Environmental justice and sustainability are two critical, but often separate initiatives undertaken by NGOs, planners, government agencies, and grassroots groups. This presentation includes three cases in which environmental justice concerns confuse conventional discourses of sustainability (soil lead and urban gardens, home foreclosure and vacant lot reuse, and legacy pollution and waterfront development). Collectively, these works reveal the need to develop better theories of change and highlight the opportunities and value of diverse geospatial approaches. To facilitate collaboration and mutual learning, I will end by presenting the as-yet untested ideas I have been developing since arriving at NC State last year and inviting the audience to think about how geospatial approaches might contribute to understanding the relationship between environmental justice and sustainability as it relates to hurricane recovery. Open minds, wild ideas and seemingly simple questions are highly encouraged.