Luis Olmedo
Executive Director
Comite Civico Del Valle, Inc.

Mistress of Ceremonies
Dr. Martha Garcia
President
Imperial Valley College

Dr. Arcela Alvarez-Nuñez
Research Director
California State University San Marcos

Underserved communities statewide have been feeling the health impacts of bad air quality for decades. A panel will give voice to their struggles and discuss the progress, or lack of it, in improving their living conditions. The panelists represent underserved communities which are experiencing the many issues which will be discussed and have first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by those living there.

Moderator:
Esther Bejarano
Community Health Educator
Comite Civico Del Valle, Inc.

Speakers:

Anna Lisa Vargas
Communities For A New California

Air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people worldwide every year and 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Particulate Matter (PM) is believed to play a role in heart attacks, strokes, asthma, bronchitis, premature death, lung disease and cancer, among other ailments. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that air pollution might be the world’s largest single environmental health risk and that reducing air pollution could save millions of lives.

Dr. Michael Jerrett, an internationally recognized expert in Geographic Information Science for Exposure Assessment and Spatial Epidemiology, will discuss and describe in more detail how to assess the health effects and risks from environmental exposures, specifically air pollution.

Speakers:

Dr. Michael Jerrett
Professor-Chair
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

An open and informal discussion between the panel of government leaders and audience regarding the overall environmental justice efforts in California. This will be a motivating session aimed at addressing people’s concerns regarding a variety of issues and the strategies currently being used to try to solve them. The discussion will touch on how agencies and communities are reaching out to each other to collaborate on finding solutions to environmental concerns.

Moderator:

Dr. Arcela Alvarez-Nunez
California State University San Marcos

Mary Nichols
Chair
California Air Resources Board

Jared Blumenfeld
Secretary
California Environmental Protection Agency

California Natural Resource Agency

Eduardo Garcia
Assemblymember
California State Legislature

AB 617 has been called the new frontier in air quality management. This session will help the audience understand what the program is, how it brings communities together to tackle air pollution issues in their area and the potential that AB 617 has to make meaningful progress for disadvantaged communities. The discussion will describe how 10 communities were selected statewide to be the first to implement this new approach in addressing air quality concerns.

Moderator:

Miguel Hernandez
Communications Coordinator
Comite Civico del Valle, Inc.

Richard Corey
Executive Officer
California Air Resources Board

Veronica Eady
Assistant Executive Officer
California Air Resources Board

Jesus Eduardo Escobar
Supervisor District 1
Imperial County Board of Supervisors

In this series of breakout sessions, participants will get a closer look at what each AB 617 community is doing to implement the program. The presenters will be at arm's-length to answer questions and share how their area has been impacted. Each session is designated by the community it represents.

AB 617 is a new program that promises to address air pollution through collaborative efforts between government and communities. (Each workshop is designated by AB 617 Community)

AB 617 requires CARB to address air pollution at the eye level of communities experiencing disproportionate exposure to air pollutants, requiring state and community to work together like they’ve never have before. The panel will discuss how goals for each community are set, how progress is assessed, the deadlines of such progress and the many challenges facing the program.

Moderator:

Jonathan K. London
Associate Professor: Human Ecology/ Community and Regional Development

Ms. Margaret Gordon
Co-Director
West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project

Jesse Marquez
Coordinator
Coalition For A Safe Environment

Nayamin Martinez, MPH
Director
Central California Environmental Justice Network

Gustavo Aguirre
Kern Coordinator
Central California Environmental Justice Network

David Flores
Community Development Director
Casa Familiar

John Hernandez
Executive Director
Our Roots Multi-Cultural Center

Luis Olmedo
Executive Director
Comite Civico Del Valle, Inc.

Mistress of Ceremonies
Dr. Martha Garcia
President
Imperial Valley College

Dr. Arcela Alvarez-Nuñez
Research Director
California State University San Marcos

An exciting discussion in which air districts will share and discuss lessons learned implementing AB 617 in their areas. They’ll compare progress and challenges faced by each district and look for ways to learn from each other and collaborate.

Karen Magliano
OCAP Director
California Air Resources Board

Matt Dessert
APCO
Imperial County Air Pollution Control Officer

Jack Broadbent
Executive Officer
Bay Area Air District Management

Wayne Nastri
South Coast Air Quality Management District

Jaime Holt
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

Alberto Ayala
Executive Director/Air Pollution Control Officer
Sac Metro Air District Management

Jon Adams
Assistant Director
San Diego Air Pollution Control District

Air pollution and particulate matter have been classified as carcinogenic to people; the New River carries water polluted with sewage and chemicals; they cannot be contained by borders. This panel takes a closer look at how binational and state-to-state collaboration is essential to put a stop to transboundary air and water pollution. The panel represents officials and experts from both sides of the border. They will share how binational collaboration started and has grown in the face of current pollution challenges.

Gloria Romo
President
Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District

Dr. Oscar Efrén Zazueta
State Epidemiologist at Department of Health of Baja California

Veronica Eady
Assistant Executive Officer
California Air Resources Board

Ing. Fabio de La Cruz
Instituto Tecnológico de Mexicali

Belen Leon
APC Project Manager
Imperial County APCD

Yana Garcia
Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice, Tribal Affairs and Border Relations California Environmental Protection Agency

Alberto Jabalera
Professor UABC
Director Comité Ciudadano de las Californias en pro del Medio Ambiente

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

One of the most important aspects of Environmental Justice is learning how to give voice to our concerns, what to do about them and how to go about it. This session is the perfect way to tie in everything the summit has touched on. The panel of experts will discuss various involvement strategies, such as calling local and state representatives, advocacy, getting involved in schools, personal commitments to the community and the region. This is the part where we decide how to take what has been presented and apply it back home for the benefit of our families and our communities.

Dr. Arcela Alvarez-Nuñez
Research Director
California State University San Marcos

Kristian M. Salgado
University California Cooperative Extension- Imperial County
Community Education Specialist 2 (CES2)
Climate Smart Agriculture

Dr. Arcela Alvarez-Nuñez
Research Director
California State University San Marcos

Luis Olmedo
Executive Director
Comite Civico Del Valle, Inc.