Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Long Beach Latino Civic Association was the recipient of a $100,000 Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation on April 24.
The funding will support the association’s “Pollution Mitigation Leads to Health Benefits” project, which kicked off last October and continues until Sept. 30, 2027. The project focuses on reducing pollution, improving public health, raising awareness of environmental issues and advocating for policy changes in Long Beach. The association will conduct environmental assessments, install monitoring sensors and launch pollution-reduction initiatives, including purification systems and improved waste management, and offer health screenings, support services and educational outreach to residents.
Community engagement through events, research and online resources is central to the effort, along with working closely with policymakers to strengthen environmental regulations. The project’s success will be measured by reductions in pollution, increased community participation, broader educational reach, impactful research and tangible policy changes.
“DEC’s Community Impact Grants support the crucial work of people on the ground working tirelessly to lift up their communities and provide a healthier, more sustainable future,” Amanda Lefton, the department’s acting commissioner, wrote in a press release. “DEC remains committed to supporting organizations advancing environmental justice, and looks forward to working with this newest round of grantees and their partners to improve environmental outcomes across the state.”
In addition to the pollution-mitigation project, the civic association has established a community garden at its headquarters on Long Beach Boulevard, offering organically grown produce including peppers, tomatoes, broccolini, zucchini, eggplant, peas, cucumbers and romaine lettuce. The garden also serves as an open-air classroom for those who want to learn about healthy eating and sustainability.
“We’re especially proud because it has a cultural piece to it,” association President Helen Dorado-Alessi said. “We’re teaching people how to grow their own organic food, not necessarily to spend a lot of money, and to help keep diabetes away and all kinds of other diseases. I’d like to also say a special thank-you to all the government partners that are here today. It’s been a difficult time over the last couple of months, and we just want to show our appreciation. This is a true team effort.”
DEC officials and City Councilman John Bendo were on hand for the check presentation ceremony to show their support for the association’s efforts. Dorado-Alessi and Lefton planted a tree in the community garden to mark Arbor Day.
The DEC grants support nonprofit organizations in communities that it has recognized for promoting environmental justice. The grants help fund projects that address environmental harms, health hazards and related public education efforts. Eligible organizations must be based in, and serve, communities affected by pollution, lack of green space and health issues, and must have annual revenues of less than $3 million.
The grants are funded by the state Environmental Protection Fund, which offers up to $100,000 for projects such as community gardens, urban farming, habitat restoration, tree planting and environmental monitoring. The projects must include a research component to expand the community’s understanding of its environmental challenges.
“There’s a reason why we started celebrating Earth Day,” Lefton said, “and part of that is really founded on just historic injustice where certain communities, local communities — Black and brown communities in particular — were really bearing environmental harm, more so at higher rates than other communities. These injustices have persisted over many, many years, and at DEC we’re really committed to fighting those historic injustices.”
The Latino Civic Association is one of 21 community organizations across the state to receive a share of roughly $2 million in Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants.
At the check presentation, Lefton also highlighted some statewide environmental goals, including Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initiative to plant 25 million trees. A newly introduced online tree tracker will monitor progress toward that goal.
Since 2006, the DEC’s Office of Environmental Justice has awarded nearly $17 million to some 257 projects across the state. The association has been awarded five additional grants since 2008 to support its initiatives. Additional grant opportunities are expected to be announced later in 2025. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to register in the Statewide Financial System to apply.
