Mission

CCEJN’s goal is to preserve our natural resources now and in the future, by seeking better ways to minimize or eliminate environmental degradation of the Central Valley communities that suffer a disproportionate amount of negative health, social and financial impacts by polluting industries. We strive to change the political balance in our region and create community resistance to these injustices.

Purpose

Our goal is to preserve our natural resources now and in the future, by seeking better ways to minimize or eliminate environmental degradation in Central Valley communities. This is crucial because rural communities in California’s Central Valley suffer a disproportionate amount of negative health, social and financial impacts. Because of our region’s lack of political representation, polluting industries have frequently targeted the low-income communities of Central California; most often communities of color. CCEJN is committed to putting a stop to environmental racism. We act as watchdogs to prevent the siting of new polluting facilities near our most vulnerable communities. The Cerrill Report was a document produced in 1984 by a consulting firm hired by the California Waste Management Board to assist toxic waste companies in placing their facilities with the least amount of political resistance. The report suggested that they target small rural communities whose residents are low income, older people, people with high school education or less, communities with a high proportion of Catholic residents and communities whose residents are engaged in resource extractive industries such as industrial agriculture, mining, and forestry. Ideally, the report states “officials and companies should look for lower socioeconomic neighborhoods that are also in heavy industrial area with little, if any, commercial activity.” We strive to change the political balance in our region and create community resistance to these injustices.