Skip to main content
Environmental Justice and the Common Good Initiative

Organizers

Panelists

Program

Sponsors and Partners

 

Environmental Justice Summit (2026)

Northern California Environmental Justice Strategy Summit (2026)  

Santa Clara University, Williman Room, Benson Center

September 14, 2026, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Purpose

With federal rollbacks and California's political transition on the horizon, a shared reflection on strategic environmental justice (EJ) engagement precedes action. A regional networking and meeting will bring together academics and community-based organizations from across Northern California to strengthen collaboration on issues.  

Goals  

The goals of the summit are to understand the current landscape of EJ policy in the State, identify participants’ current statewide priorities, with attention to differentiated regional and place-based circumstances, develop common strategies for the short- and medium-term, and generate opportunities for collaborative projects and community-based action. We intend to generate a space for (i) engaging with current CA environmental justice policy opportunities, challenges, and emerging priorities in the context of federal shifts; (ii) mapping areas for alliance building and gaps across participants;  (iii) expanding opportunities for community-engaged research and teaching.

Participants and Format

The summit is envisioned as a high-level opportunity for academics, representatives of community-based organizations, and policy leaders to strategize on EJ and environmental policy, research, and advocacy.  We anticipate about 50 participants engaged in a mix of collective dialogue, a panel discussion on statewide EJ policy during times of transition, and thematic and place-based group work. A detailed agenda will be shared in advance. The organizing committee will select and invite participants, with the option of additional online participants for the panel discussion. 

2026 Norcal Environmental Justice Summit Concept Note.pdf

Panelists

Program

9:00  - 9:15 am Welcome and Overview

9:15 - 10:00 am Introduction, Connection, and Mapping of Nor Cal EJ Research

10:00  - 11:15 am California Environmental Justice Policy Futures Panel 

  • Marie Choi, Strategy Director, Asian Pacific Environmental Network 
  • Marisol Aguilar, Deputy Director, CRLA, Inc
  • Gustavo Aguirre, Organizer and co-founder, Center for Race Poverty and Environment 
  • Geneva Thompson, California Natural Resources Agency, Tribal Nature-Based Solutions

11:15  - 12:00 pm  Follow-up Discussion on CA Environmental Justice Policy Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Priorities in the Context of State Transitions and Federal Shifts

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch

1:00 - 3:00 pm Topical Breakout/Working Groups

How can diverse participants collaborate to overcome existing challenges and advance California environmental justice priorities over the next five years?   

  • Indigenous Environmental Justice, 
  • Agriculture and Food Justice 
  • Water Justice
  • Climate and Energy Justice, Affordability 
  • Heat Exposure and Clean Air Justice

 3:00 - 3:30 pm  Report Back

3:30 - 3:45 pm Coffee Break

3:45 - 4:45 pm Discussion on Strategic Priorities

What are strategic priorities at this moment? How can different participants, such as academics, students, CBOs, agencies, and communities/residents, get involved?  

4:45 - 5:00 pm Conclusion 

Organizing Committee Members