Community organizer, Debra David, passed away on July 10, 2024. The world has lost an environmental justice champion. She was a bright light and a dedicated community leader. The Dogwood movement is poorer for her loss.

It’s hard to imagine Dogwood Alliance without Debra David. Her work and her voice have been central to everything Dogwood has done over the past decade. From rallies and legislator meetings in North Carolina to press conferences in Washington. Debra’s presence and her story have left a mark on the movement for environmental justice.

Debra was courageous and determined.

She never backed down. Never gave up. She was humble, and did everything from a place of love and community. She was quiet, but when she spoke, she commanded the room. Her words were simple and truthful. The stories she shared from her community moved people to action. Then she’d slip in a joke that would have even government officials struggling not to laugh! To this day, I don’t know how she did it, but she could feed a room of 100 people like it was a regular homecooked meal. She made the best banana pudding I’ve ever eaten.

I first met Debra in 2015. Enviva planned to build a wood pellet facility in Richmond County. Enviva is the world’s largest wood pellet manufacturer. The proposed site was a few miles from Debra’s home. When I reached out, she invited me to join a meeting of the Concerned Citizens of Richmond County. There was no question in her mind about the necessity of this fight. Though it meant a small group challenging a major corporation, Debra knew we had to try. And she never wavered.

Debra simply stated what was true and just.

It’s not easy to be the one to speak out. When others would’ve felt intimidated, Debra was always steady. At county commissioner meetings, Debra exposed how county policies silenced local residents. And how those policies favored corporations. There was an Enviva public hearing. And Debra went against local elected officials who supported Enviva. She publicly opposed the pollution and environmental destruction that Enviva would cause. She never apologized, and she didn’t do it for the recognition.

Debra’s community organizing work will have long-lasting implications.

In 2019, there was a lawsuit on behalf of the Concerned Citizens of Richmond County. It resulted in Enviva reducing pollution by 95%. She worked with residents to push for stronger dust controls. That work is forcing government agencies to scrutinize Enviva’s dust pollution. Her community health impact testimonies moved the NC Environmental Justice Advisory Board. They hosted a special session on wood pellets. Debra met with countless reporters. Her words influenced policies and decision-makers in the US and abroad.

I hope Debra knew the impact she had on me and on Dogwood Alliance. I will forever be grateful for the years I knew and worked with her. The world has lost a hero, but her legacy will live on.