During the early 2000s, an influx of Latino families moved to the Bay Area. With this growing influx of people, Nuesra Casa was founded to stand with the community and support them in navigating the institutions, build people power, and support the voices of local stakeholders to create a more equitable society. Nuestra Casa is engaged in the local economy, school district, and civic life.
Nuestra Casa San Mateo County (NCSMC) was founded in 2002 to serve the needs of the emerging Latino population in East Pao Alto. Early programming included Parent Academy and English Language Program, today its programming has expanded to Housing and Environmental Justice work too.
What are the organization's future goals, and how does it plan to achieve them?
How does the organization conceptualize and prioritize community engagement and leadership in its work?
What are some of the most pressing environmental justice issues in Orange County, and how is the organization working to address them?
The work by the Orange County Environmental Justice (OCEJ) organization can potentially advance justice and good governance by addressing environmental injustices in Orange County. By educating and empowering communities, OCEJ can increase awareness of the impacts of environmental issues such as air pollution, water contamination, and climate change, leading to more informed and engaged citizens. OCEJ's advocacy efforts can also help hold local government and industry accountable for addressing environmental injustices and promoting more sustainable practices
Their website has a history of past press releases and publications featuring the organization and its work. This includes local news including Telemundo and Daily Pilot detailing their work and collaboration with UC Irvine, among other organizations, as they conduct their research and present their findings.
The OCEJ works closely with community members in the region; this includes the University of California, Irvine, and other community-based organizations and advocacy groups working on environmental issues in Orange County.
This organization was conceptualized in 2016 and officially notated as a non-profit in 2019, garnering it as reasonably new; with that comes challenges to bring about awareness and build communal support for OCEJ. As with other environmental justice organizations, the nature of the work and the mission to center marginalized communities present challenges and overcome historical and systemic oppressions that have contributed to disproportionate exposure to environmental harm.
OCEJ does not explicitly state they have a unique approach to organizing in their non-profit. Still, within their mission and considering the individuals who comprise their staff and advisory board, I would argue they have a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic approach to environmental justice. There are members from the Acjachemen and Tongva Nations, Asian American-Pacific Islander, and Latinx communities who are working collaboratively to achieve environmental justice.
OCEJ has conducted several studies to highlight the environmental disparities within Orange County. Notably, this includes campaigns like Communities Organizing For Better Water !Plo-No! Santa Ana and Environmental Justice Organizing Academy
As a new organization, OCEJ is focused on building awareness and advocating for environmental justice issues in Orange County. The main initiatives illustrative of the organization’s work include; advocating for clean air, addressing water contamination, climate change action, and community engagement. They seek to advocate for marginalized communities disproportionately exposed to and impacted by environmental harms.