Environmental Justice Coalition for Water ###

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EJCW's Mission

Our mission is to educate, empower, and nurture a community-based coalition that will serve as a public voice and be an effective advocate of environmental justice issues in California water policy.

History

The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water (EJCW) formed in 1999 to address the absence of community concerns within the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. CALFED is a consortium between the California State Government and the Federal Government to better manage water resources. EJCW started as a project of the Pacific Institute, facilitated by volunteers who saw the need for an environmental justice voice within California water policy. Today, we are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we have four full-time staff members, and have greatly expanded our focus beyond the CALFED program into community support and technical assistance, legislation and movement building.

EJCW Structure

The work of the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water is guided by Work Groups and a Program Advisory Committee.

Our three Work Groups are: Watersheds, Drinking Water, and Democratization.

Work Groups develop an annual workplan and collaboratively carry out the goals and objectives of each program area. EJCW’s small staff support and implement member work.

The Program Advisory Committee sets EJCW's programmatic priorities and strategy

We also have a Legislation and Policy Team that collaborates with the Work Groups.

Read more about our Work Groups

EJCW Accomplishments

The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water has become an important community advocate within California water policy, while providing resources to communities impacted by California’s water decisions. EJCW has:
  • Ensured small, disadvantaged communities struggling with local water issues have $100 million dollars of public bond money set aside for their needs;
  • Ensured community members and advocates have a voice within the CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Program by creating an Environmental Justice Subcommittee and pushing for community concerns throughout the entire program;
  • Argued for water standards and clean up plans that truly protect the public’s health through the State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards;
  • Helped communities of color in Richmond form the North Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance to preserve a waterfront marsh with important social and environmental significance;
  • Provided the opportunity for over 70 people from low-income communities and communities of color to learn about environmental health in the legislature through scholarships and trainings;
  • Helped small communities fight off corporate water rate hikes and attain funding for much-need wells to replace contaminated water sources.