ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Wildfire & Smoke Experiences Project

In partnership with the ​​University of California, Irvine, Program in Public Health, CNC Education Fund examined the health impacts of short-term repeated exposure to wildfire smoke or smoke events, such as fires associated with agriculture burning and illegal burning operations. The project focused on the unincorporated communities of eastern Riverside County, including Mecca, North Shore, Oasis, Thermal, and the tribal lands of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. Through multiple focus group discussions, the project engaged more than 100 neighbors and family members, representatives from the Coachella Valley Unified School District, County of Riverside, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and more. In March 2024, the project hosted a community workshop and delivered vital findings and recommendations to families, community members, and stakeholders.

In the summer of 2024, the paper, Repeat Wildfire and Smoke Experiences Shared by Four Communities in Southern California: Local Impacts and Community Needs, was published in Environmental Research: Health. The multidisciplinary, open-access journal addresses critical global challenges at the interface of the environment and public health in a way that bridges scientific progress and assessment with efforts relating to impact/future risks, resilience, mitigation, adaptation, security, and solutions in the broadest sense. The Results and Recommendations in English and Spanish provide a condensed version of the paper with its top learnings.

LÚCETE LATINA

Video Series

Since 2021, CNC’s Lúcete Latina program has highlighted stories of women throughout California, paying particular attention to Latinas in the San Joaquin and Coachella Valleys. The Latinas that are “luciendo” or “shining brightly” are fighting to end the profitability of white supremacy by organizing, advocating, and voting for policies that uplift their neighborhoods. These Latinas are leading the way for their families, neighbors, and the state on everything from achieving housing justice, health equity, reproductive freedom, environmental justice, and more, creating a Liberation Economy where people of the global majority or people of color can thrive.

As a result of the 2020 census and subsequent redistricting, California now has three new Latino-majority districts, California Congressional Districts 13, 21, and 22 - which translates to Latina power! Latinas are now the largest racial/ethnic group in the state. Voter data shows that Latinas are registered to vote more than Latinos and show up to vote more than their male counterparts by 5%. This data is confirmed by the work CNC does on the ground. We know that when Latinas are engaged, they register, vote, and activate their families, friends, and neighbors.

Access the Lúcete Latina Video Series at CNC EF's YouTube channel.