Creating the Conditions for Environmental Justice

Huliau o Wai'anae: Turning Points for a Sustainable Future is intended to address the historically systemic barriers that have prevented indigenous participation in government decision-making through an Advisory Hui, Citizen Science Program, Fellowships and a Community Health Assessment.

The West Anniston Youth Empowerment Strategies for Environmental Justice (YES4EJ) Project will prepare the community for a sustainable, resilient future through a sequence of integrated activities designed to empower local, young adults with knowledge and skills to engage decision makers in effecting better outcomes for community health and prosperity.

The CC is working with the Hoopa Valley Tribe to develop their climate adaptation plan. Local Tribal knowledge is critical to the vulnerability analysis as is an understanding of climate impacts on traditional practices, foods and resources.

We are providing technical assistance to the island community of Vieques in Puerto Rico to help local elected leaders and municipality staff better understand their needs and address numerous solid waste issues associated with their landfill.

With almost 2 million acres on their reservation, managing their vast environment is a challenge. In 2026, The CC is working with the San Carlos Apache Nation to identify community needs, explore better communication and develop a Tribal Environmental Plan that links to the strategic plan we helped them create in 2025.

The CC is a parter with the American Geophysical Union’s Thriving Earth Exchange program to bring community science to pressing environmental problems.

How will Hawaii convert almost 90,000 cesspools to sewer or septic when many of the homeowners are living below the poverty line? The CC is working with community members and the Department of Health to explore this issue through our community outreach training and tools. Read and download our most recent report here.

Through a USDA grant, we are working with multiple Tribes, including Yavapai Apache, Soboba Tribe of Luiseño Indians, La Jolla Tribe of Luiseño Indians, and Hopi to help them address 1) waste management issues, 2) communications challenges and 3) climate resilience.

The CC helped create Women’s Climate Centers International to support climate smart agriculture, economic development and drought resistance for rural East African women. We continue to serve as the US backbone for this organization.

The Nooksack Tribe in Washington State is trying to anticipate wastewater challenges due to climate change. Part of that effort is education and communications around septic maintenance and pumping. The CC is helping the Tribe develop outreach materials focused on wildlife that is sacred to the community.

Newbern is in the process of developing a new wastewater utility that will replace existing at home treatment systems including old septic and straight pipes. At the same time they have a new city council. The CC is helping both entities through leadership, communications and managerial and financial training.

The West Anniston Foundation (WAF) was formed in 2001 as a result of a legal class action regarding PCB contamination found mainly within the West Anniston Community. In 2026 they are focused on healthy homes and community training. The CC is working with WAF on their strategic plan so they can continue fighting the good fight well into the future.