In Commerce City and North Denver, where industrial pollution has long threatened public health, a significant victory for clean air has emerged. At the heart of this success are the voices and leadership of women in the community who refused to be silenced. Through tireless advocacy, community organizing, and relentless dedication, Cultivando, The Green House Connection Center (GHCC), Earthworks and local residents achieved a milestone in environmental justice.  The Power of Women’s Leadership in Environmental Advocacy Historically, women have been at the forefront of movements for justice by providing a culture of care, and the fight for clean air in Colorado is no exception. Women leaders in Cultivando and The GHCC played a central role in organizing Communities Organized for Clean Air (COCA), a coalition that successfully pushed for stronger oversight of toxic air pollutants. They brought their lived experiences, scientific data, and community voices directly to decision-makers, ensuring that the people most impacted by pollution were heard. These women not only challenged polluters but also navigated bureaucratic hurdles, ensuring that community concerns were at the center of policy discussions. By engaging in regulatory hearings, presenting air quality monitoring data, and amplifying community testimonies, they demonstrated the strength and necessity of women’s leadership in environmental justice. Building Bridges: Community Voices at the Table COCA’s efforts culminated in a significant achievement: the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) prioritized the regulation of air toxics that disproportionately affect Commerce City and North Denver. This victory was made possible through a powerful combination of grassroots organizing and institutional advocacy, emphasizing the need for human connection in policymaking and the next generation of environmental legal defense from the Denver University environmental law clinic. A pivotal moment in this process was an in-person tour in October 2024, where AQCC staff, Commissioners, and the State Board of Health visited impacted neighborhoods. Women leaders guided decision-makers through polluted areas, showing them firsthand the environmental injustices their communities face daily. With the support of Cultivando’s air quality data and Earthworks’ Optical Gas Imaging technology, they made the invisible visible—demonstrating the toxic emissions affecting families and children. Breaking Barriers to Representation Systemic barriers often exclude marginalized communities from decision-making processes, but COCA’s work challenged these obstacles. We overcame traditional participation barriers by providing education and legal resources, advocating for simultaneous interpretation, providing transportation and stipends, and ensuring food was available at public meetings. Through these practices, COCA created an inclusive space where all community members could participate. This intentionality in uplifting every voice, especially those of women and frontline residents, was key to shifting the narrative in regulatory spaces. Two of Cultivando’s Promotoras—community health workers—alongside an impacted North Denver resident, directly addressed the AQCC Commissioners. Their testimonies, rooted in lived experience, resonated deeply, prompting Commissioners to acknowledge the disparities and prioritize the needs of the community. The presence of these women at the decision-making table demonstrated that those who bear the brunt of environmental harm must lead the fight for solutions.  The Work Continues: A Call to Action This victory marks only the beginning. As the AQCC moves forward with developing regulations on air toxics through 2026, sustained advocacy will be essential. Women and community leaders must remain vigilant, ensuring that industry pushback does not dilute the progress made. The state must continue to listen—and, more importantly, act—in accordance with the needs of those on the frontlines.
The Green House Connection Center and Cultivando invite you to stay engaged in this fight to reduce pollution, improve community health, and fight for environmental justice. Sign up for updates, attend hearings, and uplift the voices of the women and community members who are leading this charge. Colorado has an opportunity to set a national precedent by prioritizing people over polluters. Together, we can hold our leaders accountable and secure a future where clean air is a right, not a privilege. Women have always been the backbone of social movements, and this victory proves once again that when they lead, communities win. Let’s continue to support, uplift, and fight alongside us for a healthier, more just world.
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