Heeten Kalan, Director
In 1992, while working for the National Toxics Campaign Fund (NTCF), Heeten Kalan was sent to West Dallas, Texas to cover the story of the community affected by the lead smelter. These 3 days probably changed his life because as a South African he began to make all sorts of connections with his home country. Images of South African black townships surrounded by smokestacks and oil refineries popped up when he looked at West Dallas. These formative days spent with the African-American and Hispanic community forced Heeten to question the environmental injustices of apartheid.
Upon his return to Boston, he started an in-house South Africa project at NTCF and spent 6 weeks conducting a needs assessment for the project in South Africa. Shortly after his arrival from South Africa in February 1993, NTCF closed down and Heeten founded what is now the South African Exchange Program on Environmental Justice from his bedroom in an apartment he shared with three others. He had consulted extensively with allies in the US and counterparts in South Africa about the need for such an initiative, and the overwhelming response was supportive. Three months later, in August 1993 SAEPEJ and Heeten moved to a larger apartment which could easily house the offices. In November of 1994, after months of work and laying the foundations for SAEPEJ, Heeten Kalan was invited to address the First Community-based Conference on the Environment outside of Cape Town. He was asked to speak on environmental racism/justice. He also participated in the Greening of the RDP Conference and the launching of the Environmental Justice Networking Forum while he was there. Heeten also has a column in the Environmental Justice Networking Forum's quarterly newsletter.
The impetus for founding SAEPEJ was grounded in the transition process and the rebuilding of a new society. A year prior to the first democratic elections, SAEPEJ was laying the groundwork for post-elections work in South Africa and in identifying areas of concern. Anti-apartheid activists all over continue to transition themselves from bringing down a regime to rebuilding a just, non-racial, non-sexist society. SAEPEJ's work has presented a way for anti-apartheid activists, especially in the US, to re-engage in South Africa work.
Toussaint Losier, Co-ordinator
Toussaint was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1982, the oldest of four siblings. At a young age, he became involved in political and cultural events in his hometown. At the age of 15, he worked with the Journey to Freedom program and was a part of a group of students who performed plays to teach Black History in the U.S. and West Africa. He also led his school’s Multicultural Student Alliance and established a Mentoring Program through his school’s Community Service Board.
Toussaint’s opportunities to travel abroad have broadened his perspective. These experiences have allowed him to make connections between the racial and economic inequality in the global South and the inequity prevalent in the United States.
In college, Toussaint remained active in student politics and public service while pursuing a rigorous course of study. He first traveled to South Africa in 2001 and served as a delegate to the World Conference Against Racism in Durban. During the summer of 2003, he returned to South Africa, volunteering as an English instructor with the Winds of Change economic development program outside of Cape Town. He also conducted senior thesis research on the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign. This experience of living and working with people who recognized and exercised their collective power greatly influenced his career aspirations. As the co-ordinator of groundWork USA, Toussaint hopes to continue being of service to communities organizing for social change in the U.S. and South Africa.
Toussaint comes to groundWork USA having just completed an undergraduate degree in Social Studies and Afro-American Studies at Harvard University. Passionate, charming, and caring, he is deeply committed to working for social justice both in the U.S. and abroad.
Outside of the office, Toussaint enjoys reading, taking photos, playing basketball, and spending time with family and friends. He is also an aspiring amateur poet.
Posted by Ravi at February 6, 2004 02:18 PM