We’re excited to release the Environmental Justice Leaders Program (EJLP) Limited-series Podcast! In this series, we interviewed the six 2024 EJ Leaders who participated in the fellowship program.

Natalie Espinoza & Andres Ramirez: Advancing Energy Justice

Natalie Espinoza from The Energy Coalition (TEC) and Andres Ramirez, ED at Mobility Justice to dive into the inequities in access to clean energy and the challenges of bringing it to underserved communities across California. They share insights on the barriers frontline communities face, and what it will take to ensure a just and equitable transition to clean energy.

Shante Walker & Maria Ruiz: Making Electric Vehicles Equitable in California

Founder and CEO of the Niles Foundation, and Maria Ruiz, Associate Director of Outreach and Policy at the Central California Asthma Collaborative (CCAC), discuss the barriers under-resourced communities face in accessing electric vehicles. These communities, disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution, limited mobility and lower financial resources, encounter unique challenges in the transition to cleaner transportation.

Xochitl Cortez: Building Youth Power for Environmental Justice

Xochitl Cortez, co-founder of Frontline Catalysts in Oakland, California, shares how their organization empowers frontline youth to lead in the struggle for environmental justice. Grounded in ethnic studies and indigenous stewardship, Frontline Catalysts builds a community-responsive framework that uplifts youth voices and equips them to drive lasting change.

Rio Oxas - Love as a Core Value

Rio Oxas, co-founder of RAHOK, share how their Indigenous lineages inspire them to practice love as a means of finding common ground and navigating difficult conversations and strained relationships. As an educator and equity consultant, Oxas reflects on drawing wisdom from elders and creativity from youth to foster more sustainable ways of living that support future generations.

The EJ Leaders Program is a collaboration between the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) and the Feminist Research Institute (FRI).

The Environmental Justice Leaders Program is a partnership between the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies and the Feminist Research Institute, and is supported by the Heising Simons Foundation, BMW Foundation, National Center for Sustainable Transportation, and SB1 funds.

This podcast has been made possible thanks to the work of researcher and writer Megan Williams, to Michael Fortunato and Samuel A Chiu for their production and technical assistance, and to the Environmental Justice Leaders taking part in this series.