Introducing Dominique Edwards: Benton Harbor Justice40 Project Manager

We are pleased to welcome Dominique Edwards as our Benton Harbor Justice40 Project Manager. Dominique brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for sustainability, particularly in food and farm systems, making her a valuable addition to our team.

Dominique’s dedication to the environment and sustainable practices has been evident for over a decade. She is a graduate of Purdue Northwest’s Biological Sciences program and DePaul University’s Sustainable Urban Development graduate program. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Community Psychology at National Louis University. Her research is focused on trauma-informed food accessibility in urban food-insecure environments in Northwest Indiana, with a special emphasis on the adverse impacts of land loss and structural racism on Hoosier Black farmers.

Dominique’s professional journey includes significant roles such as the Public Participation Planner and Title VI/Environmental Justice Program Manager at the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, and the Engagement Specialist on the Engagement and Economic Empowerment Team for the City of South Bend. Her passion for revitalizing local food systems is exemplified by her management of the Walker Street Park Community Garden since 2020.

In addition to her professional roles, Dominique has made substantial contributions to various boards and committees. She serves as the Northern Region Representative for the American Planning Association’s Indiana Chapter, where she also co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee, which she established in 2020. Her involvement extends to the Franciscan Health Equity Committee and the Michigan City Tree Board.

Dominique’s work has been widely recognized and published. Notably, her recent publication, “Hoosier Black Land Ties: A Trauma-Informed Examination of Regional Food Accessibility in Northwestern Indiana,” appeared in The Community Psychologist. She has also presented at prestigious institutions such as Morehouse College, the University of Notre Dame, and Harvard University.

Her accolades include being named one of the 2023 Northwest Indiana Women on the Rise by the Purdue Northwest Leadership Institute & Society of Innovators, receiving the 2023 Community Psychology Graduate Student Award for Promotion of Anti-Racist Praxis from the Society for Community Research & Action, and being honored as a 2024 BMO Fellow by BMO & Watson Institute.

We are excited to have Dominique on board and look forward to the innovative and impactful contributions she will bring to the Benton Harbor Justice40 Initiative and beyond.

Please join us in welcoming Dominique Edwards to the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum!