Collaborative Partners

Central California Asthma Collaborative (CCAC)

Central California Asthma Collaborative (the San Joaquin Valley): Founded in 2009 and formally incorporated as a 501.c.3 in 2011, CACC’s mission is to provide education and direct services, build regional capacity and advocate for sensible policies that improve health and address inequities by reducing environmental impacts and emphasizing the prevention and management of chronic disease. We envision environments and systems of support for health reflected in the resources, information, activities and policies in every community.

Central California Environmental Justice Network
(CCJEN)

Central California Environmental Justice Network (Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties): Founded in 1999, CCEJN’s mission is to empower our communities and secure our children’s future by eliminating negative environmental impacts in low income and communities of color in the Central Valley.

CCEJN is a partnership of groups from Fresno, Kern, Tulare, and Kings Counties. In 2001, the founders recognized that CCEJN’s target communities – small, isolated, poor, rural communities with little political recognition and multiple environmental problems – could be found throughout the entire San Joaquin Valley, and so the network was expanded and will soon be opening an office in Stanislaus County in partnership with VIP and CCAC. CCEJN presently supports grassroots leadership to promote
environmental health education, community organizing, collaborative dialogue, and political involvement among rural, underserved communities of color throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

Valley Improvement Projects (VIP)

Valley Improvement Projects (Stanislaus County): Founded in 2012, VIP’s mission is to improve the quality of life of under-represented and marginalized residents of Stanislaus County and the Central Valley by advocating for social and environmental justice.

VIP stands for Environmental Justice: the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies; and Social Justice: the equal access to resources, health, well-being, justice, and opportunity for all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income.

Latino Enviornmental Advancement and Policy Institute (The LEAP Institute)

Latino Environmental Advancement and Policy Institute (Kings and West Fresno County): Est. in 2004, the LEAP Institute’s mission is to organize grassroots, grasstops, agencies and other partners to promote sustainable development, clean energy alternatives, green jobs and reduction of pollution and GHGs in concentrated clusters of poverty in the central San Joaquin Valley.

In 1997, now Mayor Renaldo (Rey) Leon, left his hometown of Huron, CA to attend UC Berkeley. The first in his family to attend college, he returned to Huron to found Valley LEAP, now the LEAP Institute, which provides education and resources to local youth and families. Heavily focused on green jobs and job training, Mayor Leon has developed numerous youth programs designed to train Huron’s young people for careers in the new green economy and is a well-known champion for climate and air pollution equity.

Madera Coalition for Community Justice (MCCJ)

Madera Coalition for Community Justice (Madera County): Founded in 1992, MCCJ’s mission is to educate and assist low-income residents of Madera County by working together to obtain appropriate and sufficient food, clothing, health care, educational and employment opportunities, and other fundamental needs.

MCCJ’s mission is to promote community wellness in the context of improving the quality of life in Madera through increased access and opportunities, public participation, responsible governance and leadership development. Their motto is: “Don’t give fish to the hungry, teach them how to fish. MCCJ supports a variety of self-help projects designed to create a community with a sustainable future. Projects are run by volunteers and participants, in conjunction with support from local businesses, churches and community organizations. MCCJ’s work addresses critical community needs while reinforcing self-help, mutual support, civic participation, and community empowerment.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Stockton (CCDS)

Catholic Charities Diocese of Stockton Environmental Justice Project (San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties): For over 70 years, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Stockton has provided social services to people in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Alpine, and Mono counties. We believe in the inherent dignity of each person and create services that support families and enhance the quality of life for all members of the community regardless of race, age, or religion. Today, Catholic Charities administers direct social services and advocacy through a variety of programs for the most vulnerable and under represented citizens of our communities.

The CCDS Environmental Justice Project is a program committed to providing help for today and hope for tomorrow. Since 2005, the Environmental Justice Project has used its unique Catholic voice to improve air quality, slow global warming emissions, advocate for sustainable and just community growth and reduce the impact of climate change in the San Joaquin Valley. In accordance with Catholic Social Teaching, they are particularly concerned with how these environmental challenges harm poor and vulnerable communities.

Little Manila Rising (LMR)

Little Manila Rising (San Joaquin County): Founded in 2000, LMR is a social justice organization whose mission is to develop equitable solutions to create a more inclusive and healthy community for all San Joaquin County residents.

LMR was originally established to advocate for the historic preservation of the remnants of the Little Manila Historic Site in Stockton. The vast majority of the marginalized community was destroyed because of injustice and racism. LMR founded a museum to ensure this symbol of worst-case scenario international, federal, state, and local public policy was not forgotten. Today, LMR fights for equitable solutions for all residents in their community, regardless of origin, and vows that this history will not repeat itself. They do this through educating the community and provide a nurturing agency that supports local youth through their ethnic studies and arts programs. LMR fights for equitable solutions that create more inclusive, equitable and healthy communities — not only for Filipina/o residents, but for all those living inSan Joaquin County’s low-income and disadvantaged communities who have been left out of conversations about the future of their communities.