Bea Baxley, NCEJN 2025 Intern
I grew up in the suburban bubble that is Chapel Hill, and I never felt a strong connection to North Carolina. I didn’t feel that I could claim this state or the South as mine, as something I belong to, but after my internship with NCEJN, I feel that maybe now I can. Before working with NCEJN, I went to different parts of NC, but it wasn’t enough to forge a deep connection. Visiting isn’t the same as actually knowing the history of the land we stand on, and forming meaningful connections with the people who have lived there for generations. I was lucky enough to work closely with Judge Beverly Scarlett on the Indigenous Memories project; we spent many mornings walking on the land she and her ancestors have known, loved, and cared for for centuries. I saw how well the residents of Duplin and Sampson counties know their land, and how they know when something is wrong. After each experience, I felt more connected to North Carolina and felt better about calling myself a North Carolinian. After meeting people who know and care so deeply about this state, it would have been impossible for me not to.
I saw how hard our staff work every day to support – in any way we can – the many fights for Environmental Justice in North Carolina. I worked with so many groups and people from all parts of the state, and I saw how much they care about keeping not just themselves, but also their neighbors and people they don’t know safe. It’s easy to get disheartened in this field; a lot of my peers are really depressed about the future of environmental work. I’ve had these thoughts too, and I still do sometimes, but what really gives me hope is seeing how much people care and how much they’re willing to do for their communities.
Working with every branch of NCEJN and seeing how the organization works gave me a real appreciation for the interconnectedness of the work that we do and how community needs and residents’ voices are always first and foremost. My experience really solidified my knowledge that EJ is what I care about and the work I want to be doing.
I just moved back to Philadelphia, and I’m wrapping up my first week of class tomorrow. As much as I enjoy learning in this setting, I much prefer learning from those who have done this work before, who know the land and issues that are of concern to people. Academia can feel so intangible and disconnected from the lives of the people living in the impacted communities that we talk about. I’m looking forward to getting connected to more EJ work here; Philly has a rich history with organizations like Philly Thrive. But I will miss NC, more than ever. I’m so glad this work is happening all over the world, and I’m honored to be a part of the work –and more part of North Carolina – through NCEJN.
Thank you so much to Dr. VJ, Rania, Luma, Chris, and Dani for being such fantastic mentors and doing such important work. Thank you for welcoming me, teaching me, and making me part of this fight. I am a link in the chain, and the link in the chain will not break here!
