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Social Justice

NYPIRG works to achieve social justice in our communities and our society. Our Homeless and Hunger Campaign is a service project dedicated to bettering the lives of New York's homeless and needy through direct volunteering, political pressure and educational projects. NYPIRG is putting pressure on Governor Pataki and the State Legislature to increase New York State's minimum wage, currently set at the federal minimum of $5.15 an hour.

NYPIRG's environmental programs also include an environmental justice component: the Clean Air Campaign battles environmental racism by working to stop the construction of polluting power plants in already over-burdened minority and lower income communities. NYPIRG is also fighting to pass legislation to help save the thousands of children who are lead poisoned each year in New York City. Over 90% of the children in New York City who are lead poisoned - which causes irreversible brain damage - are African-American, Latino or Asian, and most are members of low-income households.