The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization with its main office located in Riverside, California. The Center's goal is to bring groups of people together to find opportunities for cooperation, agreement and problem solving. We work with community groups in developing and sustaining democratically based, participatory organizations that promote involvement of a diverse segment of the community in ways that empower. We accomplish this by facilitating and providing assistance in the following areas:
Partnerships are the cornerstone of the organization. The Center creates partnerships with organizations that are working on issues related to environmental justice, social justice and economic development. The partnerships are created to broaden agendas and effectively disseminate resources. The goal of the Center is to build a strong movement for change that recognizes the connections between environmental and worker exploitation, and oppression on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation and class, and incorporates that connection in the primary activities of the Center. We accomplish this goal by actively seeking opportunities to bring together groups of people working on a variety of social, economic and environmental justice issues. We believe that by exploring the interconnections among issues and seeking common ground for cooperative actions, we enhance the ability to create fundamental change. The Center recognizes that in addition to our work locally, we must also work on a global level. Not only do we live in a global natural environment, but also a global economy, culture and social system. The corporations polluting in our communities also pollute and oppress throughout the world. Our work seeks to link struggles for justice in the United States with struggles for justice in the Third World. President: Renae Bryant is a 5th grade teacher in the Corona-Norco School District. Renae was instrumental in developing a comprehensive recycling and environmental program run by students in the San Bernardino School District. Recently she was given the teacher of the year award by her school district. Renae serves on CCAEJ's Safe Schools Project and on the Events Committee. Renae is a rock musician and publishes a feminist Rock music "fan-zine". President-Elect: Wendy Eads Secretary: Karen Bradford is a writer and photographer who has been public relations manager for the largest newspaper in Riverside County, The Press-Enterprise. She is now the public relations manager for the University of California, Riverside. Karen has been a long-time community volunteer and leader, especially in women’s issues serving on the County’s Commission on the Status of Women. Karen participates on the Community Awareness and Monitoring Project (CAMP) and on our Fundraising Committee. Financial Officer: Nancy White is a Resource Teacher in the Redlands School District. Nancy was born in China and continues her international perspective by traveling to far off places around the world. Nancy is a longtime political activist recently finishing her term as Chair of the San Bernardino Central Committee for the Democratic Party. Nancy serves on the Safe Schools Project and on the Personnel Committee. Parliamentarian: Donna Charpied is a Certified Organic jojoba farmer and is recognized as a Master Organic Farmer by California Certified Organic Farmers. Donna owns and operates her 10 acre farm on the outskirts of Eagle Mountain with her husband, Larry. In 1990 Donna co-founded Citizens for Chuckwalla Valley, a community-based grassroots organization formed to oppose the ill conceived Eagle Mountain mega-dump, and research and promote alternatives to dumps. During the decade long battle, Donna has emerged as a leader in the efforts to stop the dump, networking with community leaders, nation-wide environmental organizations, Government Agencies and politicians. Donna is a founding Member of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice and sat on the Center's Board of Directors from 1993 - 2001. Deenaz Coachbuilder is a retired principal of an alternative education school for developmentally delayed students and students with social and behavioral challenges, and an adjunct professor at California State University, San Bernardino. A native of India, she holds a dotorate degree from Bringham Young University, an M.S. from Utah State, an M.A from Bombay University, and is a Language-Speech Pathologist. Deenaz is a published poet, an artist specializing in oils, a current and past board member of several community and educational orgaizations, and a wife and mother who is passionately concerned about her environment. Cynthia Lopez-Elwell is a wife and a mother of three children, Kenneth, Madeline and Eric. She has worked as a school administrator and teacher of preschool, elementary and graduate students. As a researcher, writer and professional educator, her interests include educational policy reform, community and individual social capital and the nexus between high quality learning communities and quality of life issues in the public sphere. Her recent study, Educational Reform and Mandated Curriculum: A study of the initial implementation of No Child Left Behind and its impact on teachers, was prompted by her latest classroom experiences and those of colleagues. Surekha Acharya is a resident of Riverside and passionately committed to a healthier, toxic-free environment. Professionally, Surekha is an associate professor of English at Riverside Community College and also holds a doctorate in anthropology from the University of California, Riverside. Additionally, Surekha is trained in research, media and public education with a master’s degree in broadcast communication. As a mother and community member, Surekha strives towards creating a safer environment for her children and the community, and has a strong conviction to, as Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see.” Teresa Flores-Lopez is executive director of Westside Residents for Clean Air Now, which is an Associate Group of CCAEJ. She has been an active member for 5 years. Teresa also is a SALTA Promotora and a member of the Modesta Avila Coalition. In 2004, Teresa was appointed to the San Bernardino City Policy Commission and is active in the community while continuing to push for the OmniTrans fueling station to be moved out of the neighborhood and into an industrial area. Teresa has lived in the City of San Bernardino all her life and raised three children there also. Teresa is a supporter of Citizens for Improving Colton. Anna Riviere ADVISORY COMMITTEE Leannah Bradley Patricia Byrd, MPH Maggie Hawkins Linda Spinney Penny Newman is the Executive Director for the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ), a non-profit organization working on environmental justice issues. The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice is one of the oldest and most accomplished environmental justice/health organizations in the nation. CCAEJ’s believes the key to effectively solving community problems lies in bringing the diverse segments of the community together in democratically based, participatory organizations and networks in ways that empower. Penny Newman has gained wide recognition for her work on Environmental Justice issues with the emergence of toxic waste sites in the early 80’s. Her activities at the Stringfellow Acid Pits, California’s top priority Superfund site, led to extensive public policy changes on the state and federal level. Penny’s primary expertise on public participation methods and community organizing has made her a highly sought speaker on environmental health and justice issues. Penny’s received an Associate of Arts Degree (with Great Distinction) from Riverside City College (now Riverside Community College) in 1979, and a BA Degree (with Honors) from the California State University at Fullerton, majoring in Communicative Disorders in 1981; and has graduate work towards a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology with an emphasis in neuropathology. Penny worked as an Instructional Aide for the Jurupa Unified School District and then a Substitute Teacher for the district as she was completing her university work. Upon graduation, Penny took a position as a Special Education Teacher for Riverside County Superintendent of Schools teaching Severe Disorder of language (SDL) class at Jurupa Jr. High School. Penny is a 39-year resident in the community of Glen Avon, California, living with her husband, Jan-- a retired Fire Chief, with the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection. They have two sons- Eric (age, 37, owner of Kustom City Design Works, providing signs/banners and auto aftermarket products, and designing custom cars, hot rods and custom motorcycles); and Shawn (age, 34, Firefighter Engineer with CDF/Riverside County Fire Dept.) Shawn and his wife Cindy have two children - Ashley, 14 and Logan 10. Jan and Penny’s hobbies include traveling and classic cars-- owning a red, 1956 Chevy pro street race car. Ms. Newman has written several guidebooks and articles on organizing and pollution issues and is widely published in numerous journals and periodicals. The most recent publications include the following:
Ms. Newman is also featured in many books on environmental justice, the most recent being:
AWARDS:
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Presentations:
 Front row, from l to r: Claudia Mendez, Rachel Lopez, Cindy Newman, Betty Stinson, Josie Gaytan, Penny Newman (Gwyneth, the dog), Tom Orth, Simon Washburn. Cindy Newman is CCAEJ's Administrative Assistant. Cindy, the mother of two with training as a pharmaceutical assistant, keeps the office working and things on track, handling bookkeeping chores and record keeping. Her talent for organizing and details makes her an invaluable part of the organization. Betty Stinson is CCAEJ's Executive Assistant. Betty has been a member of the Glen Avon community for more than thirty years. Betty and her husband built their home and raised three sons here. The family was active in scouting, PTA and community affairs. Betty worked as an Instructional Aide for the Jurupa Unified School District for 14 years, working at Glen Avon and Rustic Lane Elementary Schools. She was an original member of Concerned Neighbors in Action, serving as its treasurer. Her family was part of the Stringfellow Acid Pits Battle. Davin Diaz Josefina Gaytan (Josie) has lived in Mira Loma for 21 years. Josie has four children — three sons and a daughter — and four beautiful granddaughters. Josie is bilingual, fluent in Spanish, and comes to us with extensive experience, organizing children and adults in professional and volunteer settings. She has worked for the Jurupa Area Recreation and Parks Department for five years as an Activity Coordinator, working with children on basic skills and social competence, preparing a monthly calendar of activities for youth programs, and ordering and organizing supplies and materials for classes. She has worked for Jurupa Unified School District for 16½ years as an Activity Supervisor for Middle and Elementary Schools. She was responsible for the safety and security of students on campus, translated flyers into Spanish and interpreted for meetings. Josie was also an Activity Facilitator for the Youth Opportunities Center and the AsCent After School Program and supervised and mentored Ameri-Corp workers in the program. She was responsible for writing and developing lesson plans, preparing materials and implementing programs with middle and high school students. Josie acted as a liaison between parents and the school district, making appropriate referrals to resources, scheduling appointments, helping parents through difficult times, and translating and interpreting for meeting and hearings. Josie has substantial community contacts and resources as a parent, volunteer, PTA President, and school and community organizer. Javier Gutierrez Rachel Lopez - Healthy Communities Project Director - Rachel is a local resident of the Mira Loma community of Riverside. She was a member of a local community group (HOME) Helping Our Mira Loma Environment. The group was successful in saving their community from the development of Mega Distribution Warehouses by calling attention to the issues of air quality and its impact on health in their region. Rachel is bilingual in Spanish, worked as a bilingual instructional assistant for the Whittier City School District for 8 years, and assisted in home visits within the Latino communities of Whittier. She worked for the City of Pico Rivera as an account clerk II for ten years for their Bicentennial Park Facility. She brings with her the supervisory skills she gained as an Office Manager for E. C. Gan Inc. where she coordinated and managed personnel, maintained payroll records and employee work schedules. She also supervised and coordinated all aspects of Equestrian Events (Team Penning) such as supervision of personnel; handled participant fees; coordinated venue sites, entry forms, ands event sponsors; and coordinated teams for event execution. She was also Office Manager for Lloyd's Fence Company for four years. Rachel enjoys her garden, her menagerie of animals in their pasture, and aerobics. She teaches two classes per week and has taken up Martial Arts. She is a mother of three children two daughters and a son and enjoys being with her nine grandchildren when ever she's allowed to spoil them. Claudia Mendez Jan Misquez has lived in the region for 21 years--Rialto and San Bernardino. A Latina community activist, she helped organize residents from San Bernardino's predominantly low-income Westside community to seek solutions to problems with gas emissions from the Omnitrans Fueling Station in their neighborhood. She helped sponsor and successfully lobbied for legislation introduced by Senator Nell Soto to require an environmental and health impacts study of Omnitrans' fueling stations. She is a founding member of Westside Residents CAN, a grassroots environmentalist organization. Concerned abut Perchlorate contamination of drinking water wells in the Inland Empire, she co-founded and is Chair of Mothers Against Pollution. Mrs. Misquez served one term on the board of directors of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice. She recently completed coursework and is a certificated community organizer with CCAEJ. Mrs. Misquez was appointed by Mayor Judith Valles to the City of San Bernardino Police Commission in 2001. She is married and has seven children and eight grandchildren. Colleen Smethers - Stringfellow Archives Coordinator - Colleen is the newest to join the CCAEJ staff as a part-timer. She has lived in the Mira Loma area since 1972. A retired nurse-practitioner, she became interested in community affairs as the health issues relative to warehouse/air quality became known. Colleen is an advocate of citizens' responsibility for the community in which they live and has worked to prevent the worsening of an already-out-of-attainment (by federal and state standards) air quality problem in Mira Loma. At CCAEJ she answers the phone, keeps the media archives, updates address databases, helps with mailings and events, and, in general, does whatever is needed. She is also a founding member of the Helping Our Mira Loma Environment (HOME) group. For the past 25 years Colleen has served as a volunteer for The Feingold Association of the United States and is currently national president. This well-known non-profit organization teaches a diet management program (with amazing results) for children and adults with ADHD and for those who are chemically sensitive. Tom Orth - Computer Support Technician - Tom functions as the database administrator for CCAEJ, updates the Web site, and maintains the in-house computer network. He has AS degrees in Electronics Technology and Computer Information Systems and a BS in Physics. Andrea Marmo Ruben Muñoz Susana Negrete Esther Portillo Edgar Rojas Carmen Segala Simon Washburn About the Center | Publications | Support the Center | Organization Links | Guestbook
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ) |