What are you reading right now? 📚 Over the past 5 years, we've asked every scholar, activist, journalist, and community leader who joined our podcast that one question. This Black History Month, here's what they said. 🖤🧵

Happy Black History Month! AoC honors our fellows whose research has advanced environmental justice in African American communities, as well as activists and scholars whose past work continues to inspire change. 🌟

Last week, our fellow Timnit Kefela spent 5 days inside the UN negotiating global chemical policy. Here's what went down 🧵✨

🌎This week, a newly established environmental panel is meeting for the first time in Geneva, and it could shape how the world responds to chemical pollution. Agents of Change fellow @timisneat.bsky.social is currently attending this conference—stay tuned for some on-the-ground updates soon!

Most research pitches don’t fail on quality. They fail on clarity. We asked editors at Nature, Undark, and The Conversation what makes them say yes—and turned it into a quick checklist. Read it here👇 substack.com/home/post/p-...

✨ Fellows Doing the Most (in a good way) aka: what our fellows have been quietly (and not-so-quietly) working on lately 👇🧵

🧪 The EPA just regulated several so-called “everywhere chemicals.” That sounds straightforward—but the details matter. 🧵👇

As encampment sweeps ramp up, how we respond matters. In the final essay of our From the Vault series, April Ballard reflects on why public health responses must center dignity, autonomy, and human rights. 🔗 Read the essay: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/when-citie...

🧪 The EPA says five phthalates pose no unreasonable risk to the general public. But as @amizota.bsky.social told @washingtonpost.com, that conclusion clashes with strong evidence linking everyday phthalate exposure to harms. 👉See the full story here: url-shortener.me/6XJA

Communities don’t experience harm one issue at a time — they face pollution, unsafe housing, and economic stress all at once. 🌍⚠️ A new National Academies consensus report finally reflects that reality. Read about why it matters in our latest Substack 👉https://substack.com/home/post/p-181087850

COP30 is over — but the real climate leadership is happening far from the negotiating rooms. Here’s who to follow now (with help from senior fellows @robbieparks.bsky.social, @timisneat.bsky.social, Kevin Patterson and Denise Moreno Ramírez) — and why it matters. 🧵👇

🚽 It’s World Toilet Day — yes, that’s a thing. And it matters more than most people realize. A 🧵👇

As housing took center stage in local elections, we’re revisiting an essay by MyDzung Chu as part of our From the Vault series. She reminds us that housing justice isn’t just about affordability; but it’s about health and belonging 🌱🏘️ 🔗 Read here: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/from-the-v...

🌪️ @newyorker.com just spotlighted former Agents Of Change fellow @robbieparks.bsky.social! His research reveals the invisible health toll of hurricanes — from chronic illness to mental health impacts long after storms end. Read more 👇 www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

Big news! 🥁 Dr. @amizota.bsky.social, our founder and director, just received the David P. Rall Award from @apha.org for her trailblazing work on toxic chemicals and health equity. 🌿👏 Here’s to science that protects us all! 💪

This #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we revisit Diné Fellow in Residence Kevin Patterson’s essay on how drought & water loss endanger not just survival, but culture & sovereignty. 🪶✍️ Read here → substack.com/home/post/p-...

That time we met a James Beard Award winner 🍲 At Kalaya, in Philly, Chef Nok Suntaranon reminded us that every story — and every meal — carries memory, care, and purpose. Read our latest Substack post on what her story taught us about ours ⬇️ agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/what-a-jam...

✨ The Agents of Change retreat is back! For the 4th year, we gather in Philly to think about environmental health & justice. 🌍💡 #AgentsOfChange

NEW PAPER ALERT❗ The Taking Stock study, a collab taking a look into the impacts of beauty products on Black and Latina women in California, just published new results. @columbiauniversity.bsky.social , @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social , Silent Spring Institute, LA Grit Media and @bwwla.bsky.social

💄🧴 Choosing safer personal care products can help lower exposure to harmful chemicals. A new study of Black & Latina women in South LA shows that shopping choices do make a difference. 👇🧵

🗣️ Ever pitched an op-ed and heard nothing back? Join an online roundtable w/ editors from Nature, The Conversation, & Undark to hear what works—and what doesn’t. 🗓️ Sept 25 ⏰ 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET 💻 Online 🔗 Register: ucla.zoom.us/meeting/regi... 🔒 This session is exclusively for our AoC fellows.

🚨 Did you know that 2.2 million people in the U.S. still don’t have basic drinking water or plumbing? This crisis doesn’t affect everyone equally. A 🧵 on our latest Substack, available here: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/from-the-v...

🚨 New on Substack! Dr. @yoshira.bsky.social — exposure scientist, EJ scholar & our assistant director — is bringing her creative, snarky, but hopeful voice to a new newsletter, "Hazards & Hopes" 💌 Expect: 📖 Publications ✊🌎 EJ insights 🤓 Advice + more Follow her 👉

💧 New on Substack: Water injustice in the Southwest US From AI data centers draining fragile supplies to the Navajo Nation’s centuries-long fight for water rights—this essay shows why water is life, but access is never equal. Read here 👉 substack.com/home/post/p-...

🧵 Washington just made cosmetic history 🚨❗ It became the first state in the US to ban ALL formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in cosmetics—like skin creams, styling gels, even lash glue. Here's why it matters 💅

Asian immigrant women in the U.S. have the highest levels of arsenic in their bodies — more than any other group. New research co-written by Dr. MyDzung Chu shows why. 🧵 ✨ This is part 3 in our 3-part series on Dr. Chu’s research on Asian community health, presented at #ISEEISES2025

🌆🔥 Boston’s Chinatown is the city’s hottest neighborhood—literally. This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on Dr. MyDzung Chu’s research on Asian community health, shared at #ISEEISES2025, where she presented 3 papers on heat, equity & environmental justice. 🧵

🏠🩸 Did you know public housing can help protect kids from lead poisoning? New research led by Dr. MyDzung Chu uncovers the surprising link between housing and children’s health. This is Part 1 of our 3-part series on Dr. Chu’s research, presented at #ISEEISES2025 🧵

✨ 📸 🌟 Our Agents of Change might not be selling out stadiums around the world, but they sure had a hectic week during #ISEEISES2025! It was inspiring to be surrounded by colleagues to and connect and build new collaborations around environmental health and justice.

If you're attending #ISEEISES2025, make sure to join MyDzung T. Chu for her talk later today!

Have you read our first Substack yet? if you haven't, here's the main take away of why our program (and newsletter!) is changing! If you want to learn more, read the full entry here: substack.com/home/post/p-...

As Plastic Treaty negotiations reach an end, we invite you to read fellow in residence @timisneat.bsky.social's essay on centering the voices of communitises in plastic legislation. it is as relevant as ever. Read it here: www.ehn.org/communities-...

‼️🌎🚨As #PlasticsTreaty negotiation enter its final days, we bring you fellow in residence @timisneat.bsky.social picks of talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique plastic pollution advocates, groups and science organizations to follow.

A 🧵on why our fellowship is changing. In the first five years, we’ve achieved so much: 🧑🏾🔬👩🏿🔬👨🏽🔬We have trained 57 fellows from 30 U.S. cities ✍️📝We have published 62 essays that have reached 1.7 million readers 🎧🎤Our podcast has reached more than 80,000 listeners annually across platforms.

We reimagined our fellowship. Read our first Substack post to learn more about this change: shorturl.at/iCUeZ

‼️🆕 Funding cuts are drying up career paths, fracturing collaborations, and stalling scientific progress. The stakes have never been higher. As a result, we reimagined our fellowship. Read our first Substack post to learn more about this change: shorturl.at/iCUeZ

🗣‼️💯 May we have your attention please 🗣‼️💯 Next week, we'll be re-launching our newsletter on Substack. Make sure to follow us to get the latest from our fellows and alumni in an easier to read, easier to share format! Here to subscribe: shorturl.at/AdQon

🚨Big news from AoC! 🚨 We’re moving our newsletter to Substack! You'll still get all the latest from our fellows and alumni—new publications, upcoming events, and fellow spotlights—but now it’s easier to read, share, and engage. Sign up here: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com?r=5kst1t&utm...

We are excited to announce the Agents of Change Fellows in Residence Program! Our reimagined fellowship is an effort to deepen our impact on decision-making and provide additional support to six senior fellows in their path towards creating more impactful research. www.ehn.org/agents-of-ch...

📸Our very own @amizota.bsky.social sat down earlier this week with @nbcnews.com to discuss the latest Consumer Reports findings on chemicals in hair extensions. Don't miss this important conversation—watch the full interview here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Fpj65Mj7M

READ: @timisneat.bsky.social, assistant professor at California State University, Channel Islands, writes about putting communities at the heart of plastic pollution initiatives in our latest essay with @ehnewsroom.bsky.social. Read it here: ehn.org/communities-...

NEW: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist. "We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts." @lauramardiaz.bsky.social @agentschangeej.bsky.social www.ehn.org/environmenta...

READ: @lauramardiaz.bsky.social, current fellow and PhD candidate, writes about why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist in our latest essay with @ehnewsroom.bsky.social. Read it here: ehn.org/environmenta...

Having an impromptu AOC-EJ reunion is always a treat! As we gather in LA amid the wildfires, we are reminded of the importance of environmental justice work and remain committed to activism in this space. @amizota.bsky.social

LISTEN: It’s been five years since AoC-EJ launched, and at a recent retreat gathering the leadership team reflected on what we’ve learned and what environmental issues we’re watching closely as we near 2025. Listen to the episode here: www.ehn.org/agents-of-ch...

READ: Liliana Sierra Castillo, current fellow and Ph.D. candidate at Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara, discusses how the Blue Economy is failing small-scale fishers in our latest essay with @ehnewsroom.bsky.social. Read it here: www.ehn.org/blue-justice...

LISTEN: Ufuoma Ovienmhada, a current fellow and a postdoctoral fellow in the school of geography, development, and environment at University of Arizona, joins the podcast to discuss environmental injustice at prisons across the U.S. Listen here: ehn.org/toxic-prison...

READ: Pradnya Garud, current fellow and an environmental health data equity strategist for Oregon Health Authority, writes about how the common ground between labor and climate justice is the key to a livable future in our latest essay. Read it here: www.ehn.org/labor-and-en...

We are excited to join you all on Bluesky! Hello to our amazing AoC-EJ fellows and followers! 👋