Live
Welcome to the Summit

Community members participate in an 2022 Earth Day celebration at Comite Civico del Valle, Inc. | PHOTO CREDIT: VICTOR BEAS/CCV
If the pandemic has done anything, it's been to strengthen the resolve of the environmental justice community, to bring us all together in times of crisis and establish coalitions and form leaders as a means to better the lives of Imperial County residents.
Yet an ever-receding Salton Sea did not slow its pace while the world stopped for COVID. High rates of asthma among Imperial County’s most vulnerable populations continued. Those issues and more still need champions, and now the environmental justice community requires help to steward this so-called Lithium Valley, making certain the development does right by the “fenceline” communities in the shadow of emerging technologies.
That is why we are here today, to learn from each other as we address the past, engage the present, and build the leaders of the future environmental justice movement.
About
Comite Civico Del Valle proudly welcomes you to join the 11th Environmental Health Leadership Summit on October 27th at the campus of Imperial Valley College. The Summit is a coordinated action to cultivate partnerships and advocacy for environmental and health concerns in underserved communities within the Salton Sea Air Basin and throughout California.
With over 30 years of advocating for environmental justice communities, as well as their innovative community air monitoring leadership role, Comite Civico Del Valle unifies diverse experts, community stakeholders, youth leadership, environmental justice organizations, academia, and researchers to help centralize their commitment to improving air quality and social injustices through advocacy and education.
The 2022 Summit creates a dynamic platform for attendees to experience a day of interactive enrichment through workshops, panels, and presentations aimed at stimulating discussion and excitement for various topics surrounding environmental and public health.
"Informed people build healthy communities"

Participants in Comite Civico del Valle, Inc.'s 2019 Environmental Health Leadership Summit at Imperial Valley College listen to one of the summit's panel speakers. | PHOTO CREDIT: CCV STAFF
Speakers

Luis Olmedo
Executive Director
Comite Civico del Valle

Dr. Lennor M. Johnson
President/Superintendent
Imperial Valley College

Dr. Arcela Nuñez
Co-Director
Universidad Popular

Ricardo Martinez
Principal
Savienda Strategies llc

Lauri Walker
Senior Manager, Equity Clean Transportation
Center for Sustainable Energy

V. John White
Exectuve Director
CEERT (Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies)

Cristina Marquez
Environmental Organizer
IBEW Local 569

Maria Nava-Froelich
Mayor Pro-Tem/Community Advocate
City of Calipatria

Sara Chandler
Managing Director, Equity & Access
Elemental Excelerator

Daniela Flores
Organizer
Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition

Paul English
Director
Tracking California

Candice Youngblood
Legal Fellow
EarthJustice

Alvaro Alvarado
Senior Toxicologist
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

Dr. Manuel Pastor
Distinguished Professor of Sociology
University of Southern California

John Hernandez
Executive Director
Our Roots Multicultural Center

Esperanza Colio Warren
City Manager
Remover New RIVER Project

Shohreh Farzan
Assistant Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
University of Southern California

Miguel Hernandez
Publics Affairs Officer
California Natural Resources Agency

Kourtney Vacarro
Commissioner
California Energy Commission

Jose Carmona
Vice President & Chief Government Relations Officer
Tzunu Strategies

Jesus Escobar
Board of Supervisors- District 1
Imperial County

Jonathan Weisgall
Vice President, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs
BHE Renewables

Carlos Gonzalez
Chief of Staff
Office of Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia

Christian Torres
Special Projects Manager
Comite Civico del Valle

Wade Crowfoot
Secretary
California Natural Resources Agency

David Hochschild
Chair
California Energy Commission

Daniel Garcia
Community Research and Engagement Coordinator
Comite Civico del Valle

Mario Llanos
Deputy Assistant Secretary
California Natural Resources Agency

Frank Ruiz
Salton Sea Program Director
Audubon Wetland Project

Sergio Valenzuela
Air Quality Monitoring Technician
SCS Engineers

Isamay Pasillas
Community Health Worker
Comite Civico del Valle

Ricardo Romero
Community Health Worker
Comite Civico del Valle

Melanie Echeverria
Community Health Worker
Comite Civico del Valle

Eric Reyes
Executive Director
Los Amigos de la Comunidad

Ruben Rodriguez
Community Organizer
Central California Environmental Justice Network

Miguel Alatorre
Community Organizer and Policy advocate
Greenaction

Matt Holmes
Environmental Justice Outreach Coordinator
Little Manila Rising

Catherine Garoupa White
Executive Director
Central Valley Air Quality Coalition

Gustavo Aguirre Jr
Kern County Director
Central California Environmental Justice Network

Jose Flores
Research and Advocacy Specialist
Comite Civico del Valle

Jared Naimark
California Mining Organizer
Earthworks

James Blair
Assistant Professor, Geography and Anthropology
Cal Poly Pomona

California Geologic Energy
Management Division

Efrain Silva
Dean of Economic & Workforce Development
Imperial Valley College

Victor Beas
Outreach Specialist
Comite Civico del Valle

Trish Johnson
California Air Resource Board Executive
Office for Environmental Justice

Janira Figueroa
Policy and Community Engagement
Comite Civico del Valle

Martha Guzman
Regional Administrator for the nation’s Pacific Southwest Region (Region 9)
Environmental Protection Agency

Lauren Sanchez
Senior Climate Advisor
Governor's Office

Yana Garcia
Secretary for Environmental Protection
California Environmental Protection Agency

Belen Leon-Lopez
Air Pollution Control Officer
Imperial County Air Pollution Control Dristrict

Manfred Scott
Lithium Valley Commissioner
Ft Yuma Indian Reservation Quechuan “Kw'ts'an” Tribe Acting Chairperson Cultural Committee

Preston J. Arrow-weed
President
Ah Mut Pipah Foundation Quechan/Kamya Elder

Jill Johnston
Associate Professor in the Division of Environmental Health
University of Southern California

Andrea Ambriz
Deputy Secretary for External Affairs
California Natural Resources Agency
Schedule
Thursday, October 27, 2022
-
7:20 AM - 8:30AM
-
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
-
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
-
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
-
10:30 AM - 10:40 AM
-
10:40 AM - 11:40 AM
-
11:40 AM - 12:30 PM
-
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
-
1:30 PM - 3:50 PM
-
3:50 PM - 4:00 PM
-
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
-
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Details
Covid Guidelines
Our Requests
- Take extra care to limit exposure to Covid before the Summit. This may include wearing a mask while indoors, avoiding crowds, and social distancing.
- Take a rapid Covid test before you arrive. We will also be issuing tests for any registrants who may feel unsure about their tests.
Important Reminders from Our Covid Safety Guidelines
- You should expect to wear a mask unless you are outdoors, presenting, or actively eating or drinking. Should you forget, we’ll politely remind you, and we’ll also have plenty of extra masks readily available.
- If you test positive for Covid or experience any symptoms, please refrain from attending the Forum. If you feel symptomatic at any point, please let us know by emailing info@ejsummit.com We’ll ask that you remove yourself from event spaces, isolate, and get tested.
We greatly appreciate your compliance with our Covid requirements and any additional measures you choose to take to help us create a safe environment at the Environmental Health Leadership Summit. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.”
Details
Covid Guidelines
Our Requests
- Take extra care to limit exposure to Covid before the Summit. This may include wearing a mask while indoors, avoiding crowds, and social distancing.
- Take a rapid Covid test before you arrive. We will also be issuing tests for any registrants who may feel unsure about their tests.
Important Reminders from Our Covid Safety Guidelines
- You should expect to wear a mask unless you are outdoors, presenting, or actively eating or drinking. Should you forget, we’ll politely remind you, and we’ll also have plenty of extra masks readily available.
- If you test positive for Covid or experience any symptoms, please refrain from attending the Forum. If you feel symptomatic at any point, please let us know by emailing info@ejsummit.com We’ll ask that you remove yourself from event spaces, isolate, and get tested.
We greatly appreciate your compliance with our Covid requirements and any additional measures you choose to take to help us create a safe environment at the Environmental Health Leadership Summit. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.”