Summit brings environmental justice leaders, state and local officials together in the border region
 |
| Luis Olmedo |
In October, Comité Civico del Valle (CCV) hosted its 9th
Annual Environmental Health and Leadership Summit in Heber, California. CCV is a community-based organization serving Imperial County with the endeavor of improving the lives of disadvantaged communities through a broad range of approaches such as civic education, outreach, research, citizen science and crowd sourcing.
Under the leadership of CCV Executive Director Luis Olmedo, the event drew nearly 300 attendees from across the state to discuss environmental health, air quality, AB 617 and other environmental justice (EJ) issues. Participants included representatives of community-based organizations; officials and residents from the Mexicali-Calexico metropolitan region; Imperial Valley youth environmental leaders; and staff from CARB, local air districts and related government agencies.
In addition to Mr. Olmedo, other California EJ leaders presented their work such as Nayamin Martinez, Rey León, Ms. Margaret Gordon, Jesse Marquez and Kevin Hamilton. CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey and CalEPA Secretary Matthew Rodriquez also gave talks during the summit emphasizing the state’s commitment to deeper engagement with communities.
“It takes everybody to help make these projects sustainable,” Olmedo said, highlighting the significance of the summit’s broad range of participation. “There is no single organization, agency or academic that is able to do this all work and reach all the masses.”
Other key state leaders participated throughout the program. CARB Board Member Dr. John Balmes and CalEPA’s Yana Garcia discussed the importance of collaboration across agencies and specialties to address cumulative impacts. CARB’s Veronica Eady also spoke to attendees, describing her efforts to champion and embed EJ across the organization.
In addition to major speakers, the program featured a World Café, where attendees participated in small-group sessions hosted by CARB staff to facilitate deeper conversation around various components of AB 617. The discussion covered six primary focus areas:
Under the leadership of CCV Executive Director Luis Olmedo, the event drew nearly 300 attendees from across the state to discuss environmental health, air quality, AB 617 and other environmental justice (EJ) issues. Participants included representatives of community-based organizations; officials and residents from the Mexicali-Calexico metropolitan region; Imperial Valley youth environmental leaders; and staff from CARB, local air districts and related government agencies.
In addition to Mr. Olmedo, other California EJ leaders presented their work such as Nayamin Martinez, Rey León, Ms. Margaret Gordon, Jesse Marquez and Kevin Hamilton. CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey and CalEPA Secretary Matthew Rodriquez also gave talks during the summit emphasizing the state’s commitment to deeper engagement with communities.
“It takes everybody to help make these projects sustainable,” Olmedo said, highlighting the significance of the summit’s broad range of participation. “There is no single organization, agency or academic that is able to do this all work and reach all the masses.”
Other key state leaders participated throughout the program. CARB Board Member Dr. John Balmes and CalEPA’s Yana Garcia discussed the importance of collaboration across agencies and specialties to address cumulative impacts. CARB’s Veronica Eady also spoke to attendees, describing her efforts to champion and embed EJ across the organization.
In addition to major speakers, the program featured a World Café, where attendees participated in small-group sessions hosted by CARB staff to facilitate deeper conversation around various components of AB 617. The discussion covered six primary focus areas:
- Air pollution and health
- New monitoring tools
- Process of community engagement
- Community air monitoring and Community air grants
- Community emissions reductions
- Data resources for communities
 |
| Matthew Rodriquez, Secretary for Environmental Protection |
CalEPA Secretary Rodriquez opened the second day of the summit emphasizing the value of work and information provided by community-based organizations remarking, “a decision is only as good as the information going in to it.”
The day featured a presentation of the health disparities and vulnerabilities specific to communities near the Salton Sea Air Basin, as well as a panel with CCV’s Youth Environmental Health Leadership (YEHI) interns, who discussed their experiences with the program and what they hope to achieve with their new knowledge. After completing their panel, the youth presented Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, CARB Board Member, with YEHI's Environmental Leadership Award.
 |
| Dr. Herrera, Assemblymember Garcia, and Senator Gastelum |
In closing sessions, Assemblymember Garcia and Baja California Senator Alejandra del Carmen Leon Gastelum committed to strengthening binational work between the United States and Mexico during a discussion led by Dr. Carlos Herrera of the Borderlands Institute.
CARB staff and leadership thank CCV for hosting the Environmental Health and Leadership Summit and look forward to annual participation as a key opportunity to connect and share with EJ stakeholders. This year’s AB 617 focus will help support stronger partnerships with community members and air districts as the implementation process begins statewide and with focused action in the 10 first year communities.
CARB staff and leadership thank CCV for hosting the Environmental Health and Leadership Summit and look forward to annual participation as a key opportunity to connect and share with EJ stakeholders. This year’s AB 617 focus will help support stronger partnerships with community members and air districts as the implementation process begins statewide and with focused action in the 10 first year communities.