparities along the Mississippi River, as well as provide education and resources to communities navigating these challenges. Dr. Wright developed the “Communiversity Model”, partnering communities and universities to integrate real-world experiences into research and policymaking. DSCEJ also delivers health and safety training, provides job placement for communities affected by climate change, and developed the first environmental justice map displaying how communities near pollutant sources are faced with more environmental issues.
In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Wright expanded her work to include disaster recovery and coastal resilience strategies. She helped support displaced residents after the storm and worked with policymakers to address issues around environmental restoration. She studied how recovery efforts and infrastructure investments affected different communities across New Orleans and advocated for more inclusive planning processes. Her research has contributed to larger discussions surrounding flood risk management and coastal restoration in vulnerable areas by closely examining how infrastructure, industrial development, and disaster recovery policies influence long-term community resilience. This has helped lead to improved risk assessment processes and drainage infrastructure, as well as emphasizing the importance of community input in planning and design.
Today, Dr. Beverly Wright is still serving as Founder and Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, and remains active in her work around community resilience and environmental justice. She served on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council under the Biden Administration, and her work at DSCEJ continues to influence research and environmental health efforts along the Gulf Coast. Her legacy is a reminder that resilient infrastructure and inclusive planning practices are essential to protecting both the environment and the communities that depend on it. We are proud to recognize her lasting impact on environmental planning and resilience for coastal communities this Black History Month!