If you attended our annual awards celebration, One People, Una Frontera, you met our very special guest speaker Sergio De La Torre, co-producer of the documentary film Maquilapolis. Since the event, we've received many inquiries about his film, which tells a compelling story and highlights important issues in border justice.

Maquilapolis resonates very strongly with us and our communities. EHC has worked in the border region on social and environmental justice issues for more than 20 years. We collaborated extensively with the Maquilapolis film crew more than ten years ago – we even had one of our Community Action Team leaders as a protagonist in the documentary: Lourdes Luján.

While the film was released ten years ago, the issues it addresses the ongoing and ultimately imporant environmental and social justice issues in our communities.

Please join us for EHC's first-ever screening of this eye-opening documentary on Wednesday, July 6, at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park (2921 El Cajon Blvd, 92104). 

With only 40 seats available, reserve yours today for a suggested contribution of $8. Click here to share the event on Facebook and invite your friends, and to learn more about Maquilapolis, click here.

When you get ready to head to the polls on election day, here are a few tips to make your day successful:

1. Register to vote and check which political party you're registered with.

2. Read up on candidates and ballot measures. 

3. Know your polling location. If you don't know your polling location, visit the San Diego County Registrar of Voters to find out where you vote. Plan accordingly to make sure you have enough time to complete your ballot.

4. Secure a babysitter or take shifts with other parents so everyone can take the time to vote. 

5. Know your voting rights. For instance, if you are not on the list of registered voters or someone asks for your ID, you have options. Before you go, read the rights every voter has in California.

6. You can take a sample ballot or a list of candidates with you to the polling locations. You can even bring in an endorsement list, just as long as that item you have does not contain any campaign advertisements.

7. If you need help voting, you are allowed to have a family member, a friend or caregiver in the booth to assist you.

8. If you are unsure about something on your ballot, ask for assistance from an election official. Do not be embarrassed to ask for help.

9. Don't feel rushed. Take your time when you enter the voting booth.

10. Be prepared to stand in line. There is a good chance you will be standing in line at some polling locations in order to vote.

Remember, you can always contact EHC if you have any questions by calling (619) 474-0220 or Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo. for more information. Make sure you get out to vote and encourage your neighbors to do the same.

La escuela de Alejandro mide un poco más de 2000 metros cuadrados. De los cuales casi todo son salones, en los que toman clases grupos de cerca de 30 niños. Su escuela tiene una cancha de futbol que sirve también como cancha de básquetbol. Tienen dentro de su escuela dos árboles grandes y cuatro pequeños. Su clase favorita es la de Ciencias Naturales, en la que le enseñan sobre los ecosistemas, la biodiversidad y el medio ambiente. Estudian dentro del salón en libros con fotos y dibujos de otras partes del mundo.

Vive en un departamento de 60 metros cuadrados que renta su familia, sin patio, con dos habitaciones en la que se acomodan 7 personas. Casi frente a su casa hay un taller de reparación de traileres y a una cuadra de distancia hay una fábrica recicladora. Tiene que caminar dos cuadras para encontrar un árbol. Alejandro vive además justo debajo del parque industrial de Otay, el más grande y uno de los más dinámicos en Tijuana y en la región fronteriza.

Le gustan los animales y le gusta acampar. Le encanta correr y jugar en los parques. Pero lo más importante es que le gusta participar en actividades para preservar el medio ambiente… su medio ambiente. Actividades como los campamentos, recorridos y las jornadas de limpieza en el Arroyo Alamar.

Puede ser que los cuatro kilómetros que quedan de bosque ribereño en el Alamar no parezcan mucho comparados con otros ecosistemas en otras partes de México o Estados Unidos. Pero para Alejandro, y para cientos de familias que viven en las mismas condiciones, este bosque representa una gran oportunidad para aprender no de libros sino de la naturaleza directamente sobre el medio ambiente, pero mas importante, la oportunidad de mitigar la contaminación por el trafico tan dinámico y la contaminación industrial. El Alamar para él y su familia se trata de Calidad de Vida.

On April 14, our Annual Awards Celebration, One People, Una Frontera, recognized the individuals and groups that have dedicated their lives to building a healthy, unified border region.

With a room full of people passionate about cross-border environmental justice, we celebrated One People, Una Frontera and EHC's 36th Anniversary with an uplifting night of inspiration, awards and friendship.

Elected officials and community leaders alike spent the evening celebrating the progress of our Border Environmental Justice Campaign and helping us award those spearheading cross-border efforts. These heroes include:

• Spirit of Justice Award
  • These government agencies worked to confine more than 42-tons of lead-contaminated waste from a Tijuana battery plant. This award recognizes their leadership and steadfast commitment to the health and safety of our neighborhoods.
    • SEMARNAT
    • EPA Region 9
  • Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins: As the leader of the California Assembly, Speaker Atkins received a perfect score for environmental justice bills in 2015. Her own bills created seats on the California Air Resources Board for environmental justice representatives and directed new resources from penalties to be directed to impacted communities.
• Environmental Justice Champion Award 
  • From producing powerful documentaries to ensuring healthy development practices on the Alamar River, these awardees display unparalleled professional effort and commitment to equitable, balanced development in cross-border communities.
    • The Rodriguez Griswold Family
    • Vicky Funari and Sergio De La Torre
    • Enrique Medina
    • Ana Elena Espinoza
    • Saúl Guzmán
• Healthy Neighborhoods/Barrios Saludables Awards
  • These groups have offered opportunities for concerned Tijuana citizens to get involved in their communities. Their advocacy and organizing efforts have led to toxic site cleanups, preservation of declining natural space and a strengthened concept of environmental justice in the border region.
    • Consejo Consultivo Para el Desarrollo Sustentable
    • Tijuana Calidad de Vida
    • Proyecto Fronterizo de Educación Ambiental
    • CICEA Papalotzin
    • Red de Ciudadanos para la Mejora de las Comunidades (RECIMEC)
    • Colectivo Chilpancingo
    • Jóvenes Pro Justica Ambiental
  • Neighborhood leaders: 28 adults and youth were recognized for their outstanding civic engagement in the struggle for healthy neighborhoods.

The celebration was highlighted by a video sharing the victories, challenges and vision for the future of the San Diego/Tijuana region.

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors, including our presenting sponsor, Pacifica Companies, for your support and leadership in merging two cultures into one unique way of life.

To everyone who attended, contributed and volunteered to make One People, Una Frontera a success, we can’t thank you enough. Because of your dedication, we are closer than ever before to creating a region where all people can live, work and play in a healthy and safe environment.

View more photos from the event on Facebook.

Thank you, and see you next year.

On April 14, 2016, the Port of San Diego unanimously voted to approve a new plan for National City Terminal – including the 2.5-acre expansion of Pepper Park.

The new plan resulted from unprecedented compromises between the City of National City, the Port of San Diego and community members. It was EHC’s policy advocate, Carolina Martinez, who opened the Port’s eyes to an inconvenient truth - the public amenities sought by the City for the bayfront were not what the residents of National City needed.

The City prizes hotels, restaurants, marinas and other tourist-serving commercial businesses that bring in revenue. While National City needs revenue, not many National City residents own boats, stay in hotels on their own waterfront or eat at pricey restaurants.

What residents do need is open, public park space where kids can play. A level, grassy area for pick-up softball and soccer games. Perhaps even a water feature – given that the bay itself and Sweetwater Channel are not safe or accessible for swimming.

Carolina and National City residents like Margarita Garcia, Leonor Garcia and Lorena Chavez impressed the Port with these realities. It responded by creating several options for redevelopment of the terminal that included more park space. Residents turned out to Port-led workshops in January of 2016 to advocate for the configurations that produced contiguous, usable park space. The new plan will provide 2.5 more acres for exactly these kinds of uses.

The decision to expand Pepper Park is a win for public participation, public health and environmental justice. EHC members from National City have fought for years for this greatly needed community improvement. This victory belongs to them.