This summer, one of my goals was to get my youth to better understand their role as urban citizens in the green movement. However, miles away from the problem of melting ice caps and drowning polar bear and living in a community where there is little green space, how do we make sure low-income people, especially the youth, are not left out of the green movement. It is easy to build green buildings and public transportation systems that promote lowered gas emission, but at what expense? As the inner city is being green-washed, are we marginalizing the communities that already exist there? Is there a way to improve society that improves housing, promotes health, empowers workers and youth, and avoids gentrification all at the same time?

At the environmental justice panel on Thursday, four speakers made it seem like it was possible. Doug Brugge from Tufts Medical School, John Bolduc from the City of Cambirdge, Andrew Motta from Artists for Humanity, and Aaron Tanaka from Boston Worker’s Alliance truly highlighted the intersectionality of all of these social chanllenges. There is no hierarchy of problems – today’s solutions need to address multiple layers. I think the diversity of the panelists truly highlighted the stength of PBHA. Although PBHA’s broad scope of programming oftens poses several challenges to nonprofit management, it is very assuring that the greater PBHA family is addressing wider issues and that in this environment, students may be possibly generating the creative programs and campaigns that address ecology, econony, education, and equality.

So perhaps there is hope for PBHA yet – if, as individuals, we are constantly driven to improve our own programs and initiative but, as an organization, we answer the call to improve many parts of our society, PBHA might actually be getting somewhere.

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