Communities for a Better Environment

Founded in 1978, Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) is a social justice organization headquartered in Oakland, Calif. CBE works in urban communities in Northern and Southern California among low-income African Americans, Latinos and other nationalities who are bombarded by pollution from freeways, power plants, oil refineries, seaports, airports and chemical manufacturers. As a result, these residents suffer from high rates of asthma and respiratory illnesses, heart problems, cancer, low birthrate and miscarriages. CBE combats these problems by providing community residents who want to challenge corporate polluters with organizing help, scientific and policy research and legal assistance.