My name is Christine Rodriguez. I work as a legal assistant at Los Angeles Center for Community Law and Action, where I specialize in tenant rights to keep people housed. I currently live in Pasadena and am the District 5 representative on the Pasadena Rental Housing Board, where I develop local rent protection regulations. I am also a member of The Rent Brigade, where I conduct research focused on housing justice. I heard about Activist Academy through a random Instagram post that promoted campaign advocacy. I signed up because I wanted to develop my skills in civic engagement. I signed up on a whim and was unaware of how impactful this program would be.
I want to provide a glimpse of what Activist Academy was like. We met every other week at various locations, all of which were precious and beautiful in their own unique way. Including the very chic offices of the Sierra Club, the Reparations Club bookstore in South Central (an amazing bookstore), and even the beautiful Audubon Center, where are graduation was held. All sessions were filled with important information from the power of storytelling, the logistics of power mapping, and how to create a plan and build a team to push for change in our communities. Each session provided AMAZING food and guidance for our campaigns on electrification, clean transportation, and the preservation of Los Angeles ecosystems. I met people from all over LA County who had roots in environmental justice, like Brianna Lopez who works as an outdoor educator; Gema Ortiz a labor organizer from Diamond Bar; and Christian Inda, who brought his baby on the first day of the session. I also want to give a special shout-out to the members of the electrification team: Nikki, Raine, Jomo, Jessica, and Angela for your collaboration in this project.
Throughout this program, several environmental crises, including the oil spill in East Los Angeles, the oil refinery fire in Carson, the sinkhole in West Hollywood, and the Lineage Fire in Boyle Heights, helped connect the urgency to advocate for a safe and healthy environment for all. I am eternally grateful to have been part of Activist Academy because it grounded me and showed me the intersections of housing and environmental justice. When crises such as the Eaton Canyon fires, the Lineage Fires, the explosion in Carson, it is always the working-class people of color who experience the firsthand impact and trauma of such events. People of color historically have been impacted firsthand by environmental harm such as pollution and development, which leads to displacement. It's easy to feel hopeless when corporate profit for companies such as Edison or Lineage seems more important than the health and safety of children and adults in cities in Los Angeles. But we must always remember we can work together to demand an environment that has clean air, reduces our carbon footprint print, fights against climate change, and works to preserve the natural ecosystems we have left.
I am so grateful that Sierra Club Activist Academy has reminded me that we as individuals can work together to create a world that is safe, healthy, and works to slow down the impacts of global warming. I hope you walk away with the lasting impression that YOU, YOU, YOU, and YOU can lend a helping hand to create a world where clean air, clean transportation, and ensure that green spaces are available for everyone, regardless of their economic status. It takes time, effort, and energy to enforce these things. Activist Academy has developed my skills in creating a solid plan to move towards environmental justice, but it is up to us as individuals to work together, to identify the issues in our communities, and work collaboratively to problem-solve.