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Communities Organizing for Better Water
Background

Communities Organizing for Better Water is our campaign that aims to highlight of water inequities in Orange County. 

 

OCEJ conducted door-to-door surveys in the Orange County areas that faced the highest pollution burden, known as DACs (Disadvantaged Communities) in 2016-17. 

From the 4,163 survey participants, water quality was the leading environmental concern.

 

Therefore, UCI Newkirk Fellows, Orange County Coast Keeper, and OCEJ are collaborating together to bring you a community based scientific research model.

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2022 Fall Timeline TBD 

2021 Time Line

March '21

  • Recruit photovoice participants from Anaheim, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Orange, and Santa Ana

  • Identify resident leaders from Anaheim, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Orange, and Santa Ana to serve on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

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April

  • Train residents in photovoice and develop their leadership capacity 

  • Residents’ co-facilitate analysis of photos and document water samples to synthesize water concerns 

  • Fellows document workshops

  • Support Photovoice participants to produce analysis of images taken by 3/31/2021

  • Produce policy brief by 4/30/2021

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May-June

  • Outreach to water managers, political representatives

  • Co-lead forums with CAC to educate/engage stakeholders on research findings 

  • Evaluate forums with pre-post test survey data

  • UCI Fellows lead documentation of forums

  • Conduct two forums to engage watershed stakeholders and ensure the participation of at least 50 stakeholders at each forum by 5/31/2021

  • CAC members facilitate forum programs by 5/31/2021

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July-November

  • Evaluation data collection, synthesis, and reporting

  • UCI Fellows develop training of trainers

  • Evaluation identifies strengths and areas of project improvement by 9/30/2021

  • Training of trainers is developed by 11/30/2021 for future implementation and scalability. 

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Getting Involved 
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OCEJ is using PhotoVoice as a means to showcase the experiences of those in disadvantaged communities concerning water quality. It is a way for members of our community to get involved and make their voice heard through the use of images.

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Join our project and become an advocate for your community by contacting our Community Organizer, Keila Villegas at keila@ocej.org. Know someone who may interested ? Send them our way or register to our next PhotoVoice Meeting by clickling button below.  

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