Environmentally Concerned Today for a Sustainable Environment Tomorrow
In October 2011, the Greater Southeast Development Corporation (GSDC) was awarded a cooperative
grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) national program, CARE (Community
Action for a Renewed Environment). GSDC created the Southeast CARE Coalition, a broad, communitybased partnership, to specifically address environmental concerns in the Southeast Community of
Newport News. For our purpose, the “environment” refers to the natural (air, water, land), cultural
(ethnic identity and history of community), social (existing and lacking public services), economic (local
business, health care cost), and political (local, state, federal) components of the Southeast Community,
Newport News, VA. The Coalition is currently involved in serval programs addressing environmental
concerns in the Community. Highlighted below are five of the programs that we are actively engaged in.
To find out more about these or other programs please contact: 1) Dr. Erica Holloman, Project
Coordinator for the Southeast CARE Coalition at 404-314-3367/ holloman.e.l@gmail.com, 2) Angela
Harris, Youth/Community Coordinator for the Southeast CARE Coalition at 757-236-7972/
nuckharris12@yahoo.com , or 3) Kendyl Crawford, Sierra Club/ Southeast CARE liaison at 757-2688810/ kendyl.crawford@sierraclub.org
1. Citizen’s Water Quality Monitoring Program
Since 2014, the Southeast CARE Coalition has been working with the Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality and their Citizen’s Water Monitoring program to monitor waterways in the
Southeast Community. There are a total of 13 sites that are monitored weekly for E.coli, temperature,
turbidity and salinity. Eight of the thirteen sites have repeatedly showed levels of E. coli that exceeded
established standard levels. The presence of E. coli can point to sources such as leaking sewer pipes,
stormwater runoff or animal waste. Staff from the Environmental Services Division for the City of
Newport News conducted dye testing of the sanitary sewer system in the vicinity of the eight sites
identified by the Southeast CARE Coalition as problematic, and did not find any sanitary sewer pipe
leaks. The results of the dye testing indicated that there are other potential sources of contamination
contributing to the presence of E. coli, and may include animal waste or stormwater runoff. We are
currently working with DEQ to continue our efforts and determine the source of contamination.
2. HR Storm Drain Medallion Program
Since 2014, the Southeast CARE Coalition has been working with the City of Newport News Storm
Water Division and the HR storm drain medallion program. The purpose of the program is to encourage
citizens not to dump waste down the storm drains. This is done by marking storm drains in the Southeast
Community with medallions. The medallions are attached to the top of storm drains and help to remind
and educate citizens about the importance of preventing pollution from entering our sensitive waterways,
and above all, that storm drains are NOT to be used for dumping.
3. Southeast Community Aquaponics Project.
Environmentally Concerned Today for a Sustainable Environment Tomorrow
The Southeast Community Aquaponics Project is a collaborative partnership between the Greater
Southeast Development Corporation, the Southeast CARE Coalition, All From One, Inc., Hampton
University, Virginia Tech, and the Virginia Aquarium. The purpose of this partnership is to assist GSDC
in addressing the food desert issue in the Southeast Community through the creation of an aquaponic
system. Hampton University students have applied the skills they have learned during an aquaculture and
seafood products training course at VA Tech and a communication and outreach training course at
Virginia Aquarium to develop a series of aquaponic system workshops to educate community members
about aquaculture and aquaponics. The end goal of this collaborative partnership is several functioning
aquaponic systems installed and maintained at the Moton Community House.
4. Obesity and Urban Planning Project.
The Obesity and Urban Planning Project is a collaborative effort between the Greater Southeast
Development Corporation, the Southeast CARE Coalition, The Moton Community House, All From One
Inc., 4-H, Old Dominion University and the National Institutes of Health. This project is being conducted
to bring awareness and implement solutions that will solve the obesity problem as well as aid in the
development of recreational areas, safe walkways, farmers markets, local restaurants, and community
gardens into the Southeast Community Redevelopment Plans. We are identifying community interest and
health burdens that are related to urban planning and obesity risks. We are also identifying challenges of
urban planning with regards to how urban areas can increase risk of obesity.
5. Toxic Air Monitoring Program
The Greater Southeast Development Corporation, the Southeast CARE Coalition, and the Sierra Club are
gearing up for a major campaign to establish a community-based air monitoring program. Historical
records reveal that the legacy of industrialization in the Southeast Community of Newport News dates
back to the 1800's. That means that for more than 130 years our community has been subject to industrial
pollution, but now we are taking a stand to protect the air that our children and families have no choice
but to breathe. We know that of the 14 facilities that have reported toxic releases in the City of Newport
News, 6 of them have been located in the Southeast Community. We know that Interstate 664, Newport
News Shipbuilding and Newport News Marine Terminal are located right here along with several other
industrial sites. We have already found raised levels of the pollutants PM10 and PM2.5. We also know
that our community has high rates of respiratory and heart disease and more importantly, we know that
these diseases can be linked to toxic air pollution. Help us build power in our community and work
towards getting the clean, healthy air we deserve to breathe by demanding a community-based air
monitoring program. We are circulating a sign-on letter for organizations and businesses to join as well as
beginning a massive effort to obtain 1,000 signatures on a petition to the VA Secretary of Natural
Resources Molly Ward and the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality David Paylor.