NEW TEAM INTRODUCTIONS – DAVID CORBIE

We had been driving for hours; taking turns every couple of hours or so. I balanced the awe of the experience with the immense tiredness of the previous day. I was going to a place that was almost mythical in how the media talked about it. We embarked on dropping off water and money that we gathered for weeks. This was to a people that had been the victims of environmental racism. As we drove on endless stretches of highway, we left enthusiastic about the good we were doing. As we got closer, we were immediately brought back to reality with the gravity of the situation. The entire town’s water was (and still is) contaminated and they didn’t have access to clean tap water. As we helped unpack the water, one thing became clear: What happened in Flint can and will happen anywhere resources are unavailable. What could I do to help, as one person?

I am Boston native, growing up in the South End before moving to Dorchester for my teenage years. I enrolled into Concord Public Schools through the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program. METCO expands educational opportunities for Boston youth and increase diversity in suburban schools. This is by giving Boston youth the option to attend public schools in a different community. I graduated Boston College in 2015 with a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Faith, Peace, and Justice.

Following graduation, I embarked on a community development project in Saugus and Revere called the Clearing the Air Initiative. There was concern from the community about the health impact of a waste management site. Yet, there was very little information that was available to the public. My classmate and I attempted to address this dearth through advocacy, policy, and media. We gathered and shared useful information to the residents about current communal perception towards the incinerator plant.

That year, I started working as an organizer at the Union of Minority Neighborhoods in Boston. I worked to bring necessary information to the Boston community around various issues. Such as:

-The epidemic of Black women contacting HIV/Aids.

-Residents knowing their rights.

-The disparity of the racial wealth gap in Boston.

It was there I had the opportunity to help organize a water drive for the residents of Flint, Michigan, and deliver it to the community. I also coordinated a leadership program for future leaders of Boston.

In 2017, I became the Community Outreach Specialist at a workforce development nonprofit. I went to various neighborhoods to support individuals that weren’t able to find adequate work.

I am passionate about community development and uplifting the voices of the unheard. I am very excited about being the new Greenovate Outreach Manager. I am ready to help Boston reduce its environmental impact and to prepare for climate change. Climate change is the greatest threat to humanity. We need active community engagement to address it. We need everyone at the table and I intend to work to get everyone there. Active, mindful, and intentional engagement is how we move forward together.

I’m excited to meet you and work with you! Please reach out to if you have any questions, ideas, or to say hello! My email is David.Corbie@Boston.gov and my phone number is 617-635-1385. Forward together is the only way.