Environmental Justice
Achievement Award
State or Local Government
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Negocio Verde Environmental Justice
Task Force
NEGOCIO VERDE
E/V is pleased to present a 2008 Environmental Justice
chievement Award to the County of San Diego, a member of
the Negocio Verde Environmental Justice Task Force for its efforts to
address environmental justice in the Barrio Logan community of
San Diego and the cities of National City and Chula Vista.
The Task Force is composed of members of San Diego County government departments, local businesses,
community representatives, and community colleagues. It meets bi-monthly. Since 2003, the Task Force has
provided environmental compliance and pollution prevention assistance training to over 6,500 people, the majority
in communities with environmental justice concerns. The Task Force has provided 11 bilingual (English/Spanish)
training workgroups. Spanish translation of the informational materials and onsite instantaneous translation proved
crucial to many of the community members and minority-owned businesses.
The County of San Diego led the Task Force's participation in workshops that were multi-media, multi-cultural, and
multi-dimensional. The Task Force's biggest success has been the non-enforcement interaction between regulators,
small businesses, and the community. The majority of the small businesses located in communities challenged with
environmental justice concerns are fearful of government agencies. The workshops were provided in English and
Spanish, via dual PowerPoint presentations projected onto side-by-side screens and audio translation using radio
devices. The inclusion of community college students, many of whom live in the affected communities, also proved
an asset to the workshops. The success of the Task Force has been shared at several San Diego area and state
conferences.
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