Veronica Coptis
Veronica Coptis joined the CCJ staff in March 2013 as a Community Organizer and is now serving as the Executive Director. She grew up in western Greene County near the Bailey Mine Complex and currently lives in the eastern part of the county. Before joining the CCJ staff, Veronica served on the Board of Directors for CCJ and organized with Mountain Watershed Association. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from West Virginia University. She enjoys hiking and geocaching at Ryerson State Park and other areas around Greene County with her husband and daughters. Read more about Veronica in a New Yorker Magazine profile at https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/03/the-future-of-coal-country.
Contact Veronica Coptis at veronica@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org
Blog Posts by Veronica Coptis
One thing is clear after this past election: Your votes do matter. However, the fight to protect our communities and health from pollution never stops at the polls. CCJ will be here with you, continuing to support our communities and advocating for true economic solutions while protecting our health, environment, and local economy. With Josh […]
This summer, CCJ will be hosting community meetings, educational events, festivals, and tabling around the community. Joining our team to help with our summer blitz are four fellows and a community organizer. Read more about each of them below: Allison Evans (she/her) is our new organizer working primarily in Washington County, where she was born […]
The effects of coal mining on communities and the environment is what originally led to the formation of a coalition of grassroots groups and individuals called the “Tri-State Citizens Mining Network” in 1994 – the organization that is now CCJ. The people involved recognized the need to work together to build a strong voice in […]
A core focus of our work is to invest in community leaders because we believe people who live the daily impacts of fossil extraction are experts in their lived experiences and should be leading the transition to a healthier environment and thriving economy. We are excited to announce our 2022 Fellowship Program to invest in […]
This piece was written by Veronica Coptis in response to a proposed amendment to House Bill 637. For context, see this article in the Indiana Gazette and this one in the PA Environment Digest blog. I’m from coal country. Like other coal communities, we have been neglected by the rest of the country. I grew […]