Safe & Clean Environments

From the beginning, GREEN-MPNA has cared deeply about ensuring safety in our parks and bike trails, fighting for increased access to green and open spaces, and advocating for the environmental health of our community. Our efforts to reshape our surroundings into more family-friendly places (such as Madison Park, Pacific Electric Park and Bike Trail, and the Maple-Occidental Exercise Park) are driven by a determination to improve the long-term health of our families while driving back unsafe or criminal activities.

Communities Facing Environmental Inequities in Santa Ana

Disadvantaged Communities are neighborhoods that experience a combination of environmental, health, and socioeconomic burdens, such as poor air quality, exposure to pollution, contaminated land or water, housing overcrowding, poverty, and limited access to green spaces. In Santa Ana, many communities face these overlapping challenges as a result of long-standing disinvestment, industrial land use, and transportation infrastructure that have placed a disproportionate burden on residents—especially children, elders, and families with existing health concerns. Understanding where these communities are and the conditions they face is central to GREEN-MPNA’s work, as we focus on advancing environmental justice by advocating for safer parks, cleaner air, and healthier, family-centered neighborhoods led by the residents most impacted.

CUAL

(Comunidad Unida para Aire Limipo)

History

In 2003 GREEN-MPNA rooted itself in the community by hosting the First Annual Walk-a-Thon,
Resource Fair, and Cultural Festival.

Hundreds of residents attended these events, enjoying physical activities and cultural presentations, all within the neighborhood park. In addition, residents found important resources and information on how to gain access to health and wellness education, medical services, city and county services, legal services, and community news. Over time, these efforts gained momentum through our volunteer leaders, advisors, collaborators, and staff. After this groundbreaking work, GREEN-MPNA saw an opportunity to further its impact in the community after the enactment of California Assembly Bill 617, Senate Bills 673 & 1000.

GREEN-MPNA sought and was awarded a grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to create the CUAL (Comunidad Unida Aire Limpio) Committee, a resident-driven air monitoring network and environmental justice steering committee. Our CUAL members learned about Environmental Justice, advocated for clean air, collected air samples and conducted research side by side with academic investigators. With the support of new State legislation, CUAL advocated for local representatives to incorporate environmentally friendly policies in the City of Santa Ana’s General Plan that protect our health, particularly children and the elderly.

Values

EMPOWERMENT:

We are united to bring out real change, empower, motivate, support, and help each other.

EMPODERAMIENTO:

Estamos unidos para lograr un cambio real, para empoderar, motivar, apoyar y ayudarse mutuamente para mejorar nuestro propocito de justicia ambiental.

COEXISTENCE

Our unity is based on conviviencia (camaraderie). getting to know each other on honesty, equality, participation, communication, collaboration, and humility. We strive for lasting change and a better future for everyone and the following generations

CONVIVIENCIA:

Nuestra unidad se basa en la convivencia, es decir, en la honestidad, la igualdad, la participación, la comunicación, la colaboración y la humildad. Trabajamos para lograr un cambio duradero y un mejor futuro para todos.

WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY:

While learning to advocate for ourselves, We work for the health, education, and well-being of our community, our families, our neighbors as well as the future generations and all living beings.

BIENESTAR DE LA COMUNIDAD:

Aprendemos como abogor por nosotros mismos mientras trabajamos por la educación, salud y el bienestar de nuestra comunidad, de nuestras familias, de nuestros vecinos así como de las generaciones futura y seres vivos

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE:

We want and need safe and clean air, a healthy environment, and more open green spaces for all living beings.

JUSTICIA AMBIENTAL:

Queremos y necesitamos aire y medio ambiente seguro, con mas espacios verdes libres y limpios para todos los seres vivos.

CITIZEN SCIENCE:

We are a diverse team of community scientists trained to serve as strong leaders and community researchers for environmental justice. We focus on air quality, air monitoring, and determining the health effects of contaminants.

CIENCIA CIUDADANA:

Somos un equipo diverso de científicos comunitarios entrenados para ser líderes fuertes e investigadores comunitarios para la justicia ambiental. Nos enfocamos en la calidad del aire, el monitoreo del aire y la determinación de los efectos de los contaminantes en la salud

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT:

We bring people together to identify problems, collect data, advocate, and find solutions to help our communities. We are a resident-led organization based on collective action. We are regular citizens advocating for ourselves.

PARTICIPACIÓN CÍVICA:

Reunimos a las personas para identificar problemas, recopilar datos, abogar y encontrar soluciones para ayudar a nuestras comunidades. Somos una organización dirigida por residentes basada en la acción colectiva. Somos ciudadanos regulares defendiéndonos a nosotros mismos.

DIVERSITY:

We are a diverse range of people, from various age groups, backgrounds, and communities who came together for the same purpose.

DIVERSIDAD:

Somos una gama diversa de personas de diferentes edades, antecedentes, y de diferentes comunidades que se unieron con el mismo propósito.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING:

We keep everyone in the loop by raising awareness and sharing information about concerning issues that need to be addressed.

INTERCAMBIO DE CONOCIMIENTO:

Mantenemos a todos informados creando conciencia y compartiendo información sobre asuntos preocupantes que se deben resolver

CHANGE:

We are working toward change no matter how big or small.

CAMBIO:

Estamos marcando la diferencia no importa que grande o pequeño. .

RESPECT:

We treat everyone with respect, kindness and value everyones’ opinion equally

RESPETO:

Tratamos a todos con respeto , amabilidad, y igualdad valorando todos las opiniones.

We care for our community, and we know what our needs are.

-Resident

Highlights of accomplishments with the community:

Advocacy leading to the construction of Pacific Electric Park and Maple-Occidental Exercise Park
Advocacy leading to the construction of Community Gardens at Madison and Pacific Electric Parks
Increased access to Madison Elementary after school hours and weekends for academic, health & wellness and community empowerment workshops
Increased resident use of Pacific Electric Bike Trail though clean ups, renovation, new trees planted, ivy on walls, and new lighting,
Incorporation of Environmental Justice policies in the Santa Ana General Plan

The formation of CUAL (Comunidad Unida Aire Limpio), a resident-driven air monitoring network and environmental justice steering committee
Community Forum/Education on AB 617, SB 673, SB 1000
Adoption of an Environmental Justice Proclamation by the Santa Ana Unified School Board with unanimous support for environmental justice policies
Successful advocacy of community participation and adoption of environmental justice policies in the Santa Ana General Plan Update
The addition of a camera and emergency phone at Madison Park