A PROGRAM OF
About Us
The Beloved DMV Environmental Justice Collective is a group of Black clergy and green leaders in the DMV that advocates for environmental justice and sustainable practices within our houses of worship and beyond, hosted by Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA).
The Black church has the power to embrace its role in environmental justice, define a sustainable future for the community, and change the world for the better.
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to empower Black churches to take an active role in environmental justice and sustainability, fostering a sense of responsibility for the well-being of their communities. We envision a future where Black churches are at the forefront of environmental advocacy, leading the way towards healthier and more sustainable communities.
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Beloved DMV Environmental Justice Collective serves as a hub to share resources, environmental events, advocacy opportunities, and thought leadership on how the Black Church can advance environmental justice and build power to promote the health and physical, mental, and spiritual wellness of our communities. The Collective advocates for clean energy, conservation, responsible stewardship of Creation, and environmental justice. We seek to address the environmental issues that concern the communities we serve.​​
- How We Work -
The Jemez Principles of Democratic Organizing – developed by members of the environmental justice movement to create a shared understanding among people from different cultures, politics, and organizations – will guide our organizing process and determine our focus. In short, these principles call us to be inclusive, organize from the bottom up, let people speak for themselves, work together in solidarity and mutuality, build just relationships among ourselves, and commit to self-transformation.
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Robin Lewis
Group Facilitator
Robin Lewis (she/her) convened and now facilitates Beloved DMV Environmental Justice Collective. As the Director for Climate Equity at Interfaith Power and Light DMV (IPL DMV), Robin believes that she has been called as a Christian to be a voice for environmental justice and equity in her community.After working in business for a long time, she found satisfaction in helping to educate others, in particular Black, brown and underserved communities, to engage and advocate for environmental policies that promote justice, wellbeing, and a better quality of life. As a result, she shifted her career focus to community engagement and organizing with various local grassroots and faith-based organizations to help to promote collaboration on environmental justice and equity issues.Robin is the Director of the Social Justice Ministry for her church, Beloved Community Church UCC in Accokeek, MD. She also serves on the board of WhyHunger and Baltimore Green Justice Workers Cooperative, and as a member of the Advisory Committee for the DC Contractor Incubator convened by Emerald Cities Collaborative.In addition to obtaining her BA in Economics and MBA from Rutgers University, Robin has a Masters in Sustainable Urban Planning with a concentration in Climate Change from George Washington University. Robin’s research has focused on the socio-economic aspects of sustainability in urban revitalization, such as issues relating to displacement, gentrification, and affordable housing. Robin feels blessed that she can combine her faith with her passion for environmental justice to her work.
Joshua Long
Group Co-Facilitator
Joshua Long (he/him) As congregational organizer at Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA), Joshua loves helping the Collective’s Black churches and other congregations across our region undertake environmental justice ministry and greening efforts. Joshua graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary, an award-winning public theologian and an inspirational musician. His musical thesis on climate and faith explored how sacred music can foster spiritual experiences and build communities of hope and justice, and debuted in April 2024 as the album We Are Earth. Joshua brings a pluralist theological perspective with a background in several Christian denominations, interfaith work, and Unitarian Universalism. Josh has served on the board of directors for the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth (2020-22) and through his internship at Rock Spring United Church of Christ has worked with Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions on several projects and events.Josh loves to spend time with his wife Tabitha, their son Elijah, and Cat Calypso. He enjoys music, hiking, sushi, and nerding out on Linkin Park, Star Wars, and Dragonball.
With Gratitude...
Preshona Ambri for designing this website. Based in Washington DC SE, Preshona is a non-traditional, multimedia teaching artist / “artivist” whose purpose and mission is to spread the stories of people of color - and women of color - on this planet.
Caryl Henry Alexander for creating our logo art. Based in Camp Springs, Maryland, Caryl’s work has harnessed the power of creative collaboration with multi-generational, multicultural, and interfaith communities to conceive, design, and implement community art projects in diverse public settings around the globe.
