Jonkanoo is a masquerade festival/parade from Jamaica, believed to be of West African origin. It is traditionally performed through the streets during the Christmas period.

In December, Pittsburgh’s Legacy Arts Project held Junkanew, a play on words to emphasis the need to conserve our planet. This celebration of music, dance, food, revolving around the environment, also featured leaders of the environmental justice movement nationally and locally. PennFuture’s western Pennsylvania outreach coordinator, Joylette Portlock, brings us the voices and enthusiasm of those leaders in this week’s podcast.

You’ll hear from Namosha Smith, the passionate organizer of the day-long event, which was subtitled “The Art of Red, Black and Greening.” You’ll also hear from the amazing Tanya Fields from Sustainable South Bronx, Andrew Butcher from Pittsburgh-based GTECH, and Lindsay Baxter, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh.

You can find ways to make your Junk a new and work for environmental justice by visiting PennFuture's website. While there, you can Take Action and become a member.