Center for Health, Environment & Justice

Center for Health, Environment & Justice is a prominent national environmental justice organization founded by community activist Lois Gibbs. It emerged from the landmark struggle at Love Canal, a neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York built on a toxic waste dump. The organization is dedicated to building the power of communities to protect their health and environment from threats posed by hazardous waste, industrial pollution, and chemical exposure. It provides technical assistance, training, and resources to grassroots groups across the United States.

History and founding

The organization was founded in 1981 by Lois Gibbs, who rose to national prominence after leading the Love Canal homeowners' association in the late 1970s. The Love Canal disaster, where families were exposed to dioxins and other chemicals from an abandoned Hooker Chemical Company landfill, became a catalyst for the national Superfund program. After successfully relocating over 800 families, Gibbs established the Citizens' Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste to assist other communities. This entity was later renamed to reflect its broader focus on the intersection of environmental health and social justice, operating from its headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia.

Mission and principles

The core mission is to empower people to have a voice in decisions that impact their health and environment, grounded in the principle that everyone has a right to clean air, water, and soil. Its work is based on a precautionary principle approach to chemical policy and a commitment to environmental justice, addressing the disproportionate burden of pollution on low-income communities and communities of color. The organization emphasizes community-based participatory research and democratic, grassroots organizing as essential tools for achieving systemic change and holding corporations and government agencies accountable.

Key campaigns and initiatives

A major ongoing campaign focuses on advocating for stronger federal regulation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its toxic chemical additives, such as phthalates and lead. The organization played a significant role in the national dialogue on waste incineration and has been a leading voice against the expansion of gas infrastructure and fracking. It provides critical support through its Green Flag Schools Program and its PVC-Free Packaging initiatives. The group also maintains extensive resources on landfill safety, brownfield redevelopment, and the health impacts of living near industrial agriculture and waste transfer stations.

Organizational structure and leadership

The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is governed by a board of directors that includes community leaders, health professionals, and environmental advocates. Lois Gibbs continues to serve as the Executive Director, providing strategic vision drawn from decades of activism. A small staff of organizers, scientists, and policy experts work to provide direct assistance to local groups, while also engaging in national advocacy with partners like the Environmental Justice Health Alliance and the Coming Clean collaborative. Its funding comes from foundation grants, individual donations, and fees for training services.

Impact and recognition

The organization is widely credited with nurturing the growth of the modern environmental justice movement in the United States, having assisted thousands of community groups since its founding. Its work contributed to foundational policies like the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and continues to influence debates on toxic substances control. Gibbs and the organization have received numerous awards, including the Right Livelihood Award and recognition from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Its model of pairing scientific data with community storytelling has been instrumental in victories from halting incinerator construction to reforming local zoning laws.

Category:Environmental organizations based in the United States Category:Environmental justice organizations Category:Organizations established in 1981