In Zulene Mayfield’s neighborhood in Chester, 27% of children have asthma, a rate four times the national average. The culprit is a polluting trash incinerator run by Reworld (formerly Covanta) that operates right across the street from the residential neighborhood. On one nearby block, every single household has lost someone to cancer.
To fight back, Zulene and other people affected by the pollution formed Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living in 1992. Since then, they have organized to hold Reworld accountable for the devastating harm they have caused in their community.
Bread & Roses honored Zulene at the 2025 Tribute to Change, awarding her the Paul Robeson Lifetime Achievement Award for her determination and courage in the face of persistent environmental racism.