>>> ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I AM GOING TO BE YOUR MODERATOR.

AND BY PRESIDENT AND COFOUND RB.

AND A RESEARCH FELLOW IN THE AFRICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY.

I´D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS EVENING´S PANEL POSSIBLE.

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK.

WE ARE GRATEFUL THE FRIENDS OF THE PARK DIRECTOR, LOVEJOY, FOR INVITING US TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITY MATTERS SERIES.

THIS PROGRAMMING RECEIVED A NATIONINAL DOUMT FOR THE HUMANITY´S FUNDED GRANT, FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AND THIS IS IT THE THIRD AND FINAL PANEL IN A SERIES OF CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS.

OUR FIRST PANEL WAS A TEACHING ON THE CLOSURE OF THE NEAL RESORT.

AND THE SECOND PANEL FOCUSSED ON VIRGIN ISLANDS CREOLE AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

I WOULD LIKING TO THANK EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE TEAM HERE AT WTJX FOR MAKING THE CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS POSSIBLE.

TONIGHT I´M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY MY PANELISTS, DOCTORS, JESSICA SAMUEL.

DR. JESSICA SAMUEL IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY SCHOLAR, BORN IN ST. CROIX BUT IN ALL THREE MAJOR U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AND A DOCUMENTARY FILM MAKER AND CHAIR OF THE FILM PROGRAM AT LUROEGS UNIVERSITY.

CRYSTAL HAS DIRECTED THREE SHORT FILMS BASED ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND WORKED COLLABORATIVELY TO BRING THEM TO THE BIG SCREEN.

TWO ARE TITLED "IT AIN´T EASY BEING GREEN."

AND "OUR ISLAND OUR HOME."

IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CALLS FOR BOTH EQUITABLE ACCESS TO GRANT SPACE AND FAIR SHARE OF THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT.

AND ALSO CONSIDERS THE DEGROO TO WHICH MARGINALIZED PEOPLE HAVE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS, ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF GREEN SPACES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

AS WELL AS INVOLVEMENT IN EVERY LEVEL OF PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS A VERY TRUNICATED SUMMARY OF A HANDFUL OF THE 17 PRINCIPALS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, WHICH WERE CREATED THE OCTOBER 1991 FIRST NATIONAL PEOPLE OF COLOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT HELD IN WASHINGTON D.C. WE OFTEN RECOGNIZE THAT, AT TIMES, WELL INTENTIONED ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS, SUCH AS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK OR STRATEGY, SUCH AS TOURISM AND LOCAL OIL REFINERY, CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO INHABIT OUR BELOVED SPACES.

LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND TRAVEL COMMUNITIES FACE HIGHER EXPOSURES TO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS.

VIRGIN ISLANDERS HAVE, THEREFORE, LONG ADVOCATED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

THEY STRUGGLED WITH THE VIRGIN ISLAND NATIONAL PARK.

AND KEY EXAMPLES OF OUR DEEP DESIRE AND ADVOCACY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

WE LIVE IN A SPACE THAT IS WIDELY REGARDED AS A BIT OF AN ECHO HAVEN.

WE HAVE GREEN SPACE, TURQUOISE WATERS AND MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE IN NATURE.

TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO EXPLORE HOW QUESTIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARE ROOTED IN QUESTIONS RELATED TO POWER.

PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS CONVERSATION BY POSING YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION ON FACEBOOK OR YOU CAN CALL US AT 340´ 718-3339.

TO TURN TO OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR BOTH JESSICA AND CRYSTAL TO CONSIDER.

YOU HAVE BOTH WRITTEN COMPELLING DISSERTATIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES IN ST. JOHN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AND TITLED PRODUCING AND PRESERVING PARK ISLAND.

TRANSFORMING ST. JOHN VIRGIN ISLANDS INTO A LEISURE SPACE.

AND JESSICA´S DISSERTATION IS "CONSUMING AMERICA´S PARADISE.

EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION IN ST.

JOHN."

CAN YOU BOTH TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEYS AND HOW THEY BRING MUSE TOOK ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY.

>> I CAN GO FIRST, IF THAT´S OKAY WITH YOU, CRYSTAL.

FIRST I´D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON THE PROGRAM.

I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY AND QUITE FRANKLY, A PRIVILEGE.

I REMEMBER, I THINK, THE LAST TIME WE DID SOMETHING LIKE THIS TOGETHER, WE WERE HIGH SCHOOL TEENAGERS, WORKING THROUGH THE ADVOCACY COALITION,/ -- AND IT WAS A BLESSING TO BE IN THE FACEBOOK APP.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT TRADITIONALITY IN SO MANY WORDS AND MY RELATIONSHIP TO IT, I DIDN´T ACTUALLY EXPECT I WOULD BECOME AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD OF INENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE OR EVEN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES.

HOWEVER, I THINK WHEN YOU´RE CONDUCTING COMPELLING RESEARCH, YOU REALIZE YOU GO WHERE THE DATA TAKES YOU.

MY BACKGROUND, SPECIFICALLY, IS IN EDUCATION.

ONCE I HAD COMPLETED MY UNDERGRADUATE ON COLONIZATION IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, I SPENT SEVERAL YEARS TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH.

IT WAS LEARNING THE WAYS IN WHICH THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE KINDS OF INSTITUTIONS THAT GOVERNED OUR EXISTENCE IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AS AN UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY.

I BEGAN TO SEE HOW CLONEIALITY BEGAN TO FRAME PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I WAS VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THE COLONIALTY OF MY EXISTENCE AND SPECIFICALLY ST. JOANIANS.

THE ULTIMATE QUESTION I PURSUED WAS THAT OF EDUCATION.

WHY WAS THERE NO PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL ON ST. JOHN?

SO, IN FIGURING THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, I FOUND MYSELF HAVING TO CONTEND WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

AND SPECIFICALLY THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK.

THERE´S A VERY SPECIFIC DOCUMENT THAT LET ME THERE AND THAT WAS A TRAFFIC DEGREE.

THE ACT PASSED IN 2007.

THAT WAS A BILL THAT ESSENTIALLY IS GOING TO AUTHORIZE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS GOVERNMENT TO GET INTO A AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT INTERIOR.

PRIOR TO THAT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ADMINISTRATORS HAD POSITIVE THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ST. JOHN A SCHOOL ON PARK LAND BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO LEASE THEIR LAND FOR THAT SPACE.

HOWEVER, THIS HR 53 ACT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

WHEN I FIGURE THEY EVENTUALLY PASSED THE SENATE AND BECAME RATIFIED, I STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY.

WHAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF ST. JOHN TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THIS EFFORT OF GETTING A CASE ON ISLAND COULD NOT HAPPEN THE WAY THAT ISLANDERS WANT IT TO HAPPEN.

I SAY THAT BY REALLY THINKING CRITICALLY AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WAYS THAT CERTAIN THINGS HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL DECADES.

FOUR DECADES IN TOTAL, THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN I WAS ABLE TO SEE HOW IMPORTANT THE ENVIRONMENT WAS TO THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

>> THANK YOU.

DID YOU ALSO WANT TO RESPOND?

I KNOW YOU ALSO HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF HISTORY IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN THE PARKS ON ST. JOHN.

>> YES, CERTAINLY.

THANK YOU, FIRST, OF COURSE, FOR HAVING ME JOIN THIS PANEL.

I WAS HAPPY TO BE HERE FOR THE FIRST ONE WITH CAMILLE AND NOW JOINING YOU AND DR. SAMUEL TOGETHER.

EXCITING FOR THE THREE OF US TO THINK THIS WAY TOGETHER.

AND I´M MOSTLY THANKFUL TO THE SPONSORS AS WELL.

SO, MY STORY STARTS WHEN I FINISHED MY MASTERS DEGREE AND BEEN STUDYING ABOUT HOW COMMUNITIES STRUGGLED NEXT TO NATIONAL PARKS IN RELATION TO ELEPHANTS.

SO, SOMETIMES ONE SET OF PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO PROTECT A GROUP OF ELEPHANTS.

BUT IF YOU´RE LIVING RIGHT NEXT TO THE GROUP OF ELEPHANTS, THEY MIGHT BE TRAMPLING GARDENS AND FARMS.

SO, THERE CAN BE CONFLICT BETWEEN WHAT PEOPLE WANT IN THE PLACES AROUND THEM.

I WENT TO WORK AS AN INTERN FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, ACTUALLY, IN 1993 OR 1994.

MOVED FROM THAT TO AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION.

I´M STUDYING AND LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.

FROM THERE I WENT TO A FULL-TIME POSITION AT WHAT´S CALLED THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION BASED IN WASHINGTON D.C. TRR THAT´S ESSENTIALLY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICES OFFICIAL PRIVATE PARTNER THAT RAISES FUNDS FOR THE WHOLE PARK SYSTEM.

IN ADDITION TO BEING FUNDED BY TAX DOLLARS, THERE´S AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION.

SO, I WAS WORKING THERE IN 1990s.

1995.

AND HURRICANE MEL HURT IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I GOT A CALL FROM A GROUP CALLED THE FRIENDS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK.

MY JOB WAS TO INTERACT WITH FRIENDS GROUPS AT ALL OF THE PARKS.

THEY SAID OUR KIOSK HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY MARYLAND.

WE NEED ANOTHER WAY TO RAISE MONEY.

CAN YOU HELP US GET GRANTS AND GET THIS BACK TOGETHER?

AND IN PART, OF COURSE, BECAUSE IN MOST OF THE SYSTEMS OF EDUCATION THAT I HAVE HAD GROWING UP, THERE WEREN´T ANY CONVERSATIONS REALLY ABOUT U.S.

TERRITORIES.

SO, I WAS FAMILIARIZING MYSELF WITH EVERYTHING.

I HELPED THEM WITH MONEY OR HELPED THEM FIND A GRANT OUTLET.

THEY SAID WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE OUR INTERN THIS COMING SUMMER?

AND I SAID SURE.

AN INTERNSHIP IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS SOUNDS GREAT.

AND I MENTION ALL OF THIS TO SAY I HAD A LONG HISTORY OF EXPERIENCE STUDYING, THINKING ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK AS WELL AS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK.

I GOT THERE EXCITED ABOUT NATIONAL PARKS.

AND WITHIN MAYBE A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WAS LIKE WOW.

WHAT´S GOING ON HERE?

IT DIDN´T TAKE THAT LONG TO SEE THAT THERE WAS A COMPLICATED HISTORY, FRUSTRATION, INJUSTICE.

AND SO, BASED ON MY INTERNSHIP, LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE GROUP.

AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND WENT ON TO GET MY Ph.D., WHICH I DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, HAVING JUST SPENT TIME THERE AND THINKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND INJUSTICE.

MY Ph.D. WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, WHICH HAS A LONG HISTORY OF TIES TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

I TRAINED WITH REMARKABLE SCHOLARS TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND STARTING TO APPLY TO SAINT JOHN NATIONAL PARK IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

MY RESEARCH LOOKS AT THE LINK BETWEEN REAL ESTATE.

SO, REAL ESTATE, CONSERVATION AND TOURISM.

AND LOOKED AT THAT OVER 100-YEAR PERIOD.

AND REALLY STARTED TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPLICATED PROBLEMATIC HISTORY OF CREATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK AND HOW LITTLE THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED.

SO, THAT´S WHERE I AM AND HOW I´M LINKED TO THIS.

MOST RECENTLY, I´VE BEEN MAKING FILMS, WORKING WITH MISS THEODORA AND THE MOST RECENT FILM OUT IN MARCH, APRIL, MAY OF NEXT YEAR CALLED "RECLAIMING OUR ISLAND."

WHICH LOOKS AT SPECIFIC OF THE ACTUAL MOMENTS OF THE CREATION OF THE PARK.

>> DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL TRAJECTORIES.

OFTEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACADEMIC RESEARCH, I THINK IT´S IMPORTANT TO SAY A BIT ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE COME TO THE WORK WE DO.

IN MANY WAYS, LIKE JESS CU, I DIDN´T ACTUALLY BEGIN MY OWN ACADEMIC WORK WITH THE INTENTION OF WRITING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

I WAS DOING MY Ph.D. AT BROWN UNIVERSITY IN AFRICANA STUDIES.

AND ATTEMPTING TO UNDERSTAND VIRGIN ISLANDERS´ HESITATION IN THE FACE OF THE POLITICAL STATUS QUESTION.

IN CONDUCTING THE RESEARCH AND HOLDING INTERVIEWS WITH VIRGIN ISLANDERS, I REALIZE THAT, AS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCES, AS A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY AND THINKING ABOUT POWER THROUGH OUR LIVES, WE REALLY OFTEN MEDIATE A LOT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS THROUGH QUESTIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

MANY OF MY RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS WANTED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK, ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH HURRICANE MARYLAND AND MARIA HIT WHILE I WAS CONDUCTING THE DISSERTATION FIELD WORK.

IT BECAME CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, REALLY, TO THINK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR RACES AND OUR ETHNICITY, OUR GENDER, SEX, IDENTITY.

OUR CLASS.

AND ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE CURRENTLY INHABIT.

SO, I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH TO REFLECT A BIT ON WHAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT OR CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUE IN ST. JOHN.

I KNOW WE´VE TALKED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE PARK AND MANY OF US ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

AS PEOPLE WHO RECENTLY EXPERIENCED HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA AND NOW THINKING ABOUT THE WAYS THAT CLIMATE INJUSTICE IMPACTS US AS VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE HAS PLAYED OUT IN ST. JOHN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> OKAY.

SO, YOU´RE ASKING US TO REFLECT ON THE LARGEST ISSUES THAT WE SEE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE.

AND THE FIRST PLACE THAT ONE SHOULD START, I THINK IS THE STATS OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS IS U.S.

TERRITORY ALSO KNOWN AS A COLONY AND OTHER WORDS.

LISTED THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY.

ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE HAS TO BE SITUATED IN THAT MUCH LARGER CONVERSATION.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE, FOR ME, AT THIS POINT, IT´S ALMOST AS IF -- I CAN HAVE LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THE FRIENDS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK MIGHT TAKE THIS, TAKE THAT.

HOW YOU COULD END UP WITH BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITIES IN ST. JOHN.

AND THERE´S ALWAYS, SITTING ABOVE THAT, WHICH IS YOU CAN´T KEEP THE STATUS, IN MY PERSPECTIVE, GOING TOGETHER.

IT´S 21st CENTURY.

HOW LONG IS THE U.S.

GOING TO HAVE A COLONIAL TERRITORY AS PART OF IT?

AT SOME POINT, WHETHER IT´S IN OUR LIFETIME OR LATER.

I HOPE THIS LIFETIME, THAT THERE´S A STATUS CHANGE, WHETHER WHATEVER THAT ENDS UP BEING, THAT U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS MOVE TO.

WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF THE FRIENDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT?

I THINK IT´S A WISE DECISION FOR ANYBODY TO LINK TO FEDERAL SYSTEMS, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WHAT WOULD YOU LOOK LIKE IN AN INDEPENDENT VIRGIN ISLANDS?

IF YOU WANT THE PARK TO STILL BE THERE, YOU HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT´S RELEVANT TO VIRGIN ISLANDERS IN A NEW SPACE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW TO MAKE THE PARK THE MOST RELEVANT TOP PRIORITY?

IT PROBABLY WOULDN´T BE LOOKING EXACTLY AS IT DOES RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE THERE ARE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, MORE VIRGIN ISLANDERS AND INSTITUTIONS.

SO, HOW ARE YOU PUSHING NOW TOWARDS THINKING ABOUT THAT?

AND EVEN IF YOU DON´T SEE THAT AS IMMEDIATE, IT STILL MAKES SENSE FOR OTHER REASONS TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE OF THE PAST.

THIS LITERALLY INCLUDING THE CREATION OF THAT SPACE IS PROBLEMATIC.

LITERALLY HOW SOME OF THE LAND CAME TO BE ACQUIRED IS WORTH MANY CONVERSATIONS THAT THE FILM´S GOING TO LOOK AT, THAT SOME OF MY WORK LOOKS AT.

IT´S HARD FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL SMALL ISSUES WITHOUT ADDRESSING THAT BIG QUESTION FIRST.

I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT AS AN EARLY PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE BIG QUESTION OUT THERE BECAUSE IT´S A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE AND I WOULD ARGUE, AT THE ROOT OF A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE.

JESSICA, DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND?

>> CERTAINLY.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU, CRYSTAL.

I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT THINK OF ENVIRONMENTINAL JUSTICE.

AT LEAST IN THE CONTEXT OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDERS WITHOUT CONTENDING WITH OUR STATUS.

ALONG THOSE LINES, I THINK SIMILARLY AND IF NOT JUST AS PRESSING ISSUE AS PERTAINS TO ENVIRONMENT IS REALLY THE CONCEPTION OF LAND AND THE CONCEPTION OF SPACE THAT GOVERN WHAT OCCURS IN THEM.

AND WHAT OTHER KINDS OF PROJECTS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED AND WHAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN REJECTED AND NOT SUPPORTED.

WHAT´S FASCINATING IS WHEN WE FACE THE HISTORY OF CONSERVATION, THE MODELS AND PRINCIPALSERAL REALLY BESTED IN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENT, OF LAND, OF WHO BELONGS TO IT AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST WAYS TO TREAT IT.

AND WE CAN IMAGINE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE CONSIDERED AS PARTLY ABLE TO AND SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO LAND AND TO THE ENVIRONMENT SPACE.

DON´T ALWAYS REPRESENT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT LOOK LIKE AFRO-CARIBBEAN, ISLAND COLONIAL SUBJECTS.

WHAT WE´RE STRUGGLING WITH AS PERTAINS TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?

AND WHAT ARE SOME OF OUR GUIDING IDEAS, THEOLOGY AND THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THEY SHOULD BE TREATED?

WHEN YOU THINK OF THE CONCEPTION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, IT REALLY IS PRETICATED ON THE NOTION OF TOURISM AND CONSUMPTION.

IN ADDITION TO CONSERVING SPACE AND LAND, RIGHT?

FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING ABLE TO CONSUME AND I´M PARAPHRASING THE MISSION STATEMENT HERE, TO INSPIRE AND FOR THE INSPIRATION, RATHER, AND FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS.

NOW, IF YOU TAKE THE MISSION STATEMENT IN ITS WHOLE AND REALLY BREAK IT INTO ITS INDIVIDUAL PARTS OF SNIFFIFICATION, WHAT YOU FIND IS REALLY THE CONCEPTION OF THE ENTIRE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND FUTURE AMERICAN CITIZENS DOES NOT ACTUALLY INCLUDE SOME OF THE MOST MARGINAL STEPS OF AMERICANS.

AND CERTAINLY, IN THE FOUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION, DID NOT INCLUDE PEOPLE BELONGING TO THE TERRITORY.

SO, WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THAT HISTORY, RIGHT?

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AS AN INSTITUTION, WAS NOT FRAMED NOR ESTABLISHED WITH BLACK PEOPLE, MARGINAL PEOPLE, NATIVE, TRIBAL PEOPLE IN MIND, QUITE FRANKLY.

AND IF WE DON´T TAKE THE TIME TO CONSIDER WHAT THAT MEANS FOR HOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND INJUSTICE THAT OCCURS IN IT, AND I WANTED TO ADD ONE OF THE IRONIC THINGS ABOUT THE NATION LT PARK SPECIFICALLY, AS A TENANT OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS CONSERVATION AS THE KIND OF MOTES.

APREN DAY IS ABOUT PAT RAMONY.

IN MY RESEARCH, EDUCATION IS QUITE FRANKLY ABOUT THE SAME THING.

IT´S REALLY CONCERNED WITH THE FUTURE AND WHO AND WHAT IS IN IT FOR US, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE WAYS EDUCATION AS A PROCESS SO, QUITE SIMPLY, WHEN WE THINK OF ONE DESERVING OF OUR INTENTION, WHERE DO OUR POLITICAL STRUGGLES LIE IN THE CONVERSATION?

WE´RE ESSENTIALLY TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS AND IS CRITICAL IN OUR SITUATION.

>> ONE I FEEL WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OFTEN, AS VIRGIN ISLANDERS AND PEOPLE WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN ST. JOHN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, IT´S IMPORTANT TO LINK SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS TO, ONE, THE LARGER COLONIAL HISTORY, AND TWO, THE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE ISSUES THAT TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE WIDER CARIBBEAN AND OTHER PARTS OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA.

SO, FOR MANY LISTENERS, SOME WHO MAY BE NEW CONVERSATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ONE, WHEN WE DISCUSS EARLIER COLONIAL ERA, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE PLANTATION SYSTEM, A LOT OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ARE GROUND SAID IN THE PARTICULAR DYNAMIC.

SO, PLANTATION ECONOMIES AND AGRICULTURE AS WELL AS THE WIDE-SPREAD DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND TO TURN A PROFIT, OF COURSE, HAS ENVIRONMENTAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS AND OF COURSE, AS WE KNOW IT IMPACTS ON THOSE OF US WHO ARE RACIALIZED AS BLACK OR BROWN UNDER THE COLONIAL SYSTEM.

SO OFTEN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, IT BECOMES DEEPLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE WAYS IN WHICH BOTH THE PERSON AND THE LAND ARE EXPLOITED FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH UNDER A CAPITALIST BUT ALSO RACIALIZED ECONOMY.

SO, THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, ESPECIALLY AS WE SEE THEED A VENT OF TOURISM AND RISE OF A LUXURY TOURISM MODEL WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH SOME OF THE WAYS OTHE MERE NOTION OF PARADISE IS GROUNDED IN A FORM OF SOCIAL RELATIONS AND A SYSTEM OF DOMINATION THAT INCLUDES EXPLOITATION AND EXTRACTION OF LAND AS WELL AS PEOPLE.

WE GRAPPLE WITH THIS AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS IN THE HISTORY OF THE FREE BEACH MOVEMENT, ESPECIALLY THINKING ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH ACCESS TO COASTAL AREAS AND PRISTINE PROPERTIES WAS CONSTRUCTED AS A PRIVILEGE.

FOR A WHITE AMERICAN TOURIST AND/OR WEALTHIER RESIDENT.

AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE WAYS OUR EXPERIENCE WITH CLIMATE INJUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT AND HERE WE CAN THINK OF BOTH THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK AND OIL REFINERY IN ST. CROIX.

BOTH REALLY FORCE US TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE PROCESSES BY WHICH THIS EXPLOITATION COMES TO GUIDE HOW WE CONSTRUCT OUR ECONOMY, HOW WE THINK ABOUT GREEN SPACE, WHO WE BELIEVE IS THE LEISURE ORIENTED INDIVIDUAL.

THE PERSON BEST POSITIONED TO ENJOY THE GREEN SPACE AND AFTER MATH OF HURRICANES MARIA AND MARYLAND, ESPECIALLY.

AND WHEN WE REALIZED THAT CARIBBEAN ISLAND TERRITORIES AND NATIONS ARE NOT MAVSZ CONTRIBUTORS TO GLOBAL WARMING, HOWEVER, WE FIND OURSELVESEN THE FRONTLINES OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

AND IN TERRITORIES, LIKE THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO, WE THEN REALIZE A GREAT DEAL OF AID, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO RESOURCES IS MEDIATED BY A GOVERNMENT IN WHICH WE DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE FULL CITIZENRY OR ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION.

AND SO EVERY ASPECT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SEEMS LIKE A VERY ABSTRACT TOPIC BUT IT´S RELEVANT TO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES.

I KNOW YOU TALK A GREAT DEAL ABOUT EXTINCTION IN YOUR WORK AND SPECIFICALLY WORK WITH VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK AND A LACK OF A HIGH SCHOOL OR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL ON ST. JOHN.

AND I KNOW FOR MANY, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE AND RACE AND COLONIALISM MAY NOT ALWAYS SEEM INCREDIBLY CLEAR.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT TO SOMEONE GETTING INTO THE MEAT OF THE ISSUES.

>> I LEARNED SUCH A GREAT DEAL ABOUT HOW MUCH ANCESTRALS ISLANDERS VALUE EDUCATION.

LOCAL PEOPLE ALWAYS HAD A HAND IN THE LOCAL DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION [ INAUDIBLE ] >> IT´S BEEN QUITE -- IT´S BEEN QUITE THE PROCESS GETTING INFORMATION ON HOW OTHER VIRGIN ISLANDERS HAVE BEEN.

AND ITS HISTORY HAS BEEN ILLUSIVE TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE.

AS PERTAINS THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND CONSERVATION, SPECIFICALLY, AS EARLY AS 1970s, VIRGIN ISLANDERS HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN GETTING PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL ON THE ISLAND.

AND SPECIFICALLY, ST. JOANIANS HAVE WANTED A K THROUGH 12 FACILITY.

A LOT OF THAT IS BASED ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CURRENT AND LAST REMAINING PUBLIC SCHOOL ON THE ISLAND JUST IS NOT IN THE MOST IDEAL POSITION FOR STUDENTS.

IT´S IN THE HEART, A QUITE CONGESTED AREA.

A STONE´S THROW FROM THE NEAREST BAR.

AND JUST NOT A SPACE CONDUCIVE FOR THE KIND OF RIGOROUS AND COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING OUR STUDENTS DESERVE.

HOWEVER, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, AS PEOPLE STRUGGLE AND PROTECTED FOR THE SPACE IS A PLACE TO MAKE THIS K THROUGH 12, IT WAS ONLY UNTIL 2007 THAT REAL TRACTION WAS MADE.

AND LUCKILY THAT WAS THROUGH THE LONG SUFFERING AND VERY INTENTIONAL EFFORTS OF SO MANY LOCAL ST. JOHNIANS.

THEY HAD CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN AND IN PARTICULAR, I´M THINKING OF THE ONE CATHOLIC GROUP THAT INCLUDED PEOPLE LIKE BONNY JONES, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT ST. JOHN AND CONTINUOUSLY WORK TO MAKE THE SPACE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLES´ NEEDS.

>>> AND AT THE TIME OUR FORMER DELEGATE TO CONGRESS WAS AT THE HELM OF THIS WORK AND IT WAS THROUGH HER OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION, IN ADDITION TO A NUMBER OF TESTIMONIES GIVEN TO CONGRESS, THAT IT WAS EVENTUALLY PROPOSED AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REPRESENTATIONS OF MOVEMENT BEING MADE FOR THE SAKE OF THE SCHOOL.

NOW, THE FACT THAT LEGISLATION DID NOT GET RATIFIED AND DID NOT BECOME A LAW SHOULD REALLY CONCERN US.

BECAUSE WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE MOMENT IN HISTORY IS THERE ARE MANY FACTIONS ON SAINT JOHN.

THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO INVESTED IN THE ISLAND FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL AND POLITICAL REASONS, WHO DO NOT SEE THE SAME VALUE IN AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY, THE WAY THAT PERHAPS LOCAL NATIVE PEOPLE MAY SEE IT.

SO, THERE´S A KIND OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMPLIMENTARY UNITED STATES THAT IT´S HAD BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONTINENTAL TRANSPLANTS, VERSES THOSE OF US WHO ARE NATIVE-BORN VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

WE DON´T COME FROM STATES WITH CONGRESSMAN AND SENATORS WITH VOTING RIGHTS.

WE COME WITH A TERRITORY AND A NON-VOTING DELEGATE THAT DOES ALL SHE CAN FOR ADVOCACY AND VERSION OF LOBBYING TO GET EVERYTHING THIS TERRITORY NEEDS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR GOVERNMENT.

WHAT WAS FASCINATING IS WE FOUND INDIVIDUALS WITH GREATER POLITICAL ACCESS AND ACCESS TO GREATER POLITICAL CHANNELS WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOMETHING DISAPPEAR THAT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE.

AND SO, THIS IS WHERE THE ENVIRONMENT, WHO IS IN IT AND WHO HAS A SAY ABOUT IT RELATES TO EDUCATION SPECIFICALLY.

BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT´S ABOUT WHO GETS THE FINAL SAY ON WHAT BELONGS IN THE SPACE AND WHAT DOES NOT BELONG IN THE SPACE.

>> RIGHT.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING US THROUGH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THESE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, RACE AND COLONIALTY.

I WANT TO REMIND OUR VIEWERS THAT THE PHONE LINES ARE OPEN AND THAT YOU CAN POSE YOUR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, IN THE FACEBOOK COMMENTS SECTION OR GIVE US A CALL.

AND TO RETURN BACK TO YOUR STATEMENT, JESSICA, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS CRITICAL TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE FACT THAT OFTEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS, I THINK SO MUCH OF THE REPRESENTATION ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS FOCUSES ON THE MOST PRIVILEGED INDIVIDUALS IN THAT MOVEMENT.

SO, IT BECOMES IMPORTANT.

SO MANY VIRGIN ISLANDERS HAVE LONG DONE THE PART OF ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE.

AND MORHEAD AND THE WORK THAT HE DID TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE PLAN TO CONDEMN THE ISLAND OF ST. JOHN FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK.

WE CAN THINK ABOUT THE COUNTLESS ADVOCATES WHO PUSHED FOR ACCESS TO VIRGIN ISLANDS BEACHES, AS WELL AS THE CONTEMPORARY ORGANIZERS WHO HIGHLIGHT THE DANGERS OF THE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING AN OIL REFINERY IN THE TERRITORY.

AND SO, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU .

CRYSTAL.

BUT BEFORE WE GO TO THAT, THERE´S A FACEBOOK COMMENT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE.

FROM OUR MEMBER OF OUR AUDIENCE.

SO, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM TONIA LOVEJOY.

TONIA IS ASKING WHEN WAS THE LAND SWAP DETERMINED TO BE THE ONLY LAND AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOL?

SHE KNOWS I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT GOVERNOR MAP REFUSED THE SWAP, SITING THE TERRITORY HAD LAND.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS REGARDING THE LOT BETWEEN CATHERINEBERG AND WHISTLING KEY?

AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS HAPPENING, CORRECT.

DO EITHER OF YOU HAVE CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY REGARDING THE LAND SWAP SPECIFICALLY WHERE IT STANDS AT THIS CURRENT MOMENT?

>> YEAH, SO PEOPLE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE HISTORY, THE TIMELINE.

WHEN I REFER TO 2007, I´M REFERRING TO IT BECAUSE I THINK IT´S SUCH A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN ST. JOHNIAN HISTORY AND FOR THE FIGHT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL.

THAT´S NOT TO SAY THE FIGHT IS OVER OR DONE.

FOR THOSE OF US KEEPING UP WITH DEPARTMENT OF EDGE INDICATIONS AND THEIR MANY EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE AND REVAMP EDUCATION IN THE TERRITORY, THERE HAVE BEEN AMAZING IMPROVEMENTS AND PROJECTIONS FOR A COOL L SCHOOL ON THE ISLAND OF ST. JOHN.

WHAT THIS IS REFERENCING IS IN FACT THE OPTION TO LEASE LAND.

THERE´S A DISTINCTION BETWEEN WANTING ONE THROUGH LEASE AND WANTING TO SWAP.

OVER THE YEARS, I THINK MANY ST. JOHNIANS FIGURED AND CAME THE REALIZATION IT WAS A LOSING BATTLE TO INSIST ON LEASING LAND AND THE PRIORITY OF GETTING A SCHOOL ON THE ISLAND WAS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PRECISE DETAILS AROUND HOW AND EXACTLY HOW THAT IS REALIZED.

IT´S AMAZING WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WE HAVE MADE AMAZING STRIDES AND SO, WE EXPECTING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE PROJECTION IN PLANS, DEVELOPMENT IN ST. JOHN FOR A K THROUGH 12 EDUCATIONAL FACILITY.

THERE WAS A KMISRY NOTE THAT WAS SIGNED BY DONALD TRUMP, WHEN HE WAS IN OFFICE.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, THAT BASICALLY GAVE THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE.

IT´S A PROMSARY NOTE.

SO, IT´S NOT BINDING.

HOPEFULLY WITH THE GALVANIZED MOMENTUM WE´VE BEEN ABLE TO GATHER, THIS WILL IN FACT COME INTO REALIZATION.

BUT I REALLY, AS A SCHOLAR, I HARP ON THIS MATTER OF LEASHING VERSES WATCHING.

BECAUSE I THINK IT´S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND.

WHAT I FOUND IN MY REVIRT, WERE TALKING TO NATIVE, ANCESTRAL VIRGIN ISLANDERS WAS LEASING THE LAND WAS A MATTER OF DIRECTLY CONTENDING WITH THE NATIONAL PARK ALLEGED JURISDICTION OVER THE ENVIRONMENT.

AS AN ENTITY THAT OCCUPIES AND CONTROLS TWO-THIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF ST. JOHN, I THINK FOR MANY ST. JOHNIANS INSISTING LAND WAS LEASED RATHER THAN SWAPPED.

SO, WE DON´T HAVE TO GIVE YOU LAND TO GET A PIECE OF LAND TO PUT A SCHOOL WAS REALLY A MATTER OF SAYING HEY, CAN WE TAKE A MOMENT TO CONSIDER HOW DEEPLY UNJUST AND PROBABLY UNFAIR THAT MIGHT BE, RIGHT?

THAT AFTER ALL THE LAND THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN OCCUPIED, YOU WANT TO CREATE A PREDICAMENT WHERE WE HAVE TO GIVE UP SOMETHING TO GET SOMETHING FOR WHAT IS ALREADY SO MUCH OF WHAT WE POSSESS?

I THINK IT´S FASCINATING THAT, OVER THE YEARS, MANY PEOPLE HAVE REALLY MADE IT THEIR INTENTION TO TALK ABOUT LEASING VERSES SWAPPING BECAUSE WHAT THEY´RE REALLY TRYING TO INSIST ON IS THE NATIONAL PARK RECONSIDER ITS VAST JURISDICTION AND THE WAYS IN WHICH IT HAS TAKEN UP SO MUCH LAND.

BUT THAT IS NOT TO SHADE ITS EFFORTS BUT SO THEY CAN THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THE IMPLICATION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO SAY IF YOU WANT LAND FOR A SCHOOL, YOU NEED TO GIVE US LAND IN RETURN.

>> YES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CALLEREN THE LINE.

GALE, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTION.

I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP IN HERE.

AND SPECIFICALLY, I KNOW SO MUCH OF OUR CONVERSATION ENVIRONMENTALISM AND OFTEN DOMINATED BY MORE PRIVILEGED PEOPLE AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND CONSERVATION AND ADVOCATING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY TO BE A GREAT AND INCREDIBLE THING.

SO, I´M HOPING YOU CAN HELP ILLUSTRATE FOR US, WHY EXACTLY IT´S REALLY IMPORT TONIGHT TALK ABOUT ISSUES OF RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY, COLONIALTY, AS WELL AS JUSTICE RB WHEN WE BRING UP ISSUES RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> I THINK I´LL JUMP IN, TO LINK BACK TO QUESTIONS YOU SAID EARLIER AND BACK TO THE QUESTION YOU POSED NOW.

EARLY ON, YOU SAID THE CONVERSATION IS ABOUT POWER.

AND YOU MENTIONED IN POINTING OUT ABOUT THE SCHOOL IN THE PROCESS OF HOW LONG IT CAN TAKE FOR CHANGE TO TAKE PLACE.

AND I THINK TO MYSELF ABOUT A VERY SPECIFIC SITUATION.

I WROTE AN ARTICLE IN 2007 PUBLISHED AS A CRITIQUE, AN OPEN CRITIQUE.

AND IN THAT PIECE, I HAD SUGGESTED MORE FOCUS ON PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

THROUGH THEIR PROGRAM.

AT THE TIME IT WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.

FASH FORWARD TO TODAY.

AND I BELIEVE THE PLANS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT TOO, CONTINUE TO GROW THAT PROGRAM, THERE´S A NEW RECENT PROGRAM, SCHOLARSHIP.

THEY HAVE ANOTHER.

WHEN I PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND LOOK AT IT, THE FRIENDS OF THE PARK, IN THEIR 2021 ANNUAL MEETING SAY THEY HAVE $8.595 MILLION OF PROJECT CONTRIBUTION OVER 30 YEARS TO THE PARK.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, LESS THAN 1% IS THE PROJECT.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS AND THINK ABOUT THINGS CAN HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY AND HOW IS IT OVER A PERIOD OF THAT AMOUNT OF TIME THERE´S SO LITTLE CHANGE?

IT COULD BE NEW LEADERSHIP ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAN.

COULD BE A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS.

AND IT SEEMS TO ME THERE´S GREAT OPPORTUNITIES HERE FOR THE FRIENDS AND OTHER GROUPS TO THINK ABOUT HOW CAN YOU MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY?

BECAUSE IT´SULE WAYS BEEN OUT OF TIME.

IF YOU WATCH ST. JOHN, WHO´S GOING TO BE LIVING ON ST. JOHN IN TEN YEARS?

AND WHERE ARE THEY PUTTING THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE THINGS CHANGE?

AND THE FRIENDS HAVE AN OFFER CALLED VILLAGE FOR THE PARK.

THIS WILL GET US BACK TO REAL ESTATE AND THE FRIENDS.

NEXT WEEK THERE ARE BIDDING AUCTIONS ON VILLAS.

$1,520,000.

THAT´S GO TOOK BE CASH THAT COMES RIGHT IN THE FRIENDS.

PRESUMABLY, IF IT´S POSSIBLE, CAN SOME OF THAT GO DIRECTLY TO A $20,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR A VIRGIN ISLANDS STUDENT?

OR IS IT ANOTHER 15 YEARS BEFORE IT MOVES FROM $2,500 TO $4,000?

WHERE CAN THE CHANGES TAKE PLACE THAT CAN SHIFT THINGS WITHOUT PEOPLE HAVING TO STRUGGLE FOR 20 YEARS JUST TO GET MORE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AS AN ORGANIZATION.

SO, ROUND BACK TO THE QUESTION YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT, I THINK WE HAVE TO WATCH AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHO´S WORKING AT ORGANIZATIONS, WHO´S THE STAFF, THE BOARD.

AND JESSICA BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER AS WELL.

IS IT A PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO WORK?

IT´S NOT ONLY A QUESTION OF ARE YOU OPEN TO BUT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION A PLACE WHERE VIRGIN ISLANDERS WANT TO BE A PART OF?

HOW DO YOU STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT THAT?

IS THE KIND OF FOCUS OF ACTIVITIES YOU HAVE GOING ON?

YOU MIGHT BRING IN SOMEBODY.

AND THERE´S SOME IMPROVEMENT.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE FRIENDS FROM 2007 TO 2020, THERE ARE CHANGES.

WHY, HOW IS AN ORGANIZATION ABLE TO REFLECT BACK AND THINK ABOUT THE MORE DIVERSE YOUR ORGANIZATION IS, IS ONE THING.

BUT YOU´RE MAKING IT A PLACE REFLECTING WHAT VIRGIN ISLANDERS WANT TO BE A PART OF.

I THINK IT´S AN IMPORTANT PLACE FOR CONVERSATION AS WELL WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

WE HAVE ENGAGED CALLERS AND PEOPLE ON THE LINE.

I´M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ANSWER GALE.

YOU´RE LIVE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS CONVERSATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN ST. JOHN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

WHAT QUESTION DO YOU HAVE US