Fifth Quarter Grantee Partners

One of TCI’s partners for The Fifth Quarter is The Descendants Project (TDP), an organization committed to the intergenerational healing and flourishing of the Black descendant community in Louisiana’s river parishes.  TDP is co-founded and co-directed by Jo Banner and Dr. Joy Banner who are leaders, descendants, and residents of Louisiana’s Cancer Alley.

Jo has a deep connection with her Afro-Creole Heritage and respect for tradition and nature, and she has channeled this passion to protect Louisiana’s people and its environment by challenging the legal systems that have exploited descendants of those enslaved to plantations.

Joy is a proud member of the local descendant community and she is inspired by the folklore, narratives, and resourcefulness of community elders and ancestors to serve the community’s health, wellness, and happiness.  She is dedicated to fighting against environmental racism and against the petrochemical plants along Louisiana’s River Road.

Both Jo and Joy were selected as The Center for Constitutional Rights Activists of the Year and were also awarded the 2022 Community Sentinel Award.

TDP is currently working to fight a proposed grain elevator in Wallace.  The grain elevator would cause health and environmental risks for the community due to emissions of particulate matter, dust, mold, and cancer-causing silica.  TDP is suing St. John the Baptist Parish over the unjust zoning designation that has been threatening the community for decades and they hope that this litigation will prevent the grain elevator from being built.  In August, Joy and Jo spoke at the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva, detailing the destruction of Black burial grounds caused by the expansion of industrial facilities in Wallace.  They will also meet with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review the construction of the grain elevator.

Among TDP’s initiatives is Hands of the People Empowered (HOPE).  Through HOPE, they work with the community to support small, locally owned businesses; encourage art, music, and literature that expresses community culture; promote tourism that engages and benefits the descendant community; teach their community to keep politicians and decisionmakers accountable; and connect community members with well-paying jobs in sectors other than heavy industry.

Immigrant Family Services Institute, Inc.’s mission is to expedite the successful integration of recent immigrants into the social and economic fabric of the United States with justice and dignity.

Alianza Americas is committed to empowering community leaders, government agencies, labor organizers, and faith-based communities to work transnationally to provide a more dignified and just way of life for all people (particularly migrant communities) living in the Americas.

Fenceline Watch is dedicated to the eradication of toxic multigenerational harm and the rapid oil and gas expansion in the Gulf Coast on communities living along the fenceline of industry.

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and Howard University School of Law are collaborating to create the Environmental Justice Clerkship at ELI, a clerkship program designed to train, mentor, and ultimately retain more law students of color in the field of environmental law while advancing meaningful environmental justice efforts.

The Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center’s mission is to serve as the University’s flagship institutional setting for the study and practice of civil rights, human rights, and racial justice law and advocacy.

The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) is a global alliance of attorneys, scientists, and other advocates collaborating across borders to help communities speak out for clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet. Through targeted funding they work to build the capacity of community advocates to protect communities and the environment through law.

Hip Hop Caucus uses the power of cultural expression to empower communities who are first and worst impacted by injustice by strengthening democracy while advocating for climate, environmental, and economic justice and human and civil rights. With TCI’s support, they work to map issues at the intersection of climate and race and develop a tangible divest/invest/both campaign strategy to engage communities and stakeholders.