Enrique Valencia

Research Assistant

Enrique Valencia (he/him) is passionate about partnering with environmental and
climate justice (E&CJ) activists in conducting research that can serve
movement goals. His research interests include community-science research
partnerships for E&CJ, analyzing the local impacts of state-led E&CJ
mandates, and identifying radical imaginations for E&CJ. Prior to enrolling
in the Earth and Environmental Sciences PhD program at the Graduate Center,
Enrique worked as a grassroots organizer where he facilitated community power
building for economic, immigrant, and education justice. From 2018-2020, he
directed Orange County Environmental Justice (OCEJ) in Orange County, CA, where
he developed the organization’s capacity to fight for soil lead (Pb)
remediation and to conduct water pollution monitoring. At OCEJ, he partnered
with a local university for environmental testing and this experience motivated
him to pursue scholarship that is in service to E&CJ movements. Enrique has
published in Critical Planning and is currently researching adequate technical
assistance for environmental justice communities participating in the US EPA’s
Brownfields Program.

NYC-EJA and its members organizations have powerful visions for
environmental and climate justice and it is my hope that my engagement through
the NYC Climate Justice Hub can help them advance those visions.

Email:  [email protected]