In this episode, host Sarah Spengeman talks with two EcoMadres, Lucy Molina and Shaina Oliver. EcoMadres is bringing Indigenous and Latina moms together to address issues of clean air, climate, and toxics that affect the health of children and families. 

Both Lucy and Shaina and their families live in the shadow of the Suncor Refinery located in Commerce City, Colorado.  For decades, the refinery has spewed toxic pollution that has severely impacted the predominantly Latino neighborhoods. Lucy and Shaina have spent years organizing the members of their community and standing up to Suncor on behalf of their children's right to breathe clean air and drink clean water.

In this episode, they share how they won a critical bill that will finally monitor three specific toxics from the refinery and how they're fighting for other climate justice policies in Colorado. They share what they have learned as they have fought alongside other mothers, what a just transition looks like, and what is giving them hope to keep at it.

For anyone who has wondered what environmental racism looks like from a first-hand perspective, this is a must-listen episode. 

Recommended Resources:

Take action here:
Thank the EPA for objecting to CO's permit for Suncor Refinery

About Shaina
https://www.momscleanairforce.org/team/shaina-oliver/

About Lucy
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/next/commerce-city-mother-polluted-neighborhood/73-a77532fc-9c67-4f6e-a1d9-0184ee45f91c

About EcoMadres
https://www.momscleanairforce.org/ecomadres/

About Cultivando
https://www.cultivando.org/

About the Suncor settlement
https://www.cpr.org/2021/04/21/commerce-city-nonprofit-wins-suncor-energy-fine-money-will-use-it-to-monitor-suncor-energy/

Lucy and Shaina's join op-ed calling for EPA to object to the Suncor permit
https://www.denverpost.com/2022/03/21/suncor-pollution-epa-cdphe-plant-2-permit/

Contact Sarah
[email protected]