Program
Northern California Environmental Justice Strategy Summit (2026)
9:00 - 9:15 am - Welcome and Overview
Iris Stewart-Frey and Christopher Bacon, Summit Organizing Committee
9:15 - 10:30 am: Introduction, Connection, and Mapping of Nor Cal EJ Research
Organizing Committee Members
10:00 - 11:15 am - Panel: California Environmental Justice Policy Futures Panel
Moderator: Iris Stewart-Frey and Christopher Bacon from the Environmental Justice and the Common Good Initiative at Santa Clara University
Marie Choi, Strategy Director, Asian Pacific Environmental Network
Marisol Aguilar, Deputy Director, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc
Gustavo Aguirre, Associate Director Center on Race Poverty and Environment
Geneva E. B. Thompson, Deputy Secretary for Tribal Affairs, California Natural Resources Agency
Yvonne Chi, Deputy Secretary for Equity and Environmental Justice, California Environmental Protection Agency
11:15 -12:00 pm: Follow-up Discussion
Follow-up Discussion on CA Environmental Justice Policy Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Priorities in the Context of State Transitions and Federal Shifts
How can diverse participants collaborate to overcome existing challenges and advance California environmental justice priorities over the next five years?
1:00 - 3:00 pm
- Indigenous Environmental Justice,
- Agriculture and Food Justice
- Water Justice
- Climate and Energy Justice, Affordability
- Heat Exposure and Clean Air Justice
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
Iris Stewart-Frey - Santa Clara University
Chris Bacon - Santa Clara University