The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ) is a California-based environmentalist organization that supports stricter regulation of traditional energy sources, including natural gas. The nonprofit also partners with left-of-center immigration groups such as the Shut Down Adelanto Coalition, which campaigns for the closure of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. ^{1 2}

Background

The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ) was founded in 1993 by Penny Newman following a campaign he led in 1978 where residents of Glen Avon, California protested the city’s Stringfellow Acid Pit waste site, arguing the site was negatively impacting the community’s air quality. ¹ Following the site’s closure, the state enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and provided over $114 million in reparations to residents. In 1993, CCAEJ was incorporated as an official nonprofit organization. ¹

Leadership

Ana Gonzalez is the executive director of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ), serving in the role since 2022. ^{3 4}

As of 2026, Stacey Ramos was the director of finance and administration at CCAEJ. ⁴

Marven Norman joined CCAEJ as an environmental policy analyst in 2021. ⁵

Joaquin Castillejos assumed the role of organizing creator of CCAEJ in 2023 after previously serving as a community organizer for the group. ⁶

Activities

The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ) operates an Environmental Justice Ambassador Program that trains community members to advocate for environmental health policies. ⁷

CCAEJ also produces the Clear the Air podcast, to interview environmental policy advocates and organizers. ⁸

CCAEJ advocated in favor of the passage of California Assembly Bill 98 (AB 98), which would increase environmental restrictions on the building standards for constructing warehouses as well as restricting diesel truck traffic near residential areas as well as schools, parks and nursing homes. ⁹

On January 24, 2023, CCAEJ submitted an 80-page letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) advocating for the governor to implement a temporary ban on the construction and expansion of warehouses and distribution facilities in the “Inland Empire (IE).” ¹⁰

CCAEJ is a member of Regenerate California, a California Environmental Justice Alliance-led coalition for environmental advocacy groups that support regulating traditional energy sources including coal and natural gas. Other members of Regenerate California include Communities for a Better Environment and Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy. ¹¹

In April 2025, CCAEJ executive director Ana Gonzalez argued for the California state government to shut down warehouses that fail to meet emissions standards rather than fining them. ¹²

CCAEJ collaborates with pro-immigration groups such as the Shut Down Adelanto Coalition, a left-of-center organization that advocates for closing the Adelanto U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility. ¹³

In 2026, CCAEJ was among a coalition of public health and environmental organizations that filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case challenged the agency’s rescission of the 2009 endangerment finding, which had determined that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to public health and welfare, as well as the repeal of federal vehicle emissions standards. The plaintiffs argued that these actions were inconsistent with the EPA’s obligations under the Clean Air Act. ¹⁴

Financials

According to its 2023 990 form, the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ) received funding from several left-of-center organizations including ImpactAssets, Liberty Hill Foundation, and  the Solutions Project. ¹⁵

1. “Our Roots.” CCAEJ. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://www.ccaej.org/our-roots.
2. “About.” Shut Down Adelanto, Accessed February 8, 2026. https://shutdownadelanto.org/about
3. “CCAEJ Announces Ana Gonzalez as Permanent Executive Director.” CCAEJ, May 9, 2022. https://www.ccaej.org/post/ccaej-announces-ana-gonzalez-as-permanent-executive-director.
4. “Staff.” CCAEJ. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://www.ccaej.org/copy-of-staff-1
5. “Marven Norman – Experienced Active Transportation Advocate and Nonprofit Executive.” linkedin. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marven-norman-06b6ba21/.
6. “Joaquin Castillo – Astranis Space Technologies.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joaquin-castillo/.
7. “4 Pillars of Our Work.” CCAEJ. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://www.ccaej.org/copy-of-ambassador-program.
8. “Podcast.” CCAEJ. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://www.ccaej.org/podcast.
9. “Policy Advocacy.” CCAEJ. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://www.ccaej.org/policy-advocacy.
10. “80-Paged Letter .” CCAEJ. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://www.ccaej.org/_files/ugd/2a4f33_535d5a32a3734461b36664ae7756921d.pdf.
11. “About.” Regenerate CA. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://regeneratecalifornia.org/about/.
12. Aryana. “California Tightens Warehouse Regulations with New Design and Build Standards.” Black Voice News, April 7, 2025. https://blackvoicenews.com/2025/04/07/warehouse-emissions-regulations-california/.
13. “#NoToxicCages.” Shut Down Adelanto . Accessed February 8, 2026. https://shutdownadelanto.org/.
14. “Earthjustice and Partners Sue EPA for Illegal Repeal of Climate Protections.” Earthjustice, February 18, 2026. https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/earthjustice-and-partners-sue-epa-for-illegal-repeal-of-climate-protections.
15. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990).Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice. 2023. Schedule B, Part I. https://638a8584-747d-4a7f-99b6-5835e73c3420.filesusr.com/ugd/21e1bc_25c95e97f66f486087bb8343179200e9.pdf