In 2018, Roxxanne O’Brien and Shalini Gupta co-founded Community Members for Environmental Justice out of a shared commitment to environmental justice and community leadership. Both Bush Fellows, they brought together decades of experience in grassroots organizing, advocacy, and environmental policy to create a space where residents could connect local struggles to larger systemic issues.

Roxxanne, a longtime community leader and organizer in North Minneapolis, had already been working on environmental justice for more than 13 years. Shalini, with a 20 year background in climate and energy policy, shared the same vision of building a healthier, more just future for frontline communities.

Together, they launched environmental justice tours in North Minneapolis—educational and eye-opening experiences that revealed how environmental racism, industrial pollution, and community health are interconnected. These tours quickly became a cornerstone of the organization’s work, drawing local, national, and even international visitors.

Over time, their work expanded into creating practical tools such as the Cumulative Impact Bill and City Ordinance with an Environmental Justice Checklist to help communities, governments, and institutions assess the real impacts of development and policy decisions. Their vision also grew into long-term projects, including efforts to purchase and transform the former Northern Metals site into a community-owned hub with an indoor playground and an environmental justice museum.

Through this work, Roxxanne helped shape CMEJ into a powerful voice for environmental justice—rooted in lived experience, community vision, and a deep belief that those most impacted must lead the solutions.