East End Civic Association

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Why this Information Is Important: The East End Civic Association is a new community organization formed in 2026. Its members have been active in speaking out against coal dust pollution through their work with EmPower All and the Repair Lab. Learn how residents are continuing the long fight for clean air and fair treatment in Southeast Newport News. This information documents who is involved, the actions they are taking, and how community leadership on the issue is growing. Understand community priorities and support local organizing in future campaigns and policy discussions aimed at protecting residents from coal dust.

Attention: Residents, activists and advocates, researchers, policymakers

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Overview

The East End Civic Association is an non-profit organization founded by Yugonda Sample-Jones in 2025. Jones has been involved in coal dust activism and the Marshall-Ridley Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) through her organization EmPower All, her community consulting firm.[1] The East End Civic Association has a broad array of activities, with environmental justice one pillar of the organization's efforts. Lathaniel Kirts, former Repair Lab Practitioner in Residence, leads the East End Civic Association's environmental justice pillar.

Sample-Jones and Kirts are also a team members working with the Repair Lab on Coal Dust Kills. Sample-Jones and EmPower All have also collaborated with New Virginia Majority and the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter on coal dust issues.

The East End Civic Association has partnered with the City of Newport News through the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities program.

Community Organizing

On April 13, 2026, the East End Civic Association organized and hosted Environmental Justice Day, a day-long event associated with the Hampton Roads Social Justice Conference at Christopher Newport University (CNU). The event featured speakers included community members, CNU Professor Johnny Finn, and people involved in Coal Dust Kills, the Repair Lab, and a panel of legal experts.

  • group of people smiling and posing for a picture
    Photograph: East End Civic Association Environmental Justice Day tour, April 13, 2026. Photograph uncredited.
  • Three people standing next to an air monitor on a tripod
    Photograph: Yugonda Sample-Jones, Malcolm Jones, and Lathaniel Kirts speak about air monitoring and the VOICES Network during Environmental Justice Day, April 13, 2026. Photograph by Katherine Hafner.[2]
  • Projector screen displaying an map of asthma across Newport News
    Photograph: A slide from Professor Johnny Finn's presentation on asthma rates across Newport News, April 13, 2026. Photograph by Katherine Hafner.[2]
  • Three people standing next to an air monitor on a tripod
    Photograph: Yugonda Sample-Jones, Malcolm Jones, and Lathaniel Kirts speak about air monitoring and the VOICES Network during Environmental Justice Day, April 13, 2026. Photograph by Katherine Hafner.[2]
  • Projector screen displaying an map of asthma across Newport News
    Photograph: A slide from Professor Johnny Finn's presentation on asthma rates across Newport News, April 13, 2026. Photograph by Katherine Hafner.[2]

Resources and Materials: See for Yourself and Dig Deeper

Event-Related Materials and Templates

Request for People to Speak at the Newport News City Council Meeting, January 23, 2024

Sign in Sheet Template, Coal Dust Kills Kick Off, January 27, 2024

Email Invitation Template, Coal Dust Kills Kick Off, January 27, 2024

Event Agenda, Coal Dust Kills Kick Off, January 27, 2024

Take Action to Reduce Coal Dust in Your Community, 2024

Tell Your Story: Coal Dust, Coal Dust Kills, 2024

Environmental Justice Day Flyer, East End Civic Association, April 13, 2026

Media

Kirts, Opinion: A Pastor's Plea to Combat Coal Dust in Newport News and Norfolk, The Virginian Pilot, November 11, 2023

Hollingsworth, Newport News Residents Voice Concerns about Coal Pollution, 3WTKR, January 23, 2024

Janney,A Dome in Newport News? Residents Ask City to Consider Barriers for Coal Dust, Daily Press, January 24, 2024

Saitta, Newport News Residents Say Coal Dust is the Source of Some Health Problems, WTKR, April 20, 2024

Hafner, 'Coal Dust Kills': Environmental Justice Event at CNU Highlights Problems, Progress in Newport News, WHRO, April 14, 2026

Ponton, Newport News Neighbors Await Results of Coal Dust Air Quality Study, WTKR, April 15, 2026

Visit Next

The Front Porch and Community Action

Have a question? Want to start a conversation or share an observation? Join the discussion: Front Porch

Do you live in Southeast Newport News, and do you have stories you would like to share? Do you have photographs or information to add to this page? Add Your Voice

You can also email the Repair Lab at editor@voicesinthedust.org or call, text, or send a voice memo to (757) 317-0356. If you prefer, a Repair Lab team member can record your story in person or collect physical materials to digitize and then return them to you.

The East End Civic Association's new website will soon be live with opportunities to get involved in the organization's activities, including around coal dust pollution.

Sources

  1. ↑ EmPower All, Undated.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hafner, 'Coal Dust Kills': Environmental Justice Event at CNU Highlights Problems, Progress in Newport News, WHRO, April 14, 2026.
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