Fiona Pando ‘25 is exposing a pressing environmental crisis for her independent study, creating a documentary on environmental racism in nearby Southern Delaware County (SoDelCo), just thirty minutes from campus. The project was inspired by a field trip for Visiting Assistant Professor of Health Studies Lauren Minsky’s course, Sacrifice Zones: Empires, Epidemics, and Climate Changes, which took Pando to major polluter sites in SoDelCo that leach toxic chemicals into the surrounding air, water, and soil.
What bothered Pando most as she visited sites like the Boeing Chinook complex in Ridley Park, the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex, and the Trainer Refinery (owned by a subsidiary of Delta Airlines) was how close they were to nearby homes. “You see them next to the houses, next to the ‘Watch Children’ signs, next to the puddles where kids are gonna be jumping and playing in because they’re kids, and they should be allowed to be kids without being poisoned.” Pando also recalled remarking to Professor Minsky about the massive size of the Boeing facility, which stretched almost two blocks along the Delaware River. Even on a short trip to SoDelCo, Pando was left with a headache from the air pollution.
Oil refineries, trash incinerators, and factories in SoDelCo emit dangerous levels of noxious oxides, volatile organic compounds, benzene, and other chemicals. These toxins can cause debilitating health effects like heart disease, asthma, and cancer. As Pando noted, these sites are often placed directly next to homes as well as sports fields and schools, often in majority low-income black and brown communities.
Pando’s experience in Professor Minsky’s course inspired her to create a documentary on environmental racism in SoDelCo as a independent study project in Health Studies, leveraging skills from her double major in Political Science and Film & Media Studies (at Swarthmore College). At first, Pando planned to create the documentary for residents in Chester, a SoDelCo city particularly hard-hit by pollution and home to Reworld, the largest trash incinerator in the United States. However, Pando wound up shifting her perspective, noting, “[Chester residents] are well aware of what’s going on in their own backyard. It’s the people who aren’t aware that I’m creating this for.”
One of the challenges Pando has faced is grappling with her role as an outsider and a filmmaker in SoDelCo. “I definitely have kind of battled with, like, my own place in making this,” she explained. “I’m not a resident of this area. But again, I think it’s simply documenting. I’m trying not to put my voice or opinions in it.”
After making a documentary in high school, Pando realized that “[filmmaking] wasn’t so much about solving an issue as much as starting a conversation about an issue.” According to Pando, Haverford provides an excellent environment for advocacy. “We have a legacy of student agency, we have a legacy of student activism, and we have rallied around certain issues,” Pando said.
However, Pando noted that many Haverford students are unaware of the situation in nearby SoDelCo. “We also need to look at our backyard and what we can do in our immediate area. Air travels. It’s not just affecting the people in Chester and Marcus Hook–obviously it affects them disproportionately–but it’s also affecting people in Trainer and Haverford.” Pando hopes more Haverford students will educate themselves and participate in community and legislative advocacy around SoDelCo.
Pando also seeks to give SoDelCo locals a voice through her film. “Talking to residents is important,” she said, stressing the importance of learning from community members. Pando has worked with community groups like Marcus Hook Area Neighbors for Public Health and listened to SoDelCo residents’ grievances in public hearings. Pando also highlighted the work of Zulene Mayfield, chairperson of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL), as a prominent activist who has fought to prevent polluter facilities from moving into her community.
As a political science major with experience interning for state and local politics, Pando is eager to document ongoing legislation around SoDelCo facilities. One of Pando’s goals is to spread awareness about the Cumulative Impacts Bill, re-introduced by Representative Greg Vitali last month. If passed, the bill would require a comprehensive analysis of cumulative pollution impacts from certain facilities before they can be issued permits. Through her involvement with Marcus Hook Area Neighbors for Public Health, Pando has interviewed Vitali and met with officials from the Department of Environmental Protection.
Although Pando had been considering a political career, the recent election has left her uncertain about her plans after graduation. “A lot changed for me after Trump was elected. I was applying to government positions that no longer exist and fellowships that no longer exist. So having to pivot this semester has been a big shift,” she said. She’s now thinking about continuing documentary work. “I think it’s fun and exciting, but I’m not sure if that’s what’s in the cards for me.”
In the meantime, Pando will continue to connect with SoDelCo residents, community organizations, and legislators to complete her documentary. It will premiere on campus before finals week and be released on YouTube and Vimeo for the wider public.
Correction: Pando’s documentary is an independent study project, not a senior thesis project.
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