Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) is a social justice organization with a focus on environmental health and justice. We organize in working class communities of color because those communities suffer the most from environmental pollution and toxics. CBE works in urban communities in Northern and Southern California among low-income African Americans, Latinos and other nationalities who are bombarded by pollution from freeways, power plants, oil refineries, seaports, airports, and chemical manufacturers. As a result, the people – who have no choice but to live in these areas -- suffer from very high rates of asthma and respiratory illnesses, heart problems, cancer, low birthrate, and miscarriages. These problems are made worse by higher than average rates of poverty, inadequate housing, poor schools, and inadequate health care and social services. Children are the most vulnerable victims of these problems.
CBE works in these communities because they are also centers of resistance to environmental racism. We provide community residents who want to challenge corporate polluters with organizing help, scientific and policy research, and legal assistance. The focus of our work is to help community members identify their own problems, and define their own campaigns and solutions. We believe in building community power to help them achieve the basic human right to clean air, clean water, and clean land and public space. In nearly thirty years of existence, CBE and its community members, including young people, have achieved some of the most important environmental policies in the nation – including strong regulations of power plant and oil refinery emissions. Our experience proves that an organized community can truly move mountains.
Si Se Puede!
Recent Recognitions
In 2007, The City of Huntington Park declared January 16th CBE Day.
In 2008, CBE was honored by the US EPA with its first annual Environmental Justice Achievement Award.
In 2009, CBE’s Executive Director, Bill Gallegos was honored by Liberty Hill Foundation with their annual Changemaker Award.
In 2010, Philanthropedia named CBE one of the top 10 nonprofits in the Bay Area fighting climate change.
Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) is a social justice organization with a focus on environmental health and justice. We organize in working class communities of color because those communities suffer the most from environmental pollution and toxics. CBE works in urban communities in Northern and Southern California among low-income African Americans, Latinos and other nationalities who are bombarded by pollution from freeways, power plants, oil refineries, seaports, airports, and chemical manufacturers. As a result, the people – who have no choice but to live in these areas -- suffer from very high rates of asthma and respiratory illnesses, heart problems, cancer, low birthrate, and miscarriages. These problems are made worse by higher than average rates of poverty, inadequate housing, poor schools, and inadequate health care and social services. Children are the most vulnerable victims of these problems.
CBE works in these communities because they are also centers of resistance to environmental racism. We provide community residents who want to challenge corporate polluters with organizing help, scientific and policy research, and legal assistance. The focus of our work is to help community members identify their own problems, and define their own campaigns and solutions. We believe in building community power to help them achieve the basic human right to clean air, clean water, and clean land and public space. In nearly thirty years of existence, CBE and its community members, including young people, have achieved some of the most important environmental policies in the nation – including strong regulations of power plant and oil refinery emissions. Our experience proves that an organized community can truly move mountains.