Many of the same agricultural workers who help the Central Valley produce a quarter of the country’s food supply return to homes without unsafe drinking water.
Heavy use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture, along with excessive groundwater pumping, have contributed to a contaminated water supply and depleted water sources here in the Valley.
Yet local and state officials do little to regulate our groundwater and hold polluters accountable.
As an inaugural Ambassador, I began laying the foundation to create a long-term, transformation in my community so elected officials and the state hear our concerns, act on them, and hold agriculture industry polluters accountable.
I forged relationships with community members. I talked with them about what issues they want to see their elected officials address. (Drought, water scarcity, and the need for clean drinking water were top of mind.) I listened to them. I heard their concerns. And I helped them by getting out the vote.
This is what we mean when we talk about building power, friend.
The work I did — and the work my Ambassador successors are doing — has me so optimistic about our collective ability to organize, mobilize, and effect change from the grassroots up on critical issues like clean water, clean air, and climate resiliency.
We must continue to grow efforts like the Ambassador Program and develop even more young climate champions up and down the state. This Giving Tuesday, I hope you consider making a tax-deductible gift to the EnviroVoters Ed Fund.
I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important.
Thanks for being in this fight. Together, we are making our voices heard.
