Problems that arise within the Latinx community of the Bay Area include, Housing, Food Distribution, Water Justice, Environmental Justice, and Promotoras are instrumental to the work that Nuestra Casa conducts. They have been engaged directly in the passage of policy to address these issues and advocate on behalf of the local stakeholders. The Covid-19 Pandemic also significantly impacted the organization’s model, and with the political climate, it also supported immigrant resiliency programs to educate and help undocumented folks within the area.
Data produced by the OCEJ has had a significant impact on the organization's evolution as they revealed through their studies that there were high levels of air pollution in some regions of the county, contaminated water sources, and the impacts of climate change, including increased temperatures and more frequent wildfires. Historically, Orange County has placed many toxic waste sites and other hazardous facilities in low-income minority communities.
The CCV develops its research following events that influence the programs and initiatives that the organization supports. One major event includes the discovery of high pollution levels in the Imperial Valley, specifically in the Salton Sea, which lead to health issues and concerns for residents. In 2006, the passage of the AB32 bill set goals for reducing greenhouse gasses and emissions to reduce environmental harm and increase awareness to address ecological issues in California. This led the organization to include climate change and energy issues. On their website, there are a lot of slides that address the most recent global event relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, which exasperated the socioeconomic issues many communities were facing.
First and foremost, the Jurupa Valley versus Stringfellow Acid Pit toxic waste site was instrumental in founding the organization. The growing environmental justice movement in the 1980s and 1990s also played its part in a broader sense that ecological justice and organizing was critical issue in California and at the national level. The establishment of the Superfund resulted from the efforts of the CCAEJ’s leaders and following legislation such as California’s Environmental Justice Act in 1999, the federal Environmental Justice Executive Order of 1994, and other policies that provided the legal framework for addressing environmental justice issues.
The Flint Water Crisis of 2014 and the Covid-19 pandemic brought attention to the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities and environmental hazards and equity.
Since the EHC’s inception, they have been involved in numerous health studies documenting environmental pollution’s impacts on public health. These studies have provided essential data supporting the organization's advocacy efforts and bringing awareness to ecological justice's needs.
Environmental disasters have occurred in the San Dego region, including toxic spills, wildfires, and natural gas leaks. These events highlighted the urgency of addressing ecological hazards near residential communities and spurred the EHC to develop new campaigns and strategies to advocate for environmental justice.
There are a few events that shaped the evolution of PODER over the years. Notably, PG&E proposed the development of a power plant in the Mission District. Through community organizing, direct action, and legal advocacy, PODER successfully blocked the construction of the power plant.
PODER began to focus on promoting clean energy and climate justice in the Mission District. PODER was successful in getting solar panels installed on low-income housing developments.
PODER has also established partnerships with academic institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, where research is conducted to collect data regarding the social determinants of health within the local low-income Latinx and Chicano communities
The Love Canal disaster of 1970s
The publication of Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States in 1987 by the United Church of Christ Commission.
The rapid growth of the AAPI Population in the United States.
California’s environmental justice legislation.
The Covid-19 Pandemic.
Events that have had a significant impact on the evolution of this organization include the Love Canal disaster in 1978, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in 1984, and other highlighted dangers from industrial and agricultural pollution that garnered public attention and were critical to raising awareness and the necessity for stronger environmental regulations to be advocated for.
Community-led research under the CBE has provided extensive documentation on the impacts of environmental and health conditions from pollution in low-income communities of color in California.
CBE played an instrumental role in the passage of the California Environmental Justice Act in 1999, which mandated that state agencies identify and address the disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities in California.
Environmental Health Data, Air Quality, Demographic, State and Federal, and Community-Based participatory research have all been critical to the evolution of the CEJA. Using these resources as evidence helps support the claims of the disproportionate impacts of environmental hazards on underrepresented populations and their communities.
Their work is constructed around four* major campaigns;
Sustainable Agriculture – Empowering grassroots groups to combat the adverse effects of the industrial agricultural industry
Climate Change And Energy – Addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-income communities and communities of color
Community Investment And Infrastructure – Working with communities to hold public officials accountable for ensuring essential public services through community education and public policy advocacy training.
Toxics and The Environment – Fighting violation-prone toxic waste dumps and advocating for a just, state-wide policy to responsibly handle our waste while protecting civil rights and encouraging healthy communities.
Movement Building – CRPE is unique in how we carry out our mission of achieving environmental justice and sustainable health communities because of our model to develop community leaders.