Environmental Justice

Majora Carter is a life long resident and advocate for environmentally safe, sustainable development projects in the South Bronx. As a DMI Fellow, Majora focuses on environmental justice issues.

Majora is the Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx (SSB), a community organization dedicated to the implementation of sustainable development projects for the South Bronx that are informed by the needs of the community and the values of Environmental Justice. SSB was conceived to serve as a dedicated mechanism working for, not against, community's interest that could thoroughly address and implement policy and planning issues in such areas as land use, energy, transportation, water, waste, and sustainable development in the South Bronx. Its programs are designed to provide tangible projects and/or advocacy for policy decisions that advance the environmental, social and economic rebirth of the South Bronx.

Majora has spearheaded a number of sustainable development projects in the South Bronx including the South Bronx Greenway Feasibility Study, an overarching community led plan for a bicycle/pedestrian greenway along the South Bronx waterfront which will provide open space, waterfront access and opportunities for mixed-use economic development in the South Bronx, for which she authored a successful proposal for a $1.25M Federal grant.

Majora earned her MFA from the New York University in 1997, and earned her BA from Wesleyan University in 1988. In 1984 she graduated from Bronx High School of Science. Majora was the recipient of the 2000 Environmental Advocate Award for Achievements in Community Development, and served as a Open Society Institute New York City Community Fellow in 2001-2. Her projects have been featured on WCBS, WNBC, News12, BronxNet, WBAI Radio, WNYCRadio, New York Times, New York Daily News, Outside Magazine, CityLimits Magazine, Organic Style Magazine, Village Voice, Essence Magazine, and was the subject of a profile in Essence magazine in January.

Major was recently awarded a grant by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for her work.