Priest Frank Gose's thought to ponder:

• When people work together for the good, they tend to see the good in each other.

The Rev. Frank Gose served both St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, a predominately African American congregation and a sister church in Fuquay Varina, Trinity Episcopal. St. Ambrose is located on the southern edge of the Walnut Creek wetland. Reverend Gose provided the inspiration for the organization of the Partners for Environmental Justice as collaborative mission between the two congregations.

Dr. Norman Camp urges us to ponder:

• The City of Raleigh is a whole "organism." We are a diverse group of people; our face is a mix of historic and new, many cultures, upscale, middle, and neglected communities. We must approach city planning holistically to meet the needs of all our citizens.
• Raleigh is only as strong as its weakest sector.
• This watershed belongs to everyone. It is within our city. A major corridor, Garner Road, crosses it and Hammond Road, another major corridor borders it on the west.
• This watershed is a part of our environment and we have a responsibility to protect and preserve it.
• Remember the word NATURE. It lies at the heart of everything. The wetlands are just one function of nature.
• Think in a superior way. Don't destroy the environment, the plants or animals. Treat all of creation with respect and honor.
• "You live in a universe. You are only a minutia. You must learn to coexist with all parts of the universe. It is not you alone."
• "Love the environment. It is you."
• Demand that everyone preserve and protect the environment.
• Respect other people. Respect the environment and nature.

Dr. Norman Camp is an educator currently serving at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in the Division of Instructional and Accountability Services. He is also an environmentalist, political activist, and advocate. He is chairman of the South Community Advisory Council, a member of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee and is on the Board of Brownfield State. He also is a founding member and current Co-Chairman of the Partnership for Environmental Justice.

Mr. Milligan's thoughts to ponder:

• We all deserve to live in a clean, safe, healthy environment, even the "forgotten" people.
• He poses this challenge: What positive things can you do for the environment?

Ed Milligan, a research technician in the Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences at North Carolina State University, is Cochairman of the Partnership for Environmental Justice.

• "I dream that Walnut Creek can be a clean park for all people to enjoy….the greatest creek ever!" (Logan, Kesha, Jenn, Milton, Jackie, Anthony, Christen, Dennis, Marvin, Lloyd, Tina, Matt, Nikki, Ashley, Michael, Katie, Jay, Adrienne, Benton, Kay, Taylor, Nick, Gloria, Alan, Patrice, Carly)
• "I dream that one day not only African-Americans and Hispanics will clean up, but everybody will come together and clean up all the trash and filth around the wetlands." (Ebony, Benton)
• "I dream that people would come to think of Walnut Creek as their front yard and stop throwing trash there. I dream that people would have compassion for the plants and wildlife in the wetlands and stop trashing it." (Brittany G, Dennis, Benton)
• "I dream that the water in Walnut Creek will be clean." (Dennis, Brittany H)
• "I dream that a flood management system will preserve the homes in the flood plain." (Jackie, Nick)
• "I dream that we can help clean up half the wetlands around the world." (DeQaun)
• "I dream that we will have a healthy, very clean environment, with no trash or pollutants." (Kayleigh, Christine, Tina, Doug, Kyle, Katie, Marlita)
• "I dream that North Carolina will have more wetland parks. In fact, it will be a leader in the United States in wetland restoration." (Simon)
• "I dream that I will become a chemist and use good chemicals to help the wetlands." (Chris)
• "I dream that Raleigh and North Carolina solves environmental problems so that it will be beautiful, clean, and safe." (Quinton, Brittany G, Jordan, Katie, Patrice, Emily)
• "I dream that we will all be more aware of what we are putting in our environment." (Brittany H)
• "I dream that pollution will stop all together. If that can't happen, then we could slow it down." (Elizabeth, Tony, Emily)
• "I dream that people will stop littering." (Tony, Brittany G, Conner, Rachel, Michael, Emily, Gloria, Joseph)
• "I dream that the City of Raleigh will not neglect or exploit Southeast Raleigh." (Brittany G)
• "I dream that the City Council of Raleigh will support the Walnut Creek restoration." (Brittany H, Matt, Kay)
• "I have a dream that one day the people will understand how important the environment is to our lives and clean it and make it good." (Sanju)
• "My dream is to see and help the environment get better and be a better place. I think that it would be so nice to have more parks or recreation places to have family outings and other things. Also to have educational areas for students to go and study and have fun." (Demetries)
• "I dream that we would produce cleaner forms of energy." (Michael)
• "I dream that construction/development will be more environmentally friendly." (Mike)

CCMS students responses to the question "What can I do to improve the quality of the environment?"

• We can believe in each other.
• I can respect all forms of life.
• We can view Raleigh holistically. We are only as strong as our weakest link.
• I can donate some of my time and money to help with the Walnut Creek clean up.
• I can help make other people aware that there is a problem with the Walnut Creek watershed.
• I can write a letter to the mayor and City Council telling them that I support the wetlands restoration project.
• I can send out ads (make people aware) of what's happening to our wetlands.
• I can join others to work together to restore the wetlands.
• I can be more considerate of the wetlands.
• I can learn more about the environment.
• I can recycle.
• I can learn more about trees, protect them and plant new ones.
• I can spread the word about clean-ups and ask for help. I can organize a group of friends together to help with the clean up. (I can help make it something "cool" to do.)
• I can insure that none of my personal trash ends up on the ground and make sure that the people I'm with don't do it either.
• I will not throw trash out of car windows.
• I will make less garbage.
• If I see trash I can pick it up and put it in trash cans.
• I can remind other people not to litter, especially when I catch someone littering.
• I will protect the environment where I live.
• I can dispose of chemicals properly.
• I can set goals for myself that include positive influences on the environment and stick to them.
• I can set a goal to do a lot for the wetlands.
• I can stop polluting.
• I can learn more about environmental injustice, tell others about it, and get more help.
• I can encourage my friends to get their schools involved.
• I will not dump trash anywhere but the waste management facilities ("the dump").
• I can hike around and pick up trash so that when animals come they won't eat it or get hurt by it.
• Dispose of oil properly at garages or oil change businesses.
• I can understand and remember what happens to water when it runs through polluted wetlands.
• I can put up signs saying that littering is illegal and there is a fine.
• Don't destroy animals or insects that aren't harming you.
• I can help endangered species.
• I can help people whose homes were destroyed by the flooding.
• I can call for responsible development.
• I can stop using products produced by methods that are not environmentally friendly.
• I can protect nature.
• I can take pride in what I have done as an environmentalist to make the world a better place!