Moms Clean Air Force Launches Climate Initiative in California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joaquin McPeek, 916-492-7173, jmcpeek@edf.org
Anneka Wisker, 202-572-3308, awisker@momsccleanairforce.org

(Los Angeles – June 24, 2013) – Today Moms Clean Air Force (MCAF) launched an initiative to engage Latino parents and families on the issue of climate change and community resiliency in Southern and Central California.  MCAF has tapped José Sigala, a well-respected community organizer in the Los Angeles area with over 20 years of advocacy and political experience, to lead the effort. Sigala joins a vibrant, rapidly growing national organization that to date has over 140,000 members.

Los Angeles and the Central Valley are home to the dirtiest air in the country, according to the American Lung Association. Rising temperature from global warming only exacerbates this already poor air quality.  These regions are home to an overwhelmingly large Latino population, in some cities reaching as high as 75 percent of all residents.

Sigala will reach out to Latino parents—in English and in Spanish—about the connection between global warming and the health and safety of their families. He will also be developing conversations about how to make our communities more resilient. His work will be focused on issues affecting the greater Los Angeles area and the Central Valley.

“I am proud to be working with Moms Clean Air Force.  I am eager to join with them in their efforts to educate and empower communities across California on climate change and healthy communities,” Sigala said. “As the father of 2 beautiful daughters, I want to do my part in leaving them and future generations a better planet and working with Moms Clean Air Force will help me achieve that goal.”

Sigala comes to MCAF with a proven background as a community leader and organizer, having served as President of the Echo Park Neighborhood Council, as well as a Senior Community Organizer and Legislative Deputy for Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon and District Director for Assembly member Rudy Bermudez.

In uniting with Hispanic parents—and voters—Sigala brings a critically important dimension to our work. He joins us in supporting the many excellent activists already working on this issue. Global warming is a problem of great urgency, and no one cares more about the future of California’s children than their parents.