Young Leaders for Environmental Justice 2016 IDRA

Youth In ActionYoung people informing their community about environmental problems, presenting about their experiences with dual credit classes in high school, and organizing field trips to a local college – all of these are aspects of leadership modeled by youths from neighborhoods that outsiders often claim don’t value education. This group of 20 youths launched a campaign to inform the community and to present testimony to the city council and the county commissioners on the issue of environmental justice.

See the related article, “Youths in Action – Intergenerational Leadership,” by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed. at: http://budurl.com/IDRAnlMy16a

Young leaders help collect trash in the neighborhood

Young leaders went to the sources of the noxious gasses plaguing their communitiesChecking out the water treatment plant that is creating bad odors for their neighborhoods are Bricieda Cosino, Victor Molina, Yajaira Gonzalez, Noah Santana, Andrea Guzman, Ariss Cosino, Ramiro Salas, Abril Cosino and Alejandro Salas.

Young leaders met with the sanitation departmentThey collaborated to have more comprehensive trash and garbage pick-up in the colonias

Young leaders planned community activities

Their plan included house visits, talking with parents and presenting to city councils and

county commissionersYajaira Gonzalez, Bricieda Cosino and Yajaira Gonzalez present their plan to their peers and ARISE families.

The Odor LogThis instrument was used to record the responses of families

affected by the stagnant water and the sewer plant.

Planning more environmental justice activities

“Do you ever notice a foul odor around South Tower?”

Flier used to inform the community

Surveying their communityAriss Cocino and Ramona Casas conduct a survey with colonia residents and

disseminate information about the environmental pollution in the neighborhood.

Appealing to the Alamo City CouncilBricieda Cosino, Andrea Guzman, Lizbeth Ramos, Abril Cosino, Yajaira Gonzalez, Ariss Cosino and

Lupita Perez present findings and make requests of the elected officials.

Another city council presentationYoung, courageous advocates for healthy communities.

Continuing to help keep public spaces clean

Intercultural Development Research Association Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, President & CEO5815 Callaghan Road, Suite 101San Antonio, Texas 78228

210-444-1710 • contact@idra.org

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