Steel has long been a cornerstone of American industry, synonymous with strength and progress. The industry helped build cities like Gary, Indiana, providing generations of families with good union jobs and a pathway to the middle class. Yet, this progress came at a steep cost to public health and the planet.
Facing the environmental damage and public health crises stemming from dirty steelmaking requires leadership by the steel industry, and the industries that benefit from it, to adopt cleaner and safer practices. For communities impacted by the steel industry, this need is personal.
Rachelle Morgan Ceaser was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. She is a dedicated advocate for her community where she works as the executive director at the Gary Sanitary District. She recently participated in a state-based Sustainable Steel Community Cohort, sponsored by Industrious Labs. I recently had the opportunity to hear her share her story about how the steel industry has impacted her life and community. This blog includes excerpts from her story.
“[Rachelle’s] parents, like many others, were part of the Great Migration. They journeyed from the farmlands of Arkansas, seeking opportunities in the burgeoning steel industry that
