Meet Alicia Kendrick | Community Organizer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia Kendrick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
Yes, my favorite affirmation is, “The seeds I sow today will continue to reap fruit for many people, years from now” I love this affirmation because it reminds me to never seek recognition nor accolades for “sowing seeds”. These words ground me in what I do, and WHY I do. This affirmation keeps me humble and I believe staying humble is the only way to be “successful” in this work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I always tell people I became a community organizer on accident. Backstory: My daughter kept getting sick after moving back to Joppa (a freedman’s town racially zoned to allow heavy industry near residential homes) she was extremely healthy and just suddenly kept getting upper respiratory infections. During one of our daily walks, I stumbled across a “Breathe Easy” event organized by Misti O’quinn and the members of the budding Joppa Environmental Health Project. I had been trying to get involved in some kind of community work but I didn’t know where to start or where to look. I loved seeing people come together and enjoy the event so asked her how I could get involved. From there I volunteered and just got more acclimated to doing organizing work. Eventually the founding members of the project voted me chair. From there we began advocating against the city for ourselves, our health, and the future of our children to reverse the racist zoning. I’ve learned so much not just about myself, but about people, politics, historical disenfranchisement of black and brown people across the southern sector of Dallas.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d definitely invite them to Downwinder’s Happy Hour on Friday’s at Bryant Street Tavern (this is an open invite 😉 guys). Also if your readers are ever looking for something constructive to do in Dallas and they’ve been wanting to get involved in something they can be proud of, we are always looking for volunteers and partners. These environmental justice fights are ongoing and connected to so many other issues that black and brown people are facing in Dallas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Downwinders at Risk and Board member: Misti O’quinn

Website: https://joppahealthproject.wixsite.com/health

Instagram: @Justiceparajoppa

Image Credits
Jonathan Johnson