We want you to hear about our work directly from the incredible community residents we work with.  Every few months we will feature a leader's story, told in his or her own voice.

I used to live with my family in Los Angeles before we moved to Arvin, California in 2006 looking for opportunities for a better life. At that time we did not have any idea that this community has the worst air pollution in the nation. Once in Arvin, we started to notice that we couldn't stay outside for a long time or keep our windows open because of strong odors. When I asked our neighbors if they knew what was causing the smell, they said it was normal. 

A few months after we moved, my nephew Hector Garcia invited me to a meeting with the Committee for a Better Arvin. After my first meeting I learned that the CBA, with CRPE's support, was working to empower the community. I also learned that there were many more problems facing Arvin and that the local authorities were not paying attention to residents' concerns. Fortunately, CRPE was providing CBA vital support and developing the leadership of the committee members. We learned how we can communicate with our decision makers and how to organize residents to create a strong voice. I used to be a very reserved person, and found it hard to speak publicly and talk to the authorities. Thanks to all the training I've received from CRPE, I now consider myself confident to speak in front of large numbers of people and with decision makers.

I am continually motivated by my community's needs and our collective goal to live in a clean city, one where the pollution isn't slowly killing us. We want a cleaner city so our children can live in a healthy community free of contaminants. I am very proud to be a part of CBA and our many victories including getting the EPA to provide nearly one million dollars to replace a drinking water well contaminated by pesticides and closing down a polluting composting site that was operating without a proper permit and causing a strong odor.

Currently our main concern is shutting down Community Recycling  and Resource Recovery Inc. (CRRR)- one of the biggest waste composting sites in the nation that brings thousands of truckloads of waste yearly from Los Angeles and other counties to our community. We believe it is the source of strong smells and increased respiratory illnesses. Our fight against CRRR grew stronger in 2011 when two young workers died there after inhaling hydrogen sulfide- a byproduct of improper composting practices. Shortly after the incident CRRR's permit to operate was revoked, and yet today they are still operating and the community is still fighting.

I continue to be a proud member of the Committee and with the continued support of CRPE we know we can change our community for the better. Thanks to all who believe in us and support our committee with economic resources like The Rose Foundation and The California Endowment. Special thanks to my wife Estela Garcia who is always supporting me. She is also a very active member of our committee and I know it would not be possible for me to do this advocacy work without her support. Together we can improve our environment and have a beautiful community.

-Roberto Garcia, Secretary Treasure of CBA (translated by Gustavo Aguirre.) Click here to view on our website.