Environmental justice campaign

Earth Care’s environmental justice initiative was born in response to the stark reality faced by communities on the Southside of Santa Fe, where neighborhoods are surrounded by industrial sites. These areas surrounding our communities’ homes are zoned for industry, meaning that we live, work, and play next to polluting industries and facilities that put our health and wellbeing at risk. The Southside of Santa Fe, historically home to predominantly low-income families and communities of color, has long been neglected in terms of infrastructure, healthcare access, and environmental protections. As a result, residents are not only exposed to harmful pollutants from nearby industrial sites but also face inadequate access to green spaces, clean air, and other essential resources that support a healthy quality of life.

This combination of environmental and social inequities has compounded over generations, leaving families vulnerable to a range of health issues such as respiratory problems, asthma, and increased risks of heart disease. Yet, despite these challenges, the Southside community has remained resilient, with residents continuously fighting for justice and advocating for a future where their voices are heard, and their environment is safe and sustainable.

In 2019, we learned that the Associated Asphalt & Materials Co, located right in our backyard, was applying for a new air quality permit that would allow them to operate essentially 24/7, resulting in more pollution and greater risks for families already bearing the burden of environmental destruction. In response, Earth Care brought together Southside residents, community members forced to work next to the plant, and the New Mexico Environmental Law Center to challenge the permit process. We organized nearly 100 residents who showed up to make their voices heard at a public hearing held by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED).

Unfortunately, the concerns of our community were dismissed. We were shut down and faced language barriers in voicing our concerns about the plant, causing one of our members to file a civil rights complaint due to the treatment she faced when she was providing public comment during the hearing.

Our experiences at the NMED hearing represented a critical moment of clarity for Earth Care, serving as the catalyst to launch our ongoing campaign for environmental justice and equity for residents of the Southside of Santa Fe, who have been facing the impacts of environmental injustices and speaking out to create lasting change for years.

You can learn more about our work to challenge the permit process by reading our coverage from December 2020 and February 2022 in the SF Reporter, listening to our episode of the Richard Eeds Talk Show, and reading the Albuquerque Journal and Santa Fe New Mexican’s coverage.

where do we go from here?

Since we first mobilized against the Associated Asphalt & Materials Co.’s attempt to expand their operations in 2019, our environmental justice initiatives became a rallying point for residents of the Southside who know that it’s time for their voices to influence the decisions that will directly impact the health of their environment, families, and community.

Residents of the Southside’s continued concerns about noise, pollutants, and health impacts in their neighborhoods inspired the launch of Earth Care’s “Justice in the Air” initiative in January 2025, a 3-year citizen-science project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the goal of empowering community members to put their ideas into policy and stewarding dialogue between all stakeholders – including youth, our immigrant and Indigenous communities, policy leaders, schools, and community organizations.

Despite the recent loss of our EPA funding due to changes in federal funding priorities that reflect a broader, concerning shift in environmental justice policy, Earth Care is committed to continuing this fight as we enter this period of rupture, reflection, and profound potential.

“This is a direct attack on the right of our communities to breathe clean air, organize for their health and safety, and have a voice in decisions that impact their lives. The EPA’s termination of our grant is not just a bureaucratic decision—it is part of a nationwide effort to silence frontline communities fighting against pollution and systemic neglect. The agency claims our project ‘no longer effectuates program goals or agency priorities’ because it supports diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and environmental justice initiatives. But these are exactly the kinds of efforts that protect the health, safety, and well-being of historically marginalized communities." - Earth Care Environmental Justice Staff

As we look to the weeks, months, and years ahead, we’ll keep pushing forward with our people at the center – organizing, building solidarity, creating hope, and demanding change. This work goes far beyond any single source of funding; it’s about the long-term fight for environmental justice in the Southside, and we’re in it for the long-haul.

While we may be shifting gears in some areas, our core project goals remain the same: to ensure the environment is at the heart of everything we do. Every action we take, every partnership we forge, and every voice we amplify is a step toward a more just and inclusive future. Together, we will continue to confront systemic injustices, ensure our communities have the resources they need to thrive, and hold those in power accountable. The road ahead will not be easy, but we are resilient, and we will persevere with determination, unity, and unwavering commitment to the cause. The movement is only growing stronger, and we won’t stop until every person has the right to a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR RECENT WORK!