The Gas Plant Justice Community Study
Take Action for Clean Air and Justice!
We need your help to reach 400+ households to interview anonymously in the next 2 months!
Why do we need a gas plant Community & Health Study?
Time is short to collect required, as yet unknown information about the people who live and work in the 3-mile radius of the proposed gas plant site at Dutch Gap. We need to understand what health conditions made worse by gas plant emissions already burden these residents after 80 years of exposure to coal plant emissions and 5 other high-emitting toxic pollution sources in the 3-mile radius.
Household Interviews following protocols for protections of your personal information are the only way to uncover confidential household information, listen to your voices, and report your concerns anonymously about new gas plant toxic emissions near where you live and work to air permit decision-makers.
Our community-led household research brings together community leaders to collaborate with Dr. Lakshmi Fjord, a medical anthropologist with a 10-year history of working on community and health research in Virginia. Community citizen scientists and organizations provide expertise to the Study.
Ways you can help:
Chesterfield and Henrico community leaders are needed to reach out to congregations, parent groups, service organizations, friends, family, and neighbors to ask to interview those who live and work in these impact “hotspots” closest to the site and other worst pollution sources in the 3-mile mapped area around this site.
Who is a community leader?
Anyone who is a known and trusted individual who may live, work, or do volunteer service in the 1-3 mile radius map. Some may already work or volunteer in local leadership roles, such as: faith leaders, teachers, coaches, healthcare providers, advocates for children, parent leaders, staff of service nonprofits, and more.
Sign up to serve as a community study interviewer
Why it matters
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Protect Our Health: Prevent increased air pollution and its health effects on children, seniors, and those with existing health problems.
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Defend Our Environment: Stop irreversible damage to our air, water, and environment.
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Promote Justice: Uphold VA environmental justice laws and fair treatment for all communities.
What we need to learn in interviews
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Who lives here? Household sizes, ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds
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Health impacts – Existing conditions and symptoms linked to pollution
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How outdoor spaces are used – For work, recreation, or daily life
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Community heritage – Historical sites and landmarks
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Family networks – Other relatives living nearby
Our research guarantees participants’ anonymity – no names, addresses or any identifying information will be used.
Please use this address locator app: 3-mile radius address locator
Seeking community leaders
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Recruit Study participants: as Study Leaders or household interviewees.
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Be a Study Interviewer: No research experience needed. At an Interviewer Workshop, we will train to protect participants’ private information, create questions in appropriate language, and discuss Interviewers’ scheduling. This valued community role receives compensation up to $1000 for the 2 months Study, depending upon participation level.
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Host a House Party: If you live in the 3-mile radius and host an Information meeting or an interview house party, you will receive $50 compensation for your efforts to support the research.
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At your home
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At a nearby interview house party
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At interview events
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On a Zoom call: let us know if you have internet in a private setting
For one completed all-household interview, interviewees will receive a $25 cash card to compensate for their time, plus childcare and food at group interview events.
Seeking interviewees-
If you live in the 3-mile radius, 4 ways to be interviewed:
The Gas Plant Justice Study is a community-led participatory research collaboration with local community leaders and residents to gather knowledge about their lives and experiences where they live through interviews, which are kept anonymous.
Who is conducting the Study?
The Study is led by Dr. Lakshmi Fjord in collaboration with local community leaders, who will be Interviewers to document environmental justice and health evidence for air permit decision-makers.
Local research experts and community organizations support the Study:
Dr. Mary Finley-Brook, University of Richmond, Professor of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability
Beth Zizzamia, GIS Operations Manager, Spatial Analysis Lab, University of Richmond
Mike O’Brien, Spatial Ecologist
Dr. Beth Kreydatus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Professor, Department of Focused Inquiry and Education and Outreach lead for Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment
And, CASA, Chesterfield NAACP, Friends of Chesterfield, Mothers Out Front, Sierra Club Falls of the James Group