When the clock struck midnight, ringing in New Year’s Day 2022, it signaled a heartrending moment for Harold Mitchell Jr.—the anniversary of his father’s death from lymphoma. That loss 25 years ago also marked the beginning of a personal journey—one that ultimately led to a community-based cleanup, redevelopment and revitalization project that today serves as a model of success in the environmental justice movement.

非营利性再生社区开发公司的创始人米切尔（Mitchell）直接从南卡罗来纳州斯巴达堡（Spartanburg）阿克赖特（Arkwright）附近的肥料厂在街对面长大。大约在那个时候，他的父亲被诊断出患有晚期癌症。

米切尔（Mitchell）了解到，社区中的其他人也经历了不寻常的健康问题实例。他开始提出问题，并与政客，机构和环境团体互动。这些努力导致了该地区的EPA调查，该地区检测到70种污染物，其中30个处于肥料厂和附近垃圾填埋场的最大污染水平3倍。两者都被指定为超级基金站点。还确定了六个棕地遗址。

他说，该社区以前被告知该工厂在1980年代关闭时被指定为“清洁关闭”，而垃圾填埋场“不存在”。“我们没有得到与城镇另一端的封闭式社区相同的待遇。我们只想要公平。”

随着米切尔（Mitchell）变得更加参与环境正义运动，他开始看到社区的环境问题与其他社会经济问题之间的联系。

In his community, which was 96% African American, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, about 25% of the population lived under the poverty line. Crime was high and many industrial, commercial and residential properties sat abandoned.

自2000年创立Regenesis以来，米切尔（Mitchell）汇集了联邦，州和私人利益相关者的资源，以利用近3亿美元的投资。这些资金帮助带来了卫生诊所，新道路，社区中心和数百个新的经济适用房，包括第8节住房。

现在复活is negotiating a solar power purchasing agreement with Duke Energy, which could develop a 3.5-MW solar array on the former landfill site. As part of the agreement, community residents would benefit from lower energy costs for 25 years. Other projects include a future aquaponics facility and a science, technology, engineering and math school.

Although government agencies and other stakeholders provided the money, Mitchell and fellow community members were the driving force, says Mustafa Ali, vice president of environmental justice, climate, and community revitalization at the National Wildlife Federation and a founding member of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Justice. “The ReGenesis project is one of the most successful environmental justice projects, especially because it’s community driven,” he adds.