March 26, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a champion for environmental justice and reflecting our mission and vision, Young, Gifted & Green (YGG) celebrates the formal establishment of the People’s Environmental Justice Caucus created by Representatives Adelita Grijalva, Summer Lee, and Rashida Tlaib. The People’s Environmental Justice Caucus is a major legislative milestone and a long-overdue recognition of the frontline communities who have spent decades fighting for the basic right to breathe clean air, drink safe water, and live free from toxic exposure. For too long, the voices of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income Americans have been sidelined in the halls of power while our neighborhoods are treated as sacrifice zones. By establishing this Caucus, progressive lawmakers are signaling a shift toward systemic accountability. We see this as a vital platform to bridge the gap between grassroots advocacy and federal policy, ensuring that those most impacted by environmental racism are the ones architecting the solutions.

The People’s Environmental Justice Caucus arrives at a critical juncture as the nation grapples with the attack on environmental justice, the escalating climate crisis growing industrial pollution, and failing infrastructure. Young, Gifted & Green looks forward to inspiring our youth and young adults to educate lawmakers on intersectional policy solutions that prioritize:

• Health Equity: Eliminating the disproportionate burden of asthma, lead poisoning, and cancer in marginalized communities.
• Infrastructure Justice: Ensuring that federal investments reach the communities that need them most.
• Youth Empowerment: Creating pathways for the next generation of environmental leaders to influence national policy.
• Green Workforce Expansion:

“We celebrate the champions in Congress who have championed this cause, but we also remind them that the work is just beginning,” LaTricea D. Adams, Founder CEO & President of YGG says. “A caucus is a tool, not a means to an end, but its value will be measured by the tangible relief it brings to our communities.

Young, Gifted & Green remains committed to holding our leaders accountable and ensuring that environmental justice is not just a buzzword, but a lived reality for every American.