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Dreaming of a Cleaner, Healthier Environment:
Gloria R. Davis Scholars learn about Environmental Justice in their community
 
For six weeks during January and February, LEJ conducted Environmental Justice workshops with the 7th and 8th grade students at Gloria R. Davis College Preparatory Academy. Scholars participated in a tour of the neighborhood, conducted internet research on toxins at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and PG&E power plant and their health effects, designed artistic brochures to educate others, and wrote advocacy letters to Mayor Gavin Newsom and Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. Many of the students did not have any prior knowledge of the environmental issues in Bayview Hunters Point, but during the course of the workshops, they blossomed into strong, articulate, and passionate advocates for environmental health and justice in their community. But enough from me- let the youth speak for themselves! Below are excerpts of letters that the G.R.D scholars wrote:
 
Dear Mayor Newsom,
 
I am sorry for bothering you, but I am concerned about the pollution in Bayview. There are many things polluting Bayview. The pollution is causing more asthma attacks to children and causing more people to get asthma. Not only does this pollution cause asthma problems, but it also causes cancer, kidney, and brain problems. So if you can, please help stop the pollution. Sincerely, Jonniccka Scott
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Please can you help me. Bayview has a lot of toxic chemicals. If someone does not do anything about the serious chemicals, people in the Bay Area are going to suffer cancer, asthma, and birth defects.The way that you can help me is to come to Bayview and see all the toxic things and start fixing it.
Mayor Gavin Newsom, thank you so much for your support and concern. Brianua Dotson
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I am a student at Gloria R. Davis C.P.A. I am writing to you to request that you take some time to shut down the PG&E power plant. Many people in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood are becoming very sick and some are dying because the power plant is polluting the neighborhood. It is having a bad effect on our health and our lives. A lot of the students at my school have asthma and when they come to school they become very sick and they start coughing a lot because the neighborhood is tremendously polluted.
I am writing to you about this because I feel that you, as the Mayor, can make a difference in not just Bayview Hunters Point, but all over the city. I am hoping that you will take this letter into consideration.
I thank you very much and I hope to hear from you soon.  Sincerely, Evan Jones
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I feel that the PG&E power plant should be shut down. It does not need to be in the community of colored people. The community of Bayview Hunters Point would like to survive without pollution. This power plant causes a lot of asthma in the black community. This plant is also causing a lot of symptoms and forms of cancer. The people of Bayview want to live in a healthier environment.
I would like to see my generation and myself live in a healthy environment. I would like to be healthy without asthma. I would surely love to see my people and peers look up to a good, positive life with a healthy environment.
Thank you and again please, please shut the power plant down.  Deje Silas
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I am writing to you because I am a concerned student at Gloria R. Davis College Prep. Academy. The power plant in Bayview is causing a lot of problems so we want you to shut it down, or relocate it if you can.
People in our community are dying and getting sick and it’s because of the power plant. It causes birth defects, asthma, and allergies. Personally, I can say that I have asthma. Knowing that the power plant helped case that makes me sick.
So I’m writing you because I know you can do something about it. I can’t go anywhere without my inhaler and I feel like the oddball. As the mayor of San Francisco, I know you don’t want to see babies, kids, or even adults like that. So you should think about what I said.
Thank you for listening to what I had to say. Sincerely, Marisa Harris
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My name is Mikala Capree King- Anderson. I am a student at Gloria R. Davis College Prep Academy which is in Hunters Point- the same place where the PG&E power plant is.
I have asthma and so do a lot of people. You should shut down the power plant. I’m sure one of the things you’re supposed to do as our mayor is to keep us safe, and having the power plant by my school is making my asthma worse.
As my asthma and others’ asthma gets worse, it becomes a real problem and danger to my health. My asthma can get so bad I could die. If more people get asthma and get sicker and sicker, more people die. That’s a very bad thing.
Thank you for your time and cooperation with reading my letter and please do something about the issue. I know you don’t want people, especially as young as me, dying when they have so much more to do in life. Sincerely, Mikala Capree King- Anderson
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Hi. My name is DeJanae Gardner and I am a citizen of San Francisco. We need to have a long talk. I think that you should shut down the PG&E power plant in Bayview Hunters Point. The reason why you need to shut down the power plant is because it causes asthma for young children. Now a days, children under 10 years of age are starting to get asthma. That’s why we need to shut it down now.
If you shut it down, you would make a personal difference in many people’s lives. I would personally thank you face to face. Could you please think about it?
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.    DeJanae Gardener
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I think that we should work together to shut down the PG&E power plant in Bayview Hunters Point. I think that you should stop the gases from the power plant that are polluting the air. Also, I think that it is a health risk for the people who live around the power plant- it could cause a person with asthma, like me, to have an asthma attack. I think that the pollution gases and chemicals in the air could cause someone to get cancer.
I think that if you do this just this once, the citizens would probably try to get you to the top as president. You should just try to get it closed down because it’s causing people to get sick.
Thank you for your participation.  Antwanisha Porter
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Hello. My name is Kelvina Brooks. I am thirteen and I attend Gloria R. Davis College Preparatory Academy. I am writing you because I need a big favor that will help me, you, and the community. The big favor is to shut to power plant located in the Bayview district.
The power plant has caused many residents in Bayview to suffer from asthma. Children in Bayview are at more risk to suffer from or catch asthma. In spite of this, the environmental justice advocates are trying to get this place shut down. However, the board keeps postponing the date.
I have admired you and your leadership and commitment to solving issues in this city. I would be extremely happy and grateful if you solve this big problem. The power plant has many toxics and is very contaminated.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact me at G.R.D during school hours. Thanks very much for your time and consideration.
                                                                                                      Sincerely, Kelvina Brooks
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Dear Superintendent Ackerman,
I am an 8th grader at G.R.D. We have just completed our environmental studies of the Bayview Hunters Point area. I was surprised to learn that there are 325 toxic sites in our area. I was not aware of how these sites are affecting our community.
I hope that every student in the San Francisco Unified School District has the same opportunity we have had to learn about their environment. I believe that my awareness will continue to help me to become an activist for environmental justice. Sincerely, Elgin Rose
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I am an 8th grade student at G.R.D. I am aware of the pollution here in Bayview Hunters Point. Our family has been affected by asthma and cancer. In school we have learned that there are 325 toxic sites in Bayview, Can you make sure kids learn about the toxic waste here? Sincerely, Chris Corowley
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I would like you to help our community with its environmental justice issues. I would also like for you to fight to make the air clean so that little kids won’t get sick. I also want you to help me because I really don’t want to get sick breathing the air.
One reason it’s important is because little kids can get asthma and they can also get cancer from the pollution in the air and environment. The other reason is the power plant. Smoke coming from the power plant is one reason why kids in Bayview get sick so much.
This is important to me because I would want my little brother to know about environmental justice. I would also want my family to know about what’s going on around them in the world. I would also like to learn more because I have bad asthma. I mean really, really, really bad asthma.
Thanks you for all your help and your support. I also want to thank you for talking time out to listen to my story. May God  bless you in many ways. Sincerely, Roshawnda Collins
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Students should have environmental education in school because many students want to learn about the environment. I learned recently that everywhere around me is the environment, and that there are many things that affect it. This is important for kids to know and learn about. Thank you, Faautautalelei Kelly
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Dear Mayor and Superintendent Ackerman,
You should close down the PG&E plant because it is causing too many problems. I took a field trip to the PG&E plant and it stinks. Have you ever been there? It affected my friend with asthma. He said, “It’s not easy living with asthma”. The plant affects birth and it causes cancer. People live next to the plant. I think we should educate the people of Bayview about it.
I learned in school that there are 325 toxic sites in Bayview, and one Superfund site. That site is the Shipyard. Most of us live by the shipyard. Superfund means that it is super toxic and can cause a lot of damage to the body.
You can make a change by educating us more on the shipyard. I think students in more schools should have classes in environmental education. I want to be an environmental specialist one day. I don’t want any more people affected by the hazardous sites. The radiation can affect a baby before birth and cause birth defects. Most mothers do not know what happens to their babies when they are born, but now I know.
If you read this letter, please help make a change in our schools and community. I am tired of people getting affected by the toxic waste. I hope all students in the SFUSD have the same opportunity to learn about environmental justice that we have had in G.R.D. Sincerely, Andre Hines
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