Founded in 1978, Communities for a Better Environment (CBE, Norman grantee 1995–2001, 2007) combines community organizing, scientific research, and legal advocacy to fight industrial pollution in low-income communities of color across California. CBE and concerned residents of Southeast Los Angeles — a predominantly Latino and immigrant community surrounded by industry — formed La Causa in the 1990s to demand the cleanup of La Montaña, a 60-foot mountain of contaminated concrete and debris from the 1994 Northridge earthquake dumped next to residents’ homes. Through intergenerational organizing, tours of toxic areas, and collaboration with academic researchers, La Causa won its first victory in 1996 when the City of Huntington Park declared La Montaña a public nuisance and forced its removal. La Causa went on to win other key victories: preventing a proposed power plant in South Gate, blocking the widening of the 710 freeway, and requiring five major oil companies to clean up a carcinogenic gasoline additive at over 700 contaminated sites across California.

Media: 

• Press release by CBE in March 2013: Community Celebrates New School and Park Opening on the Site of a Former Toxic Concrete Mountain