Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL)—pronounced “circle”—is a grass roots organization based in Chester, Pennsylvania. Chester is a densely populated, low-income, minority neighborhood which is home to numerous polluting industries. The organization is working to end acts of environmental racism, particularly against Coventa, the largest incinerator in North America, with their “Ban the Burn” initiative. Coventa’s trash incinerator in Chester has existed for over 30 years. In addition, a new polluter has been attempting to establish itself in the city. Penn America Energy is proposing to construct what would be one of the largest Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminals in the country, in the middle of Chester. CRCQL is on a mission to do something about that.

Through community organizing, advocacy, education, and direct-action tactics, the group has led numerous successful campaigns to shut down different polluting industries threatening the community. CRCQL held many public hearings, meetings, and actions to empower and educate residents on the damaging effects of air pollution on health. CRCQL also inspired the formation of the Campus Coalition Concerning Chester (C-4) which brought together students across 15 campuses in five states to support environmental justice campaigns in Chester and Delaware County. Learn more about CRCQL here: https://chesterpaej.org/.

Sr. Nora Nash, OSF, has been an active participant of CRCQL for four years and has seen tremendous effort to peacefully bring about change and a serious commitment to justice for people subjected to environmental racism. Help the Sisters of St. Francis continue to support this important organizations, by donating to the cause.