Randolph, AZ is an historically Black community founded by migrant farmworkers in the early 1920s. The once-thriving community is now surrounded by gas plants, pipelines, and hazardous waste sites. Twelve active gas turbines sit less than two miles from their homes and the Randolph citizens have dealt with poor air quality that has created health care issues. In 2022, a small group of six residents – the genesis of Randolph United Council (RUC) – signed on as plaintiffs to oppose a major utility’s proposed expansion of its gas-fired plant. RUC successfully fought Salt River Project (SRP), the 6th largest energy company in the U.S., and secured numerous community benefits in exchange for allowing the facility’s expansion to proceed, albeit with more robust safeguards in place for residents. Besides fighting polluting industries, RUC is working to improve needed infrastructure including streetlights, roads, sewage, and drainage – all in service of becoming a viable and sustainable community.
In August of 2021, Randolph was shaken, literally and figuratively, as a gas pipe owned by Kinder Morgan – the same type of pipe that Salt River Project uses to power their stacks – exploded, killing three family members, incinerating their home, animals, and vehicles. RUC was born from tragedy to take a stand on behalf of a community too long ignored. The small, Black-led nonprofit’s members are the descendants, and the collective voice, of the people who made Randolph. Striving to create a safe, self-sustaining community, they are currently developing plans for a community center, a home air-monitoring program, a scholarship program, workforce development, landscaping, and home rehabilitation for Randolph residents. As well, the group successfully advocated for Randolph’s inclusion into the National Register of Historic Places and helped Randolph win the Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award.