Attention: Los Angeles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2002

Contact: Bradley Allen

ph: (831) 515-4480 x6622

enviroslug@onebox.com

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORKSHOP

Santa Cruz, CA – The brand new Student Environmental Center (SEC) at UCSC invites all students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the greater Los Angeles community to an Environmental Justice Workshop entitled Ethnic Communities, Social Justice, and the Environment: Making the Connection on Saturday March 2, 2002 at UCSC’s Oakes College room 105 starting at 11:30 until 3:30 pm.

Certain forms of environmental degradation disproportionately affect both people of color and low-income communities throughout the world. The workshops will confront this rapidly growing problem by raising awareness of the connections between social and environmental justice. Informed speakers will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to begin building coalitions between social and environmental movements on-campus and in our communities.

11:30 - 1:00 Presentations and Discussion

* Kyle Yamasaki, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, will present on Local Environmental Justice issues.

* Dr. Ravi Rajan, UCSC Professor of Environmental Studies, will discuss International Environmental Justice issues.

* These presentations will be followed by an open discussion on connecting social and environmental movements both on-campus and in our communities through environmental justice.

1:00 - 1:25 LUNCH

1:30 – 3:30 Presentations, Workshops, and a Wrap Up

Presentations:

* Eric Cardenas, Program Coordinator, Environmental Defense Center and

Ariana Katovich, Field Organizer, Sierra Club

Workshops (2 sets):

* Workshop Round #1 - Community Organizing Skills and Working with the Media

* Workshop Round #2 - Coalition Building and Resources for Impacted Communities

The SEC organized this Environmental Justice Workshop with support from the Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community and the GLBT Resource Center.

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Student Environmental Center at UC Santa Cruz

www.soar.ucsc.edu/enviroslug - website

enviroslug@onebox.com - email

(831) 515 – 4480 x6622 – voicemail

GLBT Resource Center – temporary office