Winston Salem Times

Environmental activist Rev. Ben Chavis is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at Wake Forest University's spring Environmental Justice Summit. The summit, titled “Environmental Justice in the Midst of Polycrisis: Where Do We Go From Here?” will take place on April 30 at Benson University Center from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Rev. Chavis is known for coining the term “environmental racism” in the 1980s. He has been a vocal advocate for addressing the disproportionate impact of pollution on minority communities and pushing for policy reforms. Chavis became widely recognized for his activism related to the 1982 protests against toxic waste dumping in Warren County, North Carolina.

“We recognize that what began in Warren County, North Carolina, in 1982 was the catalyst for a growing, vibrant environmental justice movement throughout the world today with an outcry demanding justice and equality,” Chavis stated. “The solution to environmental racism is environmental justice for all of humanity.”

The summit will feature discussions with scholars and activists on key topics, including energy justice, the environmental impacts on mental health, Indigenous environmental justice, and recent academic findings in the field.

This event is sponsored by Wake Forest University’s Environmental and Epistemic Justice Initiative (EEJI) along with the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Corey D. B. Walker, dean of the School of Divinity and professor of Humanities, noted, “We are honored to welcome Rev. Benjamin Chavis—an architect of the environmental justice movement and a lifelong advocate for equity—to our Wake Forest. His deep commitment and visionary leadership continue to inspire critical conversations about the intersection of environmental justice, civil rights and community empowerment. This annual summit reflects our deep commitment to advancing environmental justice, sustainability, and education that drives real-world change.”

The summit is open to the public without charge, but requires prior registration due to limited space. Other sponsors include Wake Forest's School of Divinity, School of Law, Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability, and the Environment and Sustainability Studies Program.