Democracy Green Joins Lawsuit to Defend EPA Community Change Grant and Frontline Communities -
June 25, 2025

Democracy Green is proud to stand alongside a national coalition of plaintiffs in a federal class action lawsuit challenging the unlawful termination of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Community Change Grant (EPA CCG) program. Represented by Earthjustice and Lawyers for Good Government, this legal action demands the restoration of funds promised under the Inflation Reduction Act to communities historically overburdened by environmental injustice.

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The EPA CCG program was designed to deliver transformative investments directly to frontline communities through grants to nonprofit organizations, Tribes, local governments, and educational institutions. Funded projects nationwide include lead pipe replacement, air quality monitoring, pollution notification systems, wetland and stream restoration, and resilience infrastructure in neighborhoods most vulnerable to climate disasters.

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Democracy Green was one of the first organizations in North Carolina selected for this historic grant. Our projects, focused on replacing toxic lead service lines and restoring wetlands, center Black, Brown, Indigenous and low-wealth communities long excluded from clean water infrastructure and environmental protections.

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“The sudden, unlawful freeze and attempted termination of these grants has caused direct harm to our community members, many of whom were already engaged in outreach, water testing, and lead pipe replacement preparation under the assumption that federal promises would be honored,” said Sanja Whittington, Executive Director of Democracy Green. “This isn’t just a legal fight. It’s a fight for the right of our communities to survive, to access safe drinking water, and to defend their homes from climate collapse.”

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“We have witnessed firsthand the devastation that environmental neglect has caused in our communities,” added Prof. La’Meshia Whittington, President of the Board of Democracy Green. “Our organization stands firmly in defense of those who have waited for far too long for clean water, restored ecosystems, and true federal accountability. The promise of the EPA Community Change Grant must be fulfilled.”

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“This administration’s actions blatantly violate the law,” said Hana Vizcarra, attorney at Earthjustice. “These grants were lawfully awarded and backed by Congressional mandate. Communities should not be punished for doing the hard work of environmental justice.”

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Democracy Green remains steadfast in our mission to defend the health, dignity, and rights of our communities. We are honored to join national partners in the fight to protect and restore life-saving investments in environmental justice.

#CleanWaterIsSafeWater
#FundTheFrontlines

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