Hello John,

It can be challenging in these times to remember to celebrate. 

The government shutdown is being weaponized by conservatives to both demonize their opposition and carry out a massive restructuring of the federal government. This is coming as Americans still aren’t feeling the full effects of Trump’s tariffs, and we wait to see how enforcement of new SNAP-related work requirements will impact our communities. 

Despite that, this month we saw so much beauty as people came together to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day across the country, and the world, as well as the No Kings rallies across the country. Now many are preparing to honor their ancestors during Día de los Muertos as we transition into fall.

Next week, CJA members from across the country will be in the nation’s capital to connect with policymakers on issues important to them and their communities. Our demands are simple: End the shutdown, restore services to our communities, and protect important environmental protections from being gutted like NEPA. 

Join our call to strengthen the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) here! And support community-led legislation like the Environmental Justice for All Act which puts people, health, and climate first while improving the permitting process. 

[CJA members and staff gather for a group photo during their trip to a training in Memphis about AI data centers. Photo credit Kari Fulton]

Earlier this month CJA took a delegation of southern and southwest members to Memphis, TN to participate in a training hosted by Media Justice and Memphis Communities Against Pollution (MCAP). During the training, the delegation took a tour to see where Elon Musk's xAI data center has been built. Surrounded by other polluting industries that produce coal ash and water waste bi-product, xAI is exacerbating the pollution to Boxtown, Memphis residents with 35 gas turbines that power the center.  Musk doesn't plan to stop there, with another data center planned down the road, he will cause even more harm to this community.

After 3 days of learning from victories in Tucson, hearing about fights from across the country, and talking about the tools that frontline communities can leverage, it is clear there is still much work to do! And communities continue to push back. Next week, a group of members will also participate in a data center ally tour (housed in northern Virginia) as they continue to learn more and organize for community centered and democratically governed technology.

^{[Headshots of CJA members Eddie Bautista and Juan Parras, and CJA legislative director Mar Zepeda Salazar]}

This Latino and Hispanic Heritage Month, we're celebrating three members of the CJA family – our legislative director Mar Zepeda Salazar along with Eddie Bautista from NYC-EJA and Juan Parras from TEJAS – being part of the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action!