Josh Levine

Master in Community Health and Social Science, CUNY School of Publich Health and Health Policy 

Intern at BroSis

Why are you excited to be part of this fellowship?

I’m really looking forward to working with people who care about environmental and social justice. It feels good to be part of a community that practices resistance in the form of active care. It’s also a chance to learn from others who care and actually take action. I believe justice has to start with the people most affected, and this feels like an opportunity to do real, community-based work rather than just study, theorize, and talk about change from a distance. I’m looking forward to growing, building, and contributing!

What climate justice issue is most important to you and why?

I’m very concerned how urban planning decisions and environmental racism affect communities, and especially how they moderate mental health in the hood. High-traffic roadways (e.g., the 125th Street corridor), factories, and superfund sites historically get packed into lower-income neighborhoods. This is often further exacerbated by lack of functional green spaces in the community. It’s not simply about pollution or bad infrastructure, it’s about the mental health impacts. Living surrounded by noise, concrete, and poor air quality leads to increased incidence of anxiety, stress, and depression. I care about rethinking city design so it actually supports mental health, safety, and community, not just development and profit.