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