The Environmental Health Coalition collaborated with the Tijuana Colectivo Chilpancingo Pro Justicia Ambiental Youth Group, to launch a comic book that tells the story of Tijuana’s Alamar River and its importance for regional sustainability.

Check out the digital version of the comic book "Mi Comunidad y el Alamar, un rio binacional y una comunidad fronteriza,” or “My Community and the Alamar, a Binational River and a Border Community":

The Alamar’s riverbank forest is a very important opportunity to mitigate the air pollution emitted by the Mesa de Otay maquiladora industry in Tijuana and by the heavy-duty diesel cargo trucks passing through nearby communities.

Learn more about EHC's Border Environmental Justice work in Arroyo Alamar.

Read the full press release on the comic book launch.

Mayra Velazquez de Leon is the President and CEO of Organics Unlimited, a family-run organic banana business. Banana cultivation is a family tradition, with an emphasis on natural, organic methods that protect our environment. Mayra remembers fondly that her grandfather would water their crops using water from the river that flowed through their farm. Her father carried on that tradition of respect for natural resources, and in 1972 initiated a partnership to import the first commercially grown organic bananas into the US.

Growing customers and community

Mayra explains, “Our mission is to provide the best quality organic bananas and tropical fruits in a socially responsible way. Alongside quality stands our commitment to serving customers and the community.” Organics Unlimited is dedicated to organic farming using sustainable methods not only for the health of the workers and the consumers, but also for the health of the environment. Mayra continues, “Growing organic gives us the ability to sustain the land on which we grow our produce. Without the addition of chemicals, the land can continue to raise wholesome, delicious produce year after year, without the threat of destroying nature’s balance.”
 

In 2005, Mayra created the Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers Fund (GROW), a Donor Advised Fund managed by the International Community Foundation, to provide funding for various social responsibility programs. This includes programs that help improve the quality of life of farmers and communities where Organics Unlimited is located. GROW also provides funding for organizations that share the objective of preserving natural resources and creating healthy environments for our future generations.

Sustainability on both sides of the border

In 2016, Mayra attended Environmental Health Coalition’s Awards Celebration One People, Una Frontera, and discovered our shared values for sustainability. EHC is the only binational organization fighting for clean air and a healthy environment in the region, thus our mission and values naturally aligned with those of GROW. Since then, GROW has supported EHC on sustainability projects on both sides of the border, such as advocating for renewable energy and mass transit in San Diego and protecting the Alamar River region in Tijuana.

Your donation makes twice the impact with GROW

This year, we are happy to announce that in addition to our sustainability partnership, GROW is offering match challenge throughout December. “EHC works relentlessly to protect our communities and fight for clean air, so I hope this match will inspire new supporters to join their efforts or give more to EHC,” anticipates Mayra. GROW and an anonymous donor have set a challenge to match $25,000 in donations.
 

For the month of December, know that your donation will make twice the impact. Together, we can raise up to $50,000 for environmental justice in our communities.
 

To learn more about GROW and their social responsibility program, visit Organics Unlimited’s website.

Both starting and ending in the United States, the Arroyo Alamar (Alamar River) is an example of a U.S-Mexico shared ecosystem. The river is born east of San Diego in Campo, as a network of creeks and springs that join the Tecate Creek south of the border, and travels west through Tijuana and the community of Chilpancingo, it crosses back north and makes its way to the Tijuana River Estuary in Imperial Beach, and into the ocean.

Most of the river in Tijuana has been destroyed and covered by concrete. The Arroyo Alamar is the only stretch of the river where the natural habitat remains and where ducks, owls, raccoons, cranes, woodpeckers and crawfish can be found. The Arroyo Alamar helps clean the air and is one of the few open green spaces left in Tijuana where residents can enjoy nature and wildlife.

EHC is working to preserve this threatened pocket of natural habitat by hosting tours into the river to educate youth, through the recently launched “Cuaderno de Actividades del Guardián del Alamar” (Guardian of the Alamar Activities Booklet), and by working with Mexican authorities to have the Arroyo Alamar be declared a natural protected area.

To learn more about the Arroyo Alamar, please click here, and to learn more about EHC’s binational work, please click here, or contact Anibal Mendez at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For over a decade, Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) has worked with residents in Old Town National City to address food insecurity. Responding to an EHC community survey in 2005, residents were already voicing their concerns about the lack of affordable healthy food in OTNC and its impact on their daily lives. Their struggle for food access has been acknowledged at the federal level by the United States Department of Agriculture that designated Old Town National City as a “food desert”; defined as a part of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthy whole foods¹. Residents of National City are suffering and dying from preventable diseases that are a result of poor nutrition and lack of access to healthy food. Within National City, there are approximately twice as many fast food and convenience stores as there are general grocery and fruit and vegetable markets². Over 50% of children in the National School District are overweight or obese³, and National City residents have the highest rate of heart attacks in all San Diego County⁴.

In response to this severe community health crisis, residents have been working with city officials to find community driven solutions. Community members have identified the inclusion of a community garden in the Paradise Creek Park plan design as a solution to help increase physical activity and food access.

EHC will continue to work diligently to ensure that National City residents remain in the planning process and that their neighborhood transitions from a toxic to a healthy one . Follow EHC on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates on the Paradise Creek Park community garden and contact Sandy Naranjo, National City Policy Advocate, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for ways to get involved.

¹  American Nutrition Association. USDA Defines Food Deserts. http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/usda-defines-food-deserts
²  National City, National City General Plan (2011), 227. http://www.nationalcityca.gov/home/showdocument?id=5217
³  San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative, State of Childhood Obesity in San Diego County (2016), 7. https://sdcoi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/stateofchildhoodobesity-sdcountyfinal1.pdf
⁴  Schroeder, Lauryn “Coronado has Good Hearth Health, National City Much Less So. Find Your Community on Interactive Map. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/data-watch/sd-me-cardiovascular-rate-20180209-story.html. July 23, 2018.

In December 2017, Environmental Health Coalition Executive Director Diane Takvorian was honored as the KPBS and National Conflict Resolution Center’s community hero for environmental sustainability.

That honor culminated with a community conversation on January 11, 2018, between Diane and KPBS environmental reporter Erik Anderson.

More than 145 community members joined Diane and Erik as they talked about nearly 40 years of EHC’s work to protect public health and our communities burdened by toxic pollution. After their conversation, each table discussed three important questions among themselves and shared their answers with the crowd. Community members from Barrio Logan, National City, City Heights and Sherman Heights joined us and the conversation was translated into English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Thank you for joining us. If you missed it, you can check out the Facebook Live video of Diane’s interview with Erik here.

In December 2017, National City Council unanimously approved a community garden for the neighborhood and granted oversight and maintenance to National-City based Mundo Gardens.

Mundo Gardens is a neighborhood garden program which cultivates wellness and empowers youth and families by combining nature, music and art.

Why Does A Community Garden Matter?

Since 2005, residents have expressed the need for access to fresh, healthy food and natural space owned and operated by the community, for the community.

The garden, soon to be located on the north side of Paradise Creek Park near Kimball Elementary School, aligns with the community’s vision for a healthy neighborhood.

In a place that ranks among the top five percent of communities in California most impacted by pollution, a locally owned and operated garden embodies our hope for a healthier future.

National City Council will finalize the implementation agreement with Mundo Gardens in 2018. The garden is expected to open in the summer of 2019.

This op-ed originally ran in Voice of San Diego. It is authored by Philomena Marino and Maria Martinez, Barrio Logan residents and community leaders with the Environmental Health Coalition.

Our polluted neighborhood has long been ignored. We have a vision for a healthy, clean neighborhood and we have a solution: the community-developed Barrio Logan community plan update from 2013.

Children suffer in Barrio Logan because polluting businesses operate next to homes, schools and parks.

Families here live on the same street as companies like SA Recycling. You might think “recycling” means neat rows of bins for glass and cans, but SA Recycling crushes junked cars creating hazardous wastes, and moves mountains of debris onsite using noisy and diesel-driven equipment. Additionally, fires at recycling centers are regular occurrences, and SA Recycling had a large, middle-of-the-night fire in 2015 that sent toxic smoke into our homes.

We know that most people in San Diego don’t have an industrial-scale recycling plant on their street, but in Barrio Logan, it’s common. That’s why, when the city asks us about what we want to see in our neighborhood during its redrafting of our outdated community plan, we feel frustrated because the answer is so clear.

We have already answered the question of what we want to see here so many times. In fact, it’s been such a long process answering this same question that our children are now old enough to attend the meetings themselves and reiterate what we’ve been saying for years.

We want clean air in our community.

Our polluted neighborhood has long been ignored. We have a vision for a healthy, clean neighborhood and we have a solution: the community-developed Barrio Logan community plan update from 2013.

Currently, Barrio Logan operates with a community plan from 1978 – the oldest in the city of San Diego. Nearly 40 years of an outdated community plan has led to a neighborhood where children are almost three times more likely to end up in the emergency room for breathing problems than the average San Diego child, according to data from California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. We know that playing outside leads to coughing fits and asthma flare-ups for our kids and elders. Barrio Logan ranks in the top 5 percent of most impacted communities in California in CalEnviroScreen, the state’s screening model to identify areas with high levels of both pollution and socioeconomic disadvantages such as poverty that make pollution more harmful to health.

More than 50 community meetings over five years resulted in a plan for a better Barrio Logan that was approved by the City Council in 2013. The plan is simple. It re-zones Barrio Logan – establishing residential, industrial, and commercial areas within the community so that residents, industries, and businesses can each operate safely. A “buffer zone” separates residential areas where families live and children play from the heavy industries and shipyards. The buffer zone encourages the development of a parking structure for the working waterfront workforce, maritime administration offices, and maritime suppliers that would not pose health threats to residents, and more.

It also protects Barrio Logan’s historical culture and improves the community. It prioritizes developments that enhance and reflect the character of Barrio Logan, encourages affordable housing opportunities and preserves and restores older homes in the neighborhood. The plan even identifies Barrio Logan as a cultural and arts center and lays out the development of the Logan Avenue Arts District. Those elements of the plan protect and preserve our neighborhood for the people who currently live here.

In 2014, Mayor Kevin Faulconer supported the repeal of the plan. Now, three years later, we see the city proposing a plan that doesn’t support the community’s vision and adds significantly more polluting industries to the buffer zone.

So when city planners come in and ask, “What do you want to see in your neighborhood?” we feel insulted, because we’ve already given the answer. They know that our air is thick and tastes dirty when we wake up until we go to sleep. They know that we live with the reality that our children and elders will struggle with asthma their entire lives. They know that we will never be able to breathe easily, and that playing sports or being active will never be effortless. They know all of this because we’ve said it. And, they know the answer, because we developed it more than four years ago.

So let’s not go back to square one. Barrio Logan families deserve the plan they spent years creating. Please don’t come to our meetings and ask us questions you already know the answer to. When you are ready to talk about implementing the community-created plan, we are ready to talk about what a just future looks like for Barrio Logan.

Community planning helps our neighbors cultivate a sustainable City Heights that is safe, healthy and affordable for the people who live there. As a community, we notice the rising cost of living and the stress it places on our quality of life.

This letter from the California Endowment evaluated the biggest concerns residents in City Heights have about the changes we’re seeing in our neighborhood. Most notably, our neighbors are worried about the increasing cost of living and the lack of affordable housing.

City Heights is not alone. Low-income communities of color around the country face similar challenges and families share similar fears. Our neighborhoods are changing.

We must continue to talk openly with each other about cultivating neighborhoods that are affordable for long-term residents and community members who have a stake in the neighborhood and have invested time, money and care into the place they call home.

Want to get involved? Learn more about preserving our communities, for our communities, here.

Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health threat to children, and also considered the most preventable.

You may know that the week of October 22 is National Lead Poising Prevention Week -- although we work year round to protect our children from lead. Here are some important steps to keep your children healthy and create a safe place for them to live, learn and grow:

• Check the year your home was built. Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint. Find out the year your house was built by asking your neighbors for a date range, checking online at Zillow.com, visiting your Tax Assessor’s Office or calling a realtor.
• Update your home. It’s best to fix all of the deteriorated paint around the house using lead-safe work practices. Sanding, replacing doors and windows and other common renovation activities can create hazardous lead dust. Hire contractors certified by EPA, which are trained on how to minimize the dust and cleaning thoroughly.
• Get your child tested for lead. Ask your doctor to test your child for lead, or follow EHC on Facebook and Twitter to find out when we schedule our next free lead testing. There is no lead safe level.
• Remove lead-contaminated toys and jewelry. Visit this Consumer Safety Product Commission website to find out if your toys and jewelry contain lead.
• Choose nutritious foods. A healthy diet helps prevent lead absorption into the body. Give children foods rich in iron, calcium and vitamin C.
• Watch what you bring home. Don't take lead home with you! If you work in auto repair, shipbuilding, construction, demolition, steel welding or other industrial work places, don’t forget to wash your hands and face, change your clothes and dust off your shoes before walking into your home.
• Keep lead out of schools. Support statewide bill AB746 to protect children from lead in schools by signing our letter here.

Lead causes learning disabilities, stunts growth, reduces IQ, causes aggressive behavior and is linked to teenage pregnancy and juvenile delinquency. Together, let’s do everything we can to ensure a healthy future for our children.

Leticia Ayala
Campaign Director, Healthy Kids

La noche era fresca, pero era suficiente un suéter delgado y el calor de la fogata para disfrutar de las estrellas, la compañía y las buenas pláticas.

Llegamos al evento alrededor de 60 personas. El Arroyo Alamar nos recibió con nuevos brazos de arroyitos que se formaron desde las lluvias de febrero. Estaba verde y vibrante y los mosquitos eran una fiesta que había que alejar si no querías pasar la noche rascándote los brazos, pero nadie se quejaba porque estábamos felices de compartir ese inesperado bosque en medio de la zona industrial de Tijuana.

El evento comenzó desde la tarde, alrededor de las cinco y media y conforme íbamos llegando íbamos instalando las casas de campaña. Empezamos por dar una caminata por el bosque ripario en donde nos platicaron de las plantas y animales de la zona. Conocimos diferentes yerbas medicinales que se dan de forma natural ahí y que por generaciones han servido para apaciguar los síntomas como dolores de cabeza, fiebre y dolores de estómago por la gente que solía tener ranchos en esa zona.

Llegamos al “árbol del ahorcado” donde nos platicaron las historias de miedo que platicaban los abuelos de la zona. Y valerosamente regresamos al campamento antes de que se oscureciera para evitar cualquier encuentro sobrenatural no planeado en el programa.

Cuando llegamos a la zona de campamento, el equipo de Scouts ya estaba iniciando la fogata.

Mientras seguía llegando la gente, los scouts coordinaron cantos y ceremonias alrededor de la hoguera, mientras platicábamos y preparábamos la cena para compartir que todos trajimos. A las nueve de la noche dimos la bienvenida general ya con toda la gente alrededor de fuego. Platicamos sobre la importancia del Alamar para las comunidades cercanas y de los beneficios que presta a la zona. De cómo es un rio binacional que nos recuerda que a pesar de los muros somos una misma región, con la misma gente, la misma agua y el mismo aire.

En seguida se presentó el grupo de danza africana “Proyecto Danza Afro Tj” que nos recordaron nuestra historia, raíces y al latido de la tierra con sus tambores y su danza. Y como no hay campamento que sea memorable sin una guitarra, el compañero Guillermo Guadalajara interpretó canciones de canto nuevo que nos recordaron que todos estamos conectados. La noche siguió y seguimos.

Amaneció a las 5:30 de la mañana ya con los chilaquiles en la fogata y el café y los frijoles calientes. Nos despedimos todos con una sonrisa por haber hecho nuestro por esa noche ese bosque y porque estamos seguros de que ese espacio es de todos y para todos y que seguramente no será el último campamento en el Alamar.

#ElAlamarEsDeTodos #ViveElAlamar

Aníbal Méndez
Community Organizer, Border Environmental Justice Campaign

In Barrio Logan, the community-inspired and created murals of Chicano Park surround us. The historic place reminds us every day of the neighborhood’s rich history and the deep roots art has in our community.

For the first time ever, we’re collaborating with the Chicano Park Steering Committee, muralist Alicia M. Siu, residents and students from Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI) to guide a new mural right behind the Chicano Park Herb Garden.

The goal? Develop a mural that illustrates Barrio Logan’s message of unity and resilience while empowering our youth to continue the movement for environmental justice.

With a series of community workshops, we’ve cultivated and grown the collective vision of this mural and what it stands for. More than 70 people of all ages from our neighborhood attended both workshops to provide ideas that will guide the local muralist, Alicia M. Siu, to draft a proposal for the design that the Chicano Park Steering Committee will approve.

We watched as our friends, teachers, colleagues, students and family members came together to share their passion for our neighborhood and its cultural resilience. It’s the people behind this mural that inspire us to work closely on this project in our community of Barrio Logan.

A few months ago, we rejoiced when same-sex marriage became a legal right for all people who identify as LGBTQ. We chanted “Love Wins” and posted photos of rainbow flags rippling proudly in the wind against a sunny blue sky.

This week, the same flags tether under somber grey clouds as we mourn the many tragic losses in Orlando. The largest mass shooting in U.S. history targeted an LGBTQ community that is also a community of color; 90 percent of the victims were Latin and more than half were Puerto Rican.

The atmosphere of disrespect and hatred that communities of color continue to suffer is incomprehensible and ugly. In the words of an LGBT organizer in a recent YouTube video, “We have to demand a stop to that message of hate and intolerance.”

We have hope that out of this awful darkness will come a light. A shining, blinding, blazing light. And to get there, we must stay together with people that share our values. We must hold hands with others who have zero tolerance for hate and violence. We must stay strong, united and focused. We must balance our sorrow and anger with action. We must work even harder to end the epidemic of gun violence and racism.

This loss is beyond heartbreaking. We’re still here. Flags fly high. Love – still – wins.

We were proud to join over 250 other community leaders from across the state to celebrate visionary grassroots policy-making at California Environmental Justice Alliance's 2015 Congreso: People, Power, PolicyCongreso: People, Power, Policy. It was an honor to travel to Sacramento and lift up community-rooted solutions sprouting throughout the state and unite to grow the movement for vibrant and resilient communities. These are some of our favorite photos from the two-day event. 

Environmental Health Coalition Policy Advocate Carolina Martinez talks about toxic-free neighborhoods and building #healthyhoods. 

EHC Community Organizer Tuan Luu proudly works for energy equity for communities of all languages. 

Environmental Health Coalition Executive Director Diane Takvorian shares the strategies that built environmental justice victories in our communities. 

You can view more than one hundred photos from the 2015 Congreso on California Environmental Justice Alliance's facebook album. Learn more about the California Environmental Justice Alliance here. 

For 35 years, our communities have cultivated environmental justice and social change. After an incredible 35 years of striving for #healthyhoods, our neighborhoods are safer and healthier places to live, work and play.

This year we celebrate 35 years of victories, including our most recent wins in Tijuana, National City and City Heights.

We feel gratitude for every community member who took action and took a stand to make our neighborhoods healthier. For our 35th anniversary, we celebrate you.

To us, 35 years of environmental justice and your work means:

“I feel proud to be a part of such an incredible environmental justice organization. 35 years of EHC means a time to celebrate our healthier communities and our protected natural environment. It’s time to celebrate the amazing support of our community members who look out for neighborhoods in need and work to make change happen.” 

- Giuliana Schroeder, development director

“35 years of residents fighting back to reduce the toxic pollution that affects their health and lives every day. That’s powerful. That’s profound.” 

- Franco Garcia, organizing director

"EHC is nothing without the brave, responsible community members who stand up for what is right. We're celebrating 35 years of community members working day after day to build healthier places to work and play." 

- Jamie Hampton, communications consultant

While we celebrate 35 years of environmental justice and social change, we're also excited about our communities' visions for an even better future. Make sure you're a part of our next environmental justice win by becoming a member and staying involved. 

Environmental Health Coalition is joining the California Environmental Justice Alliance’s 2015 Sacramento Congreso: People, Power, Policy, to unite with over 250 other community leaders. We will tell our representatives that environmental justice in our communities needs to be a statewide priority. We’re working hard to advance statewide policies with members and allies throughout the state and the Congreso is our annual gathering to connect, reflect, and celebrate. We’ve already made big moves on our priority bills this spring, and as the summer heats up, so will our people power!

EHC will also join the Congreso to celebrate visionary grassroots policy-making fueled by people power in San Diego and across the state. We will share our community-rooted solutions with the rest of California’s environmental justice community and also learn about the strategies of other successful, resilient communities throughout the state. EHC will even lead roundtable discussions on how state agencies, elected officials and community members can all work together to advance environmental justice.

The Congreso has reached capacity and registration is now closed, but we encourage you to join our conversation by following #PeoplePowerPolicy.

“Urban transit systems in most American cities, for example, have become a genuine civil rights issue. If transportation systems in American cities could be laid out so as to provide an opportunity for poor people to get meaningful employmentt, then they could begin to move into the mainstream of American life.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Communities along the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway (SR-94) need more transportation options, such as public transit stops, bike lanes and walking paths –our elected officials agree! And EHC is proudly paving the way!

“We need to build on the investments we have made in our Bus Rapid Transit lines. I am advocating for a BRT stop to serve the communities of Golden Hill and Sherman Heights.”
- Councilmember Todd Gloria, Third District

“My constituents have shared their concerns with the impact an expanded freeway would have on air quality, and have requested improved access to regional travel. We kindly ask [to] include these community-based alternatives in the DEIR.”
- Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, 80th District

“[By including these alternatives] the community will have a comprehensive understanding of the transit situation in this corridor and the decision makers can make a more informed decision on how to best spend our limited transit dollars”
- Councilmember David Alvarez, Eighth District

“I fully support the communities request for alternatives [that] may help us achieve the goals of our Climate Action Plan and will improve transit mobility not only for our impacted, overburdened, and underserved communities along the freeway, but for the entire region.”
- Councilmember Myrtle Cole, Fourth Council District

“The communities adjacent to the SR-94 have been historically underserved by public transit… please consider alternatives suggested by the community.”
- Council President, Marti Emerald, San Diego City Council

After months of persistent advocacy, in mid-July SANDAG announced its plan to reverse course on freeway expansion. Instead they will include community-supported alternatives in the environmental review for the Martin Luther King Freeway/SR94 and allocate $31 million for an innovative transit demonstration project.  The announcement directly responds to community concerns about the irreversible harm freeway expansion would cause.

With your contribution, we can continue prioritizing people before polluting freeways.

EHC, in partnership with City Heights CDC, MAAC, will continue advocating for a transit stop in the Sherman Heights/Golden Hill communities. This is one step in a larger march for transportation justice. Will you join the march with us?

$25 (or $2/month) – Posters for a public hearing on transportation planning
$120 (or $10/month) – One day of door-to-door campaigning for better transit in low-income communities
$500 (or $40/month) – Mobilizing 50 community members to attend a public hearing
$1,500 (or $125/month) – Four-week SALTA leadership training course on transportation justice for 55 community residents

Monique López
Policy Advocate
Environmental Health Coalition

The climate revolución has begun. On April 30, our Annual Awards Celebration, Climate Revolución, recognized this movement and the community voices leading the charge for clean air and transportation justice in our region. 

With EHC members, neighbors, allies, friends, fellow advocates, business owners, sponsors and elected officials, we celebrated the Climate Revolución and EHC's 35th Anniversary with an incredible night of inspiration, awards, laughter and of course, selfies. 

A sold out crowd spent Thursday evening helping us recognize community members, organizations and elected officials leading the charge to revolutionize clean air and transporation justice policies. These heroes include:

2015 Healthy Neighborhoods Champion Award:

• City Heights Built Environment Team and City Heights Community Action Team. 
  City Heights Community Development Corporation, Associación de Liderazgo Communitaria, International Rescue Committee, Marco Montiel, Esperanza Gonzalez, Martha Patty Rosales, Delfina Guzman, Melanie Azvedo, Sallie Lemmie, Tuong Cong Bui, Christy Tran, Trong Dinh and Lam Truong.
  
  EHC has worked with these groups of community residents and organizations dedicated to improving City Heights for the past four years to develop a Community Driven Action Plan. The group chose to focus on advancing transportation justice and has focused on the Mid-City Bike Corridor, street improvements and demanding an equitable Regional Transportation Plan.

2015 Environmental Champion Award:

• Cleveland National Forest Foundation and Sierra Club
  These organizations have effectively used legal strategy to challenge inequitable transportation and climate action plans at the local and regional level. The organizations won an appeals court ruling against SANDAG’s inequitable and inadequate 2012 Regional Transportation Plan and Sierra Club won a ruling that will force the County of San Diego to strengthen its inadequate Climate Action Plan.
• SanDiego350
  An all-volunteer action group, SanDiego350 organized the massive People’s Climate March in 2014, attracting more than 1,500 San Diegans passionate about taking action on climate change and joining more than 2,000 similar events around the world. The organization also worked side-by-side with EHC to defeat two power plants: Quail Brush and Pio Pico.

2015 Spirit of Justice Award:

• Todd Gloria and David Alvarez
  

  Both Gloria and Alvarez have worked tirelessly to bring environmental justice to overburdened communities and to the San Diego region.

  During Gloria’s term as interim Mayor, he completed the draft Climate Action Plan with an emphasis on substantial expansion of renewable energy, alternative transportation, energy efficiency measures, greenhouse gas reduction and social equity.

  Alvarez has been a courageous advocate for healthy neighborhoods, including reducing pollution and the impacts of climate change. He advanced a City Council-approved resolution to move the City of San Diego Climate Action Plan forward when it was stalled.

View photos from the event of on Facebook here.

A video to announce the awardees and ignite our shared passion for climate justice highlighted the celebration.

Toni Atkins couldn't attend in person, but sent her support of the Revolución and all the award winners via video. 

Using the hashtag #climaterevolución to capture moments, our guests helped document the evening one photo at a time.

Click here to view what our guests said about the #climaterevolucion.

Even when the event was over, the Climate Revolución remained inspiring. An email from San Diego City College Student Health Services perfectly captures the feeling we were hoping to ignite.

"Thank you so much for the invitation to join you and my City Colleagues at the incredible celebration and fund-raiser for EHC. It was terrific to learn of the social justice and empowerment work by this incredible agency!As a pediatric nurse for > 20 years, I saw poor children come into the hospital in much greater numbers for asthma, respiratory illnesses. I attributed it at the time to lack of continuous well-child care, lack of money for treatments/meds…what I did not consider nor learn about until last night was the significant neighborhood pollution and other environmental impacts of underrepresented populations in their communities. I had looked at their respiratory problems from the single lens of medical care, not incorporating the important contributions of the environment. Again, I had taught families about pets and pillows and allergans impacting breathing, but had forgotten about the air they breathe in their communities, and that it is likely very different from the air I breathe, though we both live in SD.

I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to become part of this organization’s work and for opening my eyes. I am learning. Thank you!"

Thank you to all our sponsors, including: Pacifica Companies, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, San Diego Convention Center, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Port of San Diego, the California Endowment, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, the United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 135, Pala Band of Mission Indians, Manpower - Linda and Mel Katz, Blue Summit Wealth Management, ECOR - Noble Environmental Technologies, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, UC San Diego Health Systems, and Ryan Brothers Coffee.

We can't say thank you enough to everyone who attended, contributed and volunteered for the Climate Revolución and the fight for cleain air and transportation justice in our region. We are humbled and honored to know and work with all of you. See you next year, and viva la Revolución!

Community Organizer Jose Franco was recently asked to give a presentation on environmental justice to students at Bishop’s High School in La Jolla. Students had requested a perspective on “environmentalism as a movement,” not just the jargon of reduce, reuse and recycle.

The students appreciated the fresh perspective and learned that there's more to environmental justice than they had previously thought. Following the presentation, one student shared his thoughts on the presentation in his school newsletter, and we felt inspired to share it with you.

Thoughts on the Earth Day Assembly

I have been around for a lot of Earth Days. I wasn’t here for the first one; anyone who was is really, really old - or at least 45, which is really, really old to some of you. As important as the message of Earth Day is, sometimes it seems like we are putting on a broken record. That becomes frustrating for the people hearing it, and even more so for people like Gloriana and Dylan who persist in repeating themselves in attempt to get people to listen and actually make positive changes.  

I was expecting our guest speaker, Jose Franco, to drop the needle on the same-old environmental message, but this was a completely different perspective. Kind of like hearing Chris Cornell’s cover of Micheal Jackson’s Billie Jean, same song played in a way that makes you rethink the original. Thank you to Gloriana, Dylan and GCI.  

There were two economic aspects of what Mr. Franco presented that are worth adding to the discussion on the topic of environmental justice. First, when Mr. Franco asked who thought that climate change affected everyone the same, there were a lot of hands. He followed by talking about “heat islands” and health factors and showed a map displaying the disproportionate impact on some communities.

I looked around and saw some faces that were either confused, not buying it, or exhausted from a late night of homework. From an economic perspective, the costs of climate change a definitely disproportionately borne by the poor vis-à-vis higher food prices. When you are poor you spend a greater fraction of your income on food. The costs of climate change are no different than a regressive tax, the increase in food prices is more taxing on the poor.

My second comment has to do with correlation and causality. While there certainly is the problem of NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) with the wealthy using economic and political influence to push for projects with negative externalities (ask an AP Econ student what that is) to be built somewhere else, the housing market sets prices according to the environmental conditions around the house – supply and demand make houses close to the beach more expensive and houses next to prisons cheaper. Pollution may move into poor neighborhoods, but poor people are moving into polluted neighborhoods. Don’t move there, you say. Well, where else can you go? Income constraints often leave the poor without affordable housing options, especially here in San Diego.  

The science of climate change is more complex than hotter temperatures and the socio-economic impact is just as complicated. What should you do? Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! Don’t add more trash that will end up in a landfill in someone else’s neighborhood. Caring for the environment is caring for others!”

- Dee Mecham

The power of the community voice has spearheaded the revitalization of our region, leading the charge to revolutionize transportation and energy policy. On April 30, were holding our annual awards ceremony to celebrate this movement and the community leaders who make it possible. Reserve your seats today and join these sponsoring organizations as part of the climate revolución.

Pacifica Companies
Presenting Sponsor

Ash Israni founded Pacifica Companies 31 years ago. He saw every real eastate project as a chance to improve the quality of life in the community and preserve and protect the natural environment. Little did he know these values would lead him to become part of the climate revolución. Pacifica Companies is not only our presenting sponsor for 2015, but our 4th annual presenting sponsor.

Pacifica Companies develops real estate projects that improve the quality of life for the end user and those in the surrounding community, respects the ideas and concerns of everyone whom the development affects, and preserves and protects the natural environment.

San Diego Airport Authority 
Platinum Sponsor

The San Diego Airport Authority utilizes green building practices and supports local workers and businesses. It's building a future of clean energy and transportation justice.

Port of San Diego 
Gold Sponsor

The Port of San Diego is building the climate revolución with creative investments in renewable energy projects and bold leadership in energy efficiency. We're proud to have them as a gold sponsor.

California Endowment 
Gold Sponsor

The California Endowment embodies the message that whole community health goes beyond good vs. bad choices. It requires transportation justice and clean energy.

Planned Parenthood Pacific Southwest 
Gold Sponsor

Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest's motto is, "Care. No matter what." Its spirit and leadership contributes to the climate revolución. We are honored to have them as a gold sponsor.

San Diego Convention Center 
Gold Sponsor

The San Diego Convention Center brings clean energy, good jobs and local businesses together; a perfect fit for the climate revolución.

UFCW Local 135 
Gold Sponsor

UFCW Local 135 is well known for their tradition of excellence in representing the needs of working men and women. The climate revolución will have good jobs that respect both the environment and the worker because of the UFCW.

Pala Band of Mission Indians 
Gold Sponsor

The Pala Tribe works diligently to anticipate any environmental damage they might create. With this in mind, they have developed specific programs in working to preserve the environment that are leading the climate revolución.

Manpower - Linda and Mel Katz 
Gold Sponsor

Linda and Mel are bold leaders of corporate citizenship and civic engagement in San Diego. Their involvement in the community, and Manpower's ability to help the unemployed find a paycheck, are pushing the climate revolución forward.

Blue Summit Wealth Management 
VIP Sponsor

Blue Summit Wealth Management invests in projects that bring clean energy and transportation justice to the communities who need it. Now, they're investing in the climate revolución. 

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 
VIP Sponsor

The IBEW builds the infrastructure of the climate revolución every single day as it leads the industries of clean energy and transportation justice. We're privelidged to have its support.

Ryan Bros Coffee 
VIP Sponsor

Ryan Bros Coffee is a staple of our community and always engaged in their impact on our neighborhood and in our environment. They love to serve coffee because they love people, and they embody the spirit of the climate revolución.

ECOR - Noble Environmental Technologies 
VIP Sponsor

ECOR is creating the sustainable materials that will become the building blocks of the climate revolución. We're proud to have them as a VIP sponsor.

San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council
VIP Sponsor

Working families are the backbone of the climate revolución. The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council is advancing the future by advancing the policies and legislation that support them.  

UC San Diego Health Systems
VIP Sponsor

UC San Diego Health Systems is creating a healthier world one life at a time. They are building new science, mew medicine and new cures for the climate revolución. 

Thank you to all of our sponsors for becoming part of the climate revolución. Together, we lead the charge to revolutionize transportaion and energy regionwide and build a healthy future for our communities. Viva la revolución. 

To learn more about becoming a sponsor, click here.

To join the climate revolución on April 30, buy your tickets here.

Councilmember Todd Gloria has been taking strides to reform the referendum process in San Diego. In his previous role as Council President, he and San Diego City Council supported the Barrio Logan community when corporations launched a deceptive referendum that ultimately repealed the community-developed and long overdue plan that would make Barrio Logan a healthier place to live.

The dishonest process resurfaced again when City Council voted to raise the minimum wage and increase paid sick time off and multi-national, billion-dollar corporations paid signature gatherers to mislead voters into signing. Now, Councilman Gloria is moving to reform referendum policies and restore true democracy to the people of San Diego.

Recently the U-T San Diego ran an editorial criticizing these efforts titled “Bad Councilman Todd Gloria”. We had to speak up. Todd Gloria’s efforts clearly do not to thwart the democratic process, but do just the opposite- protect it.

Below is Diane Takvorian’s response to the U-T, which can also be found here.

Councilman Todd Gloria’s efforts to reform the City’s referendum system is exactly what’s needed to restore true democracy to the people of San Diego. Rather than “Bad Councilman Todd Gloria”, he is shining a light on a system that allows multi-national corporations to exact undue influence over legislative decisions. Case in point is the defeat of the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update in June 2014 as the result of a referendum financed by the multi-billion dollar shipbuilding industry. After four years of extensive community participation by thousands of residents that resulted in a compromise approved by the City Council that would have improved the community by mitigating pollution and reducing childhood asthma, the plan was repealed by voters. This, despite a finding by a local judge confirming that the public had been deceived by the signature gatherers but still allowed the election to proceed.

Ultimately the special interests opposing the Barrio Logan plan spent over $1,700,000 to win their referendum campaign, outspending the local community by 17:1 and leaving the outdated and dangerous industrial zoning in place. This is a clear example of the distortion of a true democratic process at the expense of community residents who will have to live with the devastating effects. Reform is overdue and Councilman Gloria is leading the way.

Diane Takvorian
Executive Director
Environmental Health Coalition