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From Adversity to Environmental Justice Leadership
From my teen years in San Jose, California, I knew that I wanted to influence policies affecting marginalized, historically disinvested communities, particularly the environmental impacts on their health. Pesticides crop-dusted my community, and our neighborhood was demolished, giving me a fire in the belly to understand why our community was negatively impacted by government decisions while others were not. In the 1970s, long before environmental or climate degrees were widely available, I found my way to UC Santa Barbara, where I earned a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies. The program has since evolved, now offering more science and management courses than before. From there, I pursued a Master’s in Public Health at UCLA, specializing in Environmental Health and Policy. I was determined to follow a path that would allow me to influence climate policy, which eventually led me to this role. My engagement with community leaders and focus on environmental justice brought me here. My community nominated me for this position, and local environmental and social justice leaders were instrumental in establishing the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office, where I now serve as Director and Chief Heat Officer. Building Trust Through Co-Designed Climate Solutions We strive to co-produce and co-design our policy recommendations with community leaders through workshops, focus groups, and community assemblies. We aim to be authentic and trusted partners. We work closely with local, trusted partner networks that have built rapport with communities over the years, keeping them informed, engaged, and delivering tangible results. Transparency is vital, and it is essential to keep these communities informed throughout the process.Building rapport behind the scenes and setting aside egos has been key. Demonstrating that our efforts are for the community—as public servants—helps create genuine partnerships.
