González in 60 Seconds

I work as a community organizer at SouthWest Organizing Project, based in Albuquerque, N.M.

For over a quarter century, SWOP has worked to build an environmental-justice movement in disenfranchised, working, and people-of-color communities. In the '90s, we sought to challenge the mainstream "Group of Ten" environmental organizations with a letter demanding that affected communities -- those suffering most from industrial and human-produced toxins and pollution -- have a seat at the table in shaping the environmental movement.

We're trying to get the New Mexico state legislature to adopt an environmental-justice bill and memorial.

I carpool with coworkers when possible.

I and my community are struggling for the right to access clean, safe drinking water. SWOP came in and helped organize, guide, and empower us to stand up to elected officials, etc., in order to resolve the problem. I saw changes within the officials, etc., so I decided to stay and share my struggle and experience and be a support to others.

I was born, raised, and am currently living in the South Valley, which is located in Albuquerque, N.M.

When we were organizing for environmental-justice legislation and some elected officials treated the polluters like we normally get treated -- like we're crazy.

What really upsets me is when our elected officials hand out permits to polluters, knowing our communities are already overloaded with toxins and environmental hazards and degradation.

During the last year, whole communities and cultures were found to be expendable following natural disasters all over the world. In the U.S., the richest country in the world, the poor and working class -- and yes, African Americans -- of the Gulf Coast were left to die in a predicted disaster in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The threat of climate change and a world energy shortage looms mightily over the world's overwhelmingly poor population. Environmentalists and social-justice advocates must find common ground not only in combating the effects of corporate globalization on the environment, but also in organizing to meet the immediate needs of families all over the world left out of existing power structures.

Of course. There are two environmental movements we can speak of: one is a middle-class (mostly) white environmental movement and the other is a very diverse grouping of locally based groups working hard to end the environmental degradation of their communities. A central tenet of this movement is that people have the right to live, play, and work in a healthy and safe environment. Commonly referred to as the EJ movement, this work receives little attention in the press despite its significant accomplishments toward holding corporations and governments environmentally accountable -- not to mention the (other) environmental movement, which often is perceived to act as if humans are parasites.

The environmental movement must come to the realization that humans are part of the environment.

Jeanne Gauna, one of the cofounders of SWOP. She passed away a few years ago. She really knew how to engage, motivate, and empower people. She made me feel like anything could be done as long as we stuck together and stood up. Now, I know why she said it wouldn't be easy, but things are getting done.

Sometimes I stretch the truth about my carpooling habits.

I come from a soccer family (myself and my two boys), so my free time is spent in practice or at games.

As long as it has chile (hot preferred), I'm good.

I love to go to the Bosque along the Rio Grande with my kids. I hope my kids will be able to take their kids there too.

It would be that polluters and governments would have to complete an impact study prior to issuing permits.

I love to dance to cumbia no matter the artist!

I really don't have time for TV, but I'd say the game show 100 Mexicanos Dijeron.

There's no one in Hollywood quite like me. But my kids want J.Lo to play me in a movie!

Now more than ever, we should value the importance of community-based institutions where disenfranchised, everyday people can impact the decisions that affect our lives -- decisions increasingly made by special interests, corporate interests, and patron politicians. Donate to your friendly, local community-based organization!