Worcester Roots Project Temporary office:
5 Pleasant Street, 3rd fl
Worcester, MA 01609
Permanant Address:
Stone Soup Building
4 King Street
Worcester, MA 01610
Ph: 508-335-7783
Email:
Toxic Soil Busters is expanding! Now 17 youth members in 2 sites - we're excited to announce our new collaboration with UMass Memorial and Community Builders at Plumley Village.
Summer positions are currently all filled.
Roots is part of a new GREEN JOBS COALITION.
Next Green Jobs Coaltion Meeting:
Thursday, August 6th
6:00pm
at "Soup on Cedar" (Dynamy donated space), 49 Cedar St, Worcester
Toxic Soil Busters/Arts at the Gardens JAMBOREE
(July 29th) a Success! Read about it!
"Toxic Soil Buster Day" Declared by Mayor Murray: June 20, 2006!
Read an article and see a video about the Mayor's proclamation at Worcester Indymedia
We are embarking on an exciting new project: Toxic Soil Busters Cooperative
This youth program just began!
We're looking for interns: download a flyer HERE
Please contact Matt for more information:
WATCH THE 45 SECOND VIDEO
ON TOXIC SOIL BUSTERS 2009!
Written and edited by Sergio Castillo, Toxic Soil Busters Co-op and Worcester Roots Project board member.
The mission of the Worcester Roots Project is to organize in our communities which face social, economic and environmental injustice. Through the incubation of co-operatively run and green initiatives, we help build empowered, self-sufficient neighborhoods that are safe for living, working and playing. We seek to create a cooperative economy and sustainable systemic change, powered by the leadership and vision of youth and others overcoming marginalization and oppression.
More specifically, what does the Worcester Roots Project do?
Our three main projects:
1. Toxic Soil Busters Co-op
2. Youth In Charge Co-op (a collaboration with UMass Memorial and the Community Builders at Plumley Village)
3. Green Jobs! Building the local green economy, the Worcester Green Jobs Coalition and Environmental Justice throughout the region.
The Worcester Roots Project uses direct action to remove contamination by lead, other heavy metals, and hydrocarbons from Worcester soils. We are concerned about lead poisoning in children. We use phytoremediation and other low cost methods to remove toxins from soil. Certain plants absorb contaminants as they grow. These plants can then be removed and disposed of safely. Our target sites are low-income neighborhoods throughout the city, which have some of the highest levels of soil pollution, and the largest number of lead-paint contaminated dwellings, in the nation.
Worcester Roots Project also engages in community organizing, education, and outreach. We organize workshops to share skills and knowledge on the problem of soil contamination. Our aim is to empower communities to protect their environmental health.
