Renewal of Life Trust (ROLT) is a Richmond, Virginia-based organization founded in the 1980’s with the mission of preserving and restoring family and community rights to land and green spaces. ROLT advocates for land stewardship to ensure healthy biodiversity for current and future generations. The organization focuses on raising awareness of issues such as industrial and transportation emissions, particularly in historically disadvantaged communities, and identifying hotspots through interactive maps. ROLT is working to bring funds and pollution-cutting strategies to these communities through partnerships with organizations like the Transportation Climate Initiative. ROLT also works to preserve and honor the Shockoe Bottom area of Richmond, recognizing its historical and cultural significance. Through its work, ROLT aims to reclaim the land, acknowledge the costs, and reimagine a sustainable future for all, regardless of demographic or background.
Much of Shockoe Bottom has been paved over, which archaeologists believe
has helped keep its underground artifacts intact.
From: The Underground Legacy of Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Virginia |
National Trust for Historic Preservation (savingplaces.org)
Helmed by Monica Esparza, ROLT is a Black and women led nonprofit dedicated to environmental justice. Raising awareness of issues such as heat islands caused by industrial and transportation emissions, ROLT brings attention to areas facing disproportionate pollution and socioeconomic burdens. They worked with the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative and Mapping for Environmental Justice to develop interactive maps to spotlight areas of greatest need across the state, one of which is Richmond. Each area receives a cumulative impact score based on factors such as race, income, asthma rates, and exposure to toxins. The maps feature additional background on environmental issues in certain high-scoring tracts and those where controversial projects are planned. Beyond environmental concerns, ROLT works to preserve history and culture through their conservation service projects which include the Hickory Hill School, the African Burial Grounds in Richmond, Prince Edward State Park, and the Appomattox watershed in Virginia.