Community members participate in an 2022 Earth Day celebration at Comite Civico del Valle, Inc. | PHOTO CREDIT: VICTOR BEAS/CCV

Over the past year, Comite Civico Del Valle has continued to fight for environmental justice for the Salton Sea region, ensure equity and economic benefits for the Lithium Valley communities, and trailblaze the Valley’s access to Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers.

With increased focus on the region, the coming year brings more opportunity to increase outreach and advance environmental justice initiatives for Salton Sea communities. Disproportionate health impacts among Imperial County’s most vulnerable populations continued. Those issues continually need more champions, and now the environmental justice community brings a call to action to help to steward Lithium Valley, ensuring equity and justice for the fenceline communities who would be most affected by lithium extraction projects.

The Environmental Health Leadership Summit is an opportunity to learn from each other as we address the past, engage the present, and build the leaders of the future environmental justice movement.


Comite Civico Del Valle proudly welcomes you to join the 12th Environmental Health Leadership Summit on November 2nd and 3rd at the Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse. The Summit is a coordinated action to cultivate partnerships and advocacy for environmental and health concerns in underserved communities within the Salton Sea Air Basin and throughout California.

With over 30 years of advocating for environmental justice communities, as well as their innovative community air monitoring leadership role, Comite Civico Del Valle unifies diverse experts, community stakeholders, youth leadership, environmental justice organizations, academia, and researchers to help centralize their commitment to improving air quality and social injustices through advocacy and education.

The 2023 Summit creates a dynamic platform for attendees to experience two days of interactive enrichment through workshops, panels, and presentations aimed at stimulating discussion and excitement for various topics surrounding environmental and public health.

"Informed people build healthy communities"

Participants in Comite Civico del Valle, Inc.'s 2019 Environmental Health Leadership Summit at Imperial Valley College listen to one of the summit's panel speakers. | PHOTO CREDIT: CCV STAFF

Speakers


Schedule


  • 8:00 AM

    Registration & Continental Breakfast
  • 9:00 AM

    Welcome and Introduction to the 12th Annual Environmental Health Leadership Summit

    Opening remarks by Comite Civico del Valle’s Executive Director, Jose Luis Olmedo Velez and welcome to the Summit by the Masters of Ceremony Veronica Eady and Dr. Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez. The Summit will bring together individuals, organizations, institutions, agencies, and leaders to discuss issues around Lithium Valley, Community Benefits, the Salton Sea, Public Health, and other Environmental Justice issues faced by disadvantaged communities across California and the border region.

    Jose Luis Olmedo Velez, Executive Director, Comite Civico del Valle

    Veronica Eady, Vice President Equity and Justice, Resources Legacy Fund

    Dr. Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez Co-Director, Universidad Popular

  • 9:35 AM

    Youth & Climate in the Imperial Valley

    A presentation by two graduates of the Youth Environmental Health Internship with a focus on how youth can get involved with organizations, learn about climate change and what they can do to combat it, and share what the needs of the future will be on energy, environment, and other opportunities for the youth of today. Lived experiences from the YEHI graduates will inform the Summit attendees on their point of view on Lithium Valley, the Salton Sea, air pollution, educational opportunities, and how technology can play a role in their future.

    Ashley Havens, Youth Environmental Health Internship

    Terry Partida Rodriguez, Youth Environmental Health Internship

  • 10:10 AM

    Community Benefits Agreements

    Giving back and investing in the community. This presentation by experts studying, negotiating, and implementing community benefits agreements will take a look at how communities should benefit from development in their backyard, from negotiating tangible amenities and other investments that address impacts and improve quality of life. The presentation will showcase key features of community benefits agreements and how they can play a role in the future development of disadvantaged communities identified for their natural resources.

    Hector Huezo, California Director, Jobs To Move America

    Dr. James J.A. Blair, Associate Professor, Cal Poly Pomona

  • 10:55 AM

    Lithium Valley: Programmatic Environmental Impact Report

    Opportunities, implications, and considerations of the planning process. This moderated discussion will bring technical, legal, and community perspectives to discuss the developing Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for Lithium Valley. A keystone of future growth and development for the region is the planning process occurring right now, as Imperial County readies itself for a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become a cornerstone of the electrification movement in California and the United States, we take a step back to discuss what the PEIR process needs to look at, how it involves community, and what you should be on the lookout for.

    Jose Carmona, Vice President & Chief Government Relations Officer, Tzunu Strategies

    Matthew Valerio, Principal, Dudek

    Jared Naimark, California Mining Organizer, Earthworks

    Jordan R. Sisson, Law Office of Jordan R. Sisson

    Vivian Perez, Executive Director, Raizes

  • 11:40 AM

    Electric Vehicles & Infrastructure

    Gearing up for a zero-emissions transportation future. A time to reflect on the growth in the electrification of California, we’ll hear from perspectives from agencies, utilities, and community organizations who all have a role to play in making zero-emission transportation a reality for disadvantaged communities. From understanding the gaps in infrastructure and the barriers to access for electric vehicles to consumers in disinvested communities, this panel will inform attendees of the efforts underway to address these issues.

    Lauri Walker, Director – Equity Engagement and Outreach, Center for Sustainable Energy

    Sabrina Barber, Manager – Energy Business & Regulatory Compliance, Imperial Irrigation District

    Kevin Hamilton, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director, Central California Asthma Collaborative

    Bill Robertson, Vehicle Program Specialist, California Air Resources Board

    Jose Flores, Policy & Research Advocate, Comite Civico del Valle

    Taylor Marvin, Supervisor – Fuels and Transportation Division, California Energy Commission

  • 12:20 AM

    Lunch

    Keynote Address by Congressman Dr. Raul Ruizs, House Representative for California’s 25th District

  • 1:20 PM

    Community Economic Resilience Fund: Southern Border Region

    Building an equitable economic planning process using a bottom-up approach. A look at the Southern Border Coalition’s efforts in the implementation of the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) program across Imperial and San Diego counties. A collaboration of the region at developing grassroots economic development strategies, plans, and the efforts to educate communities to engage in the planning process. This session will have representatives of the Southern Border region discuss the successes, stumbles, and outlooks for the Southern Border Coalition’s implementation of the planning phase.

    Toni Symonds, Consultant, Policy Works California

    Dr. Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez, Co-Director, Universidad Popular

    Brigette Browning, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council

    Juan Valencia, Community Organizer, Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition

    Christian Torres, Special Projects Manager, Comite Civico del Valle

  • 2:10 PM

    Workshop Sessions:

    A) Brawley Health ACTION

    Community members in Brawley, CA, have long expressed concerns about suspected exposures and health outcomes related to pollution from nearby sources, including a former agrochemical plant, an animal rendering and slaughterhouse, pesticide applications on nearby farms, a cooling facility, and mobile source emissions from roadways.

    The Brawley Health ACTION Environmental Study is a four-phase study that aims to engage residents living near these sources to document community concerns and oral histories, design and conduct a health assessment and environmental monitoring, report results back to the broader community and other stakeholders and conduct activities that empower the community to protect their own health. This workshop will highlight the oral history recorded by the community and shared with Summit attendees in a multimedia format.

    David Chang, Project Coordinator, Tracking California

    Dr. Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez, Co-Director, Universidad Popular

    Esther Bejarano, Director of Health Programs, Comite Civico del Valle

    B) Lithium Valley Advocacy

    A workshop tailored to showcase the work happening locally in Lithium Valley and experiences to learn from in other areas where mineral extraction is further ahead. Local organizations will share their work and experiences on policy advocacy, how community can get involved in the planning processes, and what future high road careers could develop. This will also be an opportunity to learn of the lithium extraction activities and policies in South America, a precursor to what could happen locally in Lithium Valley.

    Dr. Javiera Barandiaran, Assistant Professor, University of California – Santa Barbara

    Lorna Avila, Policy Advocate, Comite Civico del Valle

    Dylan Castillo, Community Organizer, Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition

    Manuel Reyes, Organizer, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council

    C) Salton Sea

    A look at how the Salton Sea policy, projects, and outlook is shaping up through 2023 and beyond. Learn about conservation, mitigation, and restoration efforts in the plans or being implemented around the Salton Sea. Topics for discussion to include the proposed Salton Sea Conservancy, updates on the mitigation and restoration projects by the State of California, and what the upcoming plans that need informing are.

    Dayane Dueñas Barahona, Program Administrator – Division of Environmental Health, University of Southern California

    Mario Llanos, Deputy Assistant Secretary – Salton Sea Management Program

    Isamay Pasilla, Community Health Worker, Comite Civico del Valle

    D) Climate Change Effects on Farmworker Lives

    The effects of climate change are being felt more harshly in disadvantaged environmental justice communities. In the Imperial Valley, all of our communities have had to adapt to more extreme heat episodes throughout the year, and in the near future the ones that will also feel the highest impacts are farmworkers that provide food to the world. Their work conditions have been under scrutiny for decades, and steps are being taken to address these changes. Listen as we have a conversation on the campaigns to prevent exposure from extreme heat, how to deal with drought conditions, and other resources available to our vulnerable essential workers.

    Melanie Echeverria, Community Health Worker, Comite Civico del Vall

    Agustin O. Martinez,, Community Health Worker, Comite Civico del Vall

  • 2:55 PM

    Workshop Rotation
  • 3:05 PM

    Workshop Sessions:

    A) Brawley Health ACTION

    Community members in Brawley, CA, have long expressed concerns about suspected exposures and health outcomes related to pollution from nearby sources, including a former agrochemical plant, an animal rendering and slaughterhouse, pesticide applications on nearby farms, a cooling facility, and mobile source emissions from roadways.

    The Brawley Health ACTION Environmental Study is a four-phase study that aims to engage residents living near these sources to document community concerns and oral histories, design and conduct a health assessment and environmental monitoring, report results back to the broader community and other stakeholders and conduct activities that empower the community to protect their own health. This workshop will highlight the oral history recorded by the community and shared with Summit attendees in a multimedia format.

    David Chang, Project Coordinator, Tracking California

    Dr. Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez, Co-Director, Universidad Popular

    Esther Bejarano, Director of Health Programs, Comite Civico del Valle

    B) Lithium Valley Advocacy

    A workshop tailored to showcase the work happening locally in Lithium Valley and experiences to learn from in other areas where mineral extraction is further ahead. Local organizations will share their work and experiences on policy advocacy, how community can get involved in the planning processes, and what future high road careers could develop. This will also be an opportunity to learn of the lithium extraction activities and policies in South America, a precursor to what could happen locally in Lithium Valley.

    Dr. Javiera Barandiaran, Assistant Professor, University of California – Santa Barbara

    Lorna Avila, Policy Advocate, Comite Civico del Valle

    Dylan Castillo, Community Organizer, Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition

    Manuel Reyes, Organizer, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council

    C) Salton Sea

    A look at how the Salton Sea policy, projects, and outlook is shaping up through 2023 and beyond. Learn about conservation, mitigation, and restoration efforts in the plans or being implemented around the Salton Sea. Topics for discussion to include the proposed Salton Sea Conservancy, updates on the mitigation and restoration projects by the State of California, and what the upcoming plans that need informing are.

    Dayane Dueñas Barahona, Program Administrator – Division of Environmental Health, University of Southern California

    Mario Llanos, Deputy Assistant Secretary – Salton Sea Management Program

    Isamay Pasilla, Community Health Worker, Comite Civico del Valle

    D) Climate Change Effects on Farmworker Lives

    The effects of climate change are being felt more harshly in disadvantaged environmental justice communities. In the Imperial Valley, all of our communities have had to adapt to more extreme heat episodes throughout the year, and in the near future the ones that will also feel the highest impacts are farmworkers that provide food to the world. Their work conditions have been under scrutiny for decades, and steps are being taken to address these changes. Listen as we have a conversation on the campaigns to prevent exposure from extreme heat, how to deal with drought conditions, and other resources available to our vulnerable essential workers.

    Melanie Echeverria, Community Health Worker, Comite Civico del Vall

    Agustin O. Martinez,, Community Health Worker, Comite Civico del Vall

  • 3:50 PM

    Reconvene
  • 4:00 PM

    Community Research

    Approaches to building the researcher & community relationship to improve community-based research projects. A discussion of experts in community research from the researcher and community sides joins us to discuss the profiles and landscape of community investigations, the researcher and funder relationships, and what the best partnership models for researchers & community to work together are. Sharing their experiences across research projects, this session will inform attendees of the best practices, markers for success, and what you can do to ensure community-owned projects continue to develop.

    Dr. Vanessa Galaviz, Public Health Scientist, California Environmental Protection Agency

    Michelle Wong, Health Communications Director, Tracking California

    Daniela Flores, Executive Organizer, Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition

    Dr. Penelope Quintana, Professor – Division of Environmental Health, San Diego State University

    Ruben Rodriguez, Community Organizer & Air Monitoring Specialist, Central California Environmental Justice Network

  • 4:55 PM

    Closing

    A recap of Day 1 of the 12th Annual Summit by our Masters of Ceremony. A time to reflect and have a conversation about what we’ve learned today and a preview of what the second day of the Summit brings. Sharing experiences from the plenaries, workshops, and conversations of Day 1 we will summarize the successes of the Summit’ ‘

    Veronica Eady, Vice President Equity and Justice, Resources Legacy Fund

    Dr. Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez Co-Director, Universidad Popular

  • 6:30 PM

    Networking Reception
  • 9:00 AM

    Recap & Introduction to Day 2

    A short reminder of our recap of Day 1 of the Summit, and an overview for Day 2 which includes discussions centered on water resources, binational synergy, and how philanthropy plays a role in addressing environmental justice issues. Setting of the day to center attendees for critical conversations that affect the Imperial Valley and other communities with similar issues.

    Veronica Eady, Vice President Equity and Justice, Resources Legacy Fund

    Dr. Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez Co-Director, Universidad Popular

  • 9:30 AM

    Salton Sea, Colorado River, and the IV’s water future

    What is the future of the Salton Sea with reduced allocations from the Colorado River, and how will that impact the survival & growth of the Imperial Valley?

    John Hernandez, Director, Our Roots Multicultural Center

    Dr. Jill Johnston, Associate Professor and Director of the Environmental Justice Research Lab in the Division of Environmental Health, University of Southern California

    Max Gomberg, Independent Water Consultant

    Patrick O’Dowd, Executive Director/General Manager, Salton Sea Authority

  • 10:15 AM

    Binational Solutions to Pollution

    Pollution knows no borders, and the shared issues of the Imperial and Mexicali Valleys affect all our lives. What solutions can we implement on both sides of the border to improve the region's public health and quality of life? Hear from experts, leaders, and advocates working on binational solutions and how there is synergy developing in implementing projects on both sides of the California – Mexico border.

    Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, District 36, California State Assembly

    Daylín García, Diputada BC, Congreso del Estado de Baja California

    Dra. Jaqueline Valenzuela, Directora Ejecutiva, Centro de Energía Renovable y Calidad Ambiental AC & Coalición Binacional de Justicia Ambiental

    Edith Santiago, Associate Director, Sonoran Institute

  • 11:00 AM

    Philanthropy: The role of foundations, charitable giving, and the public sector plays in climate change initiatives.

    Philanthropy plays a critical role in the fight against climate change. By finding key investments in communities most affected, they bridge the resource gap for innovation, need, and community-based solutions. Given this critical role, how has philanthropy learned to identify, connect, and work with communities most at risk to address climate change issues.

    Elena Chavez Quesada, Senior Advisor on Social Innovation for the Office of the Governor, Governor’s Office

    Veronica Eady, Vice President Equity and Justice, Resources Legacy Fund

    Negeen Darani, Vice President of Programs & Emerging Strategies, 11th Hour Project Schmidt Family Foundation

    Eduardo Garcia, Policy Director, Latino Community Foundation

    Waverley Street Foundation (invited)

  • 11:50 AM

    Opportunity Drawing
  • 12:05 PM

    Closing, Acknowledgments, & Call to Action

    Veronica Eady, Vice President Equity and Justice, Resources Legacy Fund

    Dr. Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez Co-Director, Universidad Popular

    Jose Luis Olmedo Velez, Executive Director, Comite Civico del Valle

Resources at the EHLS


Hosted Invited
  • Lithium Valley
    • First 40 - EV Charger Equity Initiative
    • Equitable Economic Development
    • Lithium Valley Community Coalition
  • IVAN Community
  • Respira Sano
  • Trusted Messengers
  • Salton Sea Community Outreach, Education & Engagement
  • Clean Vehicle Rebate Project
  • Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition
  • USC AIRE
  • IQ Air
  • AB617
    • Community Air Grants
    • Community Air Protection Program
  • BTC Power
  • Imperial County Air Pollution Control District