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BIA, Custodial Deaths & "A Black Hole for Accountability"

Kim Fortun

The Bridge: A Black Hole for Accountability

Missing data about deaths in BIA custody raises serious alarm — and emphasizes the many ways our federal government is still failing to protect tribal nations.

“When it comes to the way the federal government interacts with Indigenous communities, accountability is like a black hole,” Maren said. “This instance is not an anomaly.”

Kim Fortun Comite Civico del Valle, Imperial County, CA

Kim Fortun

CCV originated from the grassroots  in 1987 and is now a 501 (c)(3) organization. It was founded and continues to support disadvantaged communities in Imperial County, with a strong emphasis on civic participation.  A key principle, which guides all CCV projects is that “ “Informed People Build Healthy Communities.” 

 

CCV’s most well known program is the IVAN community air network.  

 

Kim Fortun: Comite Civico del Valle, Imperial County, CA

Kim Fortun

CCV originated from the grassroots  in 1987 and is now a 501 (c)(3) organization. It was founded and continues to support disadvantaged communities in Imperial County, with a strong emphasis on civic participation.  A key principle, which guides all CCV projects is that “ “Informed People Build Healthy Communities.” 

CCV now has a 5-member Board of Directors (including founder, Jose Luis Velez,  and a large staff. See details. Includes many community health workers, and a few air monitoring technicians.

CCV’s most well known program is the IVAN community air network.  

Recently, CCV participated in the Workers’ Rights Outreach Program (“a statewide initiative that brings community-based organizations together with state agencies to promote COVID-19 workplace protections and vaccinations). 

 

Pesticide hazards in gardening labor

Kim Fortun

MPNA-GREEN's Community Research Board is conducting community interviews and learned that there are professional gardeners in many households, which likely comes with significant exposre to pesticides, likely brining them home to their families. See, for example, this recent study: https://www.ehn.org/glyphosate-childrens-health-2659484037.html, and there is always worries about endocrine disrupting chemicals in ag work. 

B_Vuong Response to "What do you hope to get out of the lab?"

bmvuong

 I want to contribute to and learn from research that is not only focusing on a particular EJ field but is also inherently interdisciplinary. In this way, I hope to expand my experience on different collaborative approaches to EJ research and see projects make a difference in the communities that we are working with. I also hope to learn from listening to more experienced researchers in the Lab and gain an understanding of the process of academic research as a whole. Overall, a research community of passionate, supportive people!

 

Santa Ana, CA asset:

Kim Fortun

Homeless shelter and support center: https://www.ocregister.com/2022/07/22/motorcycle-club-brings-hope-and-harleys-to-homeless-shelter

Is this center considered an asset by residents, or -- as in many places -- did they contest its presence in Santa Ana given so many other stresses there? 

What do you want to learn more about? How could you follow up?

bmvuong

In terms of an overview, I thought that the event was a good review and summary of the international offenses of Formosa Plastics. As a researcher, I would like to know more about the different panelists' views on what can be done in each setting, as many have stated a lot of the historical offenses but left out their answers to the lead organizers' questions posed in the beginning of the event.