With our community and government partners, we provide support for advocacy, policy development, public education, and community-based research to improve access to clean air, land, and water in low-income communities and communities of color. We are developing an EJ Advocacy Lab, which will reimagine the traditional legal clinic by bringing together graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff to create law and policy solutions to environmental justice issues in Northern California and beyond.
Contact: Tseming Yang
Projects
- Reforming U.S. EPA’s Civil Rights Program
This project is developing a reform proposal for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Title 6 Program, which is charged with combatting discrimination by entities that receive federal funding, and which could be used more effectively to address discriminatory siting of hazardous waste facilities and industrial air and water pollution permits.
SCU Participants: Tseming Yang and multiple student researchers
Partners: Law students at University of Vermont and Yale School of Law
Funders: Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education, Santa Clara University
For more information:
- Advancing Racial Justice Means Advancing Environmental Justice
- Using CA Civil Rights Law §11135 for Environmental Justice
- Advancing Racial Justice Means Advancing Environmental Justice
- Advocating for Environmental Justice in San Francisco
We provide support for community advocacy to protect residents of Bayview Hunters Point and Treasure Island from environmental hazards, including Superfund hazardous waste sites and proposed developments that threaten to displace residents.
SCU Participants: Zsea Bowmani and multiple student researchers
Partners: Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice
Funder: Santa Clara University
For more information:
- Air Quality in Bayview Hunters Point
- Research on Animal Rendering Facility
- Stench of Sustainability Report on Darling Rendering Plant
- Student Research
- Advocating for Environmental Justice in the East Bay
We provide support for community advocacy to protect residents of South Vallejo and Rodeo from environmental hazards such as brownfields, polluted water, oil refineries and other heavy industries in close proximity to schools, homes, and health centers, as well as to promote safe and healthy communities through increased access to fresh food, affordable housing, and other community investments.
SCU Participants: Zsea Bowmani and multiple student researchers
Partners: All Positives Possible
Funder: Santa Clara University
For more information:
- Protecting against Toxic Exposures from Electronics
We provide research support to non-governmental organizations and engage in multi-stakeholder initiatives to address exposures to toxic substances among electronics production and e-waste workers and their communities.
SCU Participants: Chad Raphael, Iris Stewart-Frey
Partners: International Campaign for Responsible Technology
For more information:
- Health and safety policies for electronics workers
- The future of activism for electronics workers
- Importing extended producer responsibility for electronic equipment into the United States
