Youth for A.G.U.A

Youth are not only the future leaders of the environmental justice movement, they are a critical force pushing work forward right now. The youth of A.G.U.A. represent the incredible energy, potential and power of young people becoming engaged in the fight for water justice.

11 youth from communities throughout Tulare County have formed the group Youth for A.G.U.A. They have been a key force helping to drive A.G.U.A.’s overall work to achieve safe, clean, affordable drinking water for communities throughout the Central Valley.

Inspired to take action

A.G.U.A. youth such as Edgar and Jessica Sanchez and Joanna Mendoza have been involved with A.G.U.A. since the grassroots coalition started three years ago. They went with their families to some of the first meetings and rallies. As they, and other youth, learned more and more about the problem of drinking water contamination, they realized the need for youth organizing around the issue. Today, the group “Youth for A.G.U.A.” meets on a regular basis. They have elected representatives for the Coordinating Council of A.G.U.A., and they have their own Treasurer and Spokespeople.

Youth for A.G.U.A. are taking the water world by storm, testifying at public hearings and convincing local representatives of the need to take action to secure clean drinking water for their families and communities. They have worked hard to pass the Human Right to Water Bill, traveling to Sacramento and gathering support letters for the bill. They have become powerful, vocal advocates, speaking at press conferences and joining protests against unsustainable water policies.

Youth for A.G.U.A. have become experts on drinking water contamination in the Valley. They can tell you what the problem is, what causes it, and whom we need to target to make change. Their passion comes from their own experiences. When they return home and can’t drink their tap water, or have to go to the store yet again to buy more bottled water, they are inspired to take action.

Connecting struggles

More recently, Youth for A.G.U.A. has connected with other communities and young people working on environmental justice issues throughout the country. They have hosted local stops on several statewide Environmental Justice tours. On a recent toxic tour in the San Francisco Bay Area, youth from Tulare County and East Palo Alto were able to draw parallels between their experiences of local pollution.

Youth for A.G.U.A. members Jessica Sanchez and Joanna Mendoza traveled to New York as part of the Funders Collaborative on Youth Organizing, where they met with other young people from over 20 nationwide organizations. Sharing and learning from other youth have enabled Youth for A.G.U.A. to recognize that the issues may look different in a rural or urban setting, or other states, but that each struggle is connected by themes of environmental injustice and part of a larger movement.

Youth for A.G.U.A. are now working on a Community Toxics Report in partnership with Youth United for Community Action (YUCA) and Literacy for Environmental Justice (LEJ) from the San Francisco Bay Area. The report will highlight environmental justice issues in communities from a youth perspective. Youth for A.G.U.A. are also an active member of the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water (EJCW), and will be learning how to conduct water quality tests with other EJCW members.

Youth for A.G.U.A. are now fundraising to participate in a California-wide Environmental Justice and Water Youth Tour in the summer of 2010. In between meetings, speaking engagements and community surveys, they are busy hosting garage sales and making pitches. They are working hard to gain more experience, skills and knowledge, and all the while movin’ the movement forward

To learn more, contact Susana De Anda, acting Coordinator of AGUA, at: susana.deanda@communitywatercenter.org