In partnership with Sacred Places Institute (SPI) and Orange County Environmental Justice (OCEJ), the aim of this project is to aggregate data and create maps to evaluate how marginalized communities, Native Nations and Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by environmental and climate justice issues in Orange County.

This project is being conducted by fellows Christopher Ihinegbu and Julian Arnheim in collaboration with Erica Gonzalez (OCEJ, Finance Director) Angela Mooney D’Arcy (SPI, Executive Director and Founder), and Gabriella Lassos (SPI, Program Director). Thi Truong is the CJI postdoctoral scholar supporting the project.

In partnership with Orange County Environmental Justice (OCEJ), the aim of project is to assess PFAS contamination in Orange County, how it impacts communities, what types of policies could help remediate damages, and evaluate public perceptions of water quality in Orange County.

This project is being conducted by fellows Melisa Perut, Vanessa Vazquez, and Cameron Daley in collaboration with Keila Villegas (OCEJ, Water Justice Director). James Adams is the CJI postdoctoral scholar supporting the project.

In partnership with GREEN-MPNA, this project aims to find avenues to support the historically underserved Santa Ana community by evaluating historical trends of extreme heat events, future projections of extreme heat, and usage of cooling centers.

This project is being conducted by fellows Ada Acobta, Haley Staudmyer, and Kimiko Sandig in collaboration with GREEN-MPNA’s Sarahi Gutierrez (Program Manager) and Jose Rea (Executive Director). James Adams is the CJI postdoctoral scholar supporting the project.

In partnership with Sacred Places Institute (SPI), this project aims to explore the relationship between UCI and the Acjachemen and Tongva communities, on whose ancestral lands the university exists.

This project is being conducted by fellows Stephanie Martinez and Christina Marsh in collaboration with SPI’s Gabriella Lassos (Research and Policy Program Director) and Angela Mooney D’Arcy (Executive Director and Founder). Thi Truong is the CJI postdoctoral scholar supporting the project.

In partnership with GREEN-MPNA, the aim of this project is to support community advocacy and educate residents on local environmental health concerns, such as air quality, through accessible presentations, report writing, administrative work, and public-facing materials.

This project is being conducted by fellows Sukriti Kapur, Jasmine Osei-Enin, and Andrea Delgado in collaboration with Leonel Flores (Community Organizer, GREEN-MPNA). James Adams is the CJI postdoctoral scholar supporting the project.

In partnership with GREEN-MPNA and Orange County Environmental Justice (OCEJ), the I-CLEAN study was created to understand the impact of exposure to lead, a heavy metal, on children’s academic performance and behavioral outcomes in Santa Ana, CA.

This project is being conducted by fellows Juan Carlos Ruiz Malagon and Freddy Francisco Ramos in collaboration with Maya Cheav (Land & Health Director, OCEJ). Thi Truong and James Adams are the CJI postdoctoral scholars supporting the project.

In partnership with Crystal Cove Conservancy (CCC), this project aims to generate educational resources about the historical context of the kelp forests adjacent to and bordering Crystal Cove in Newport Beach, CA, and explore possible climate futures of the area based on various climate models and scenarios.

This project is being conducted by fellows Julia Lenhardt and Mariana Torres in collaboration with Jen Mendez (Programs and Conservation Manager, CCC). Thi Truong is the CJI postdoctoral scholar supporting the project.