The Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) is an environmentalist advocacy group based in San Diego, California focused on “achieving environmental and social justice.” ¹ The group has claimed that the environmental issues it campaigns on disproportionately affect “low-income communities of color.” These issues include the San Diego transit system, which the group claims is inaccessible and causes pollution; lead exposure risks in older homes; and the existence of industries and freeways alongside neighborhoods. ^{2 3 4}

Background

In 1980, the Environmental Health Coalition was founded as the Coalition against Cancer, and its early initiatives focused on supporting efforts to minimize exposures to potential toxins. ¹ The group now identifies itself as an advocate for  “environmental justice,” a term the group defines as the “right of all people and communities to live, work, and play in a clean and safe environment.” ¹ The group targets the San Diego and Tijuana cross-border metropolitan area and focuses on “people in underserved, low-income communities.” ¹ The Environmental Health and Justice Campaign is the lobbying and electoral sister organization of EHC. ⁵

The group follows a mission model called the Social Change for Justice Model. This model prioritizes grassroots organization, leadership, and policy advocacy. ⁶

The group has claimed that the environmental issues it campaigns on disproportionately affect “low-income communities of color.” These issues include the San Diego transit system, which the group claims is inaccessible and causes pollution; lead exposure risks in older homes; and the existence of industries and freeways alongside neighborhoods. ^{2 3 4}

The group has claimed that “environmental racism” has occurred because of “racist policies” that negatively affected ethnic minorities. ¹ The group has also stated that “racist community planning decisions” have created areas where there is less affordable housing for “low-income communities of color.” ⁴

The group has attributed air pollution to “fine particulate matter (PM2.5), diesel particulate matter (Diesel PM), and black carbon” and has stated that certain levels of pollution can lead to chronic health issues. ^{7 4}

EHC has supported “decolonization” and returning land to indigenous groups. ⁸ The group has stated that people can help “decolonize” by pushing back against “euro-centric history,” and holding those in power “accountable.” ⁸ The group has claimed that U.S. school systems have reinforced “colonial principles” due to “misrepresenting indigenous peoples, suppressing language, [and] failing to acknowledge land’s original inhabitants.” ⁸

In 2023, the group called for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. ⁹ The group condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks; called for a hostage release; and wrote that the “horrific attack on Israel does not justify the mass and indiscriminate killing of Palestinian people in Gaza.” ⁹

Activities

The Environmental Health Coalition leads a training course called SALTA, which trains leaders to become part of EHC Community Action Teams (CAT) which implement EHC initiatives in “target” communities. ⁶

EHC also runs the United to Vote Campaign, a voter mobilization initiative, which is designed to change the “culture of voting.” The group has claimed that voters get confused by ballots and “overly complicated words,” and thus connects with voters over the phone to influence them to vote based on the group’s mission. ¹⁰

The group has also been a strong advocate of removing lead from candy and has worked alongside the California Attorney General’s Office and other groups to enforce lead-free standards in California’s candy. ¹¹

In 2013, EHC was accused of supporting political candidates in a manner forbidden by charitable 501(c)(3) tax status by the Washington Free Beacon, who claimed that the group’s sister organization, the Environmental Health and Justice Campaign, was paying EHC for “campaign-related activities.” ¹²

Financials

In 2022, the Environmental Health Coalition brought in $9,396,717 in total revenue, with $9,350,432 from contributions and grants. The group reported total assets of $7,676,059 and total expenses of $7,954,488. The group paid out $3,822,390 in salaries, compensation, and employee benefits. ⁵

The group has received many grants from foundations that frequently support left-of-center causes. In 1999, the MacArthur Foundation gave $300,000 to EHC. ¹³ Between 2007 and 2016, EHC received $2,050,000 from the Ford Foundation. ¹⁴ From 2015-2017, the group received grants from the Penney Family Fund totaling $40,000. ¹⁵ In 2021, the Capital Research Center reported that the group has received $2 million from the California Endowment since 2010. ¹⁶

In 2022, the group gave $339,955 to Communities for a Better Environment and $271,556 to the Center for Community Action. The group also gave $292,700 to the Sierra Club Foundation and $178,522 to CAUSE. The group provided grants to other organizations including CRPE, Physicians for Social Responsibility LA, and the Center on Policy Initiatives. ⁵

In 2023, EHC and the San Diego Foundation both received $22 million for “climate-resilient projects” from the California Strategic Growth Council. The San Diego Foundation stated that the groups plan to invest in “green spaces, housing and transportation, community-led food production and distribution, [and] community centers.” ¹⁷

Leadership

Diane Takvorian is the co-founder of the Environmental Health Coalition and the group’s strategic advisor as of 2025. Takvorian was previously appointed a member of the Joint Public Advisory Committee for the NAFTA Commission for Environmental Cooperation by former President Obama. ¹⁸ In 2024, Takvorian endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election. ¹⁹

Jose Franco Garcia is the group’s executive director as of 2025 and has been with the group since 2010. Garcia previously worked for the Coalition of Neighborhood Councils in San Diego, running its Community Building program. ²⁰ In 2022, EHC paid Takvorian $85,319 and Garcia $98,091. ⁵

1. “Our Story.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/about/our-story/.
2. “Transit for All.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/our-work/transit-for-all/.
3. “Healthy Homes.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/our-work/healthy-homes/.
4. “Healthy Communities.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/our-work/healthy-communities/.
5. “Environmental Health Coalition, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed February 10, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/953798792/202333389349300908/full.
6. “Social Change for Justice.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/about/social-change-for-justice/.
7. “Climate Justice.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/our-work/climate-justice/.
8. Estrada, Angelica. “First Nation’s Day of Resilience.” Environmental Health Coalition, December 18, 2023. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/2023/11/18/first-nations-day-of-resilience/.
9. Estrada, Angelica. “EHC Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza Now.” Environmental Health Coalition, November 9, 2023. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/2023/11/09/ceasefire-in-gaza-now/.
10. “Voter Empowerment.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/our-work/voter-empowerment/.
11.  “Lead-Free Candy.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/our-work/lead-free-candy/.
12. Markay, Lachlan. “Obama Appointee’s Taxpayer-Backed Green Group Accused of Illegal Politicking.” Washington Free Beacon, December 19, 2014. https://freebeacon.com/uncategorized/obama-appointees-taxpayer-backed-green-group-accused-of-illegal-politicking/.
13. “Environmental Health Coalition.” Macarthur Foundation. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/environmental-health-coalition-29440/.
14. “Grants Database.” Ford Foundation. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/?search=environmental%2Bhealth%2Bcoalition.
15. “Environmental Health Coalition (EHC).” Penney Family Fund. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.penneyfamilyfund.org/environmental-health-coalition-ehc.
16. Ludwig, Hayden. “Funding Leftist Groups Is Apparently ‘Public Health.’” Capital Research Center, August 17, 2021. https://capitalresearch.org/article/funding-leftist-groups-is-apparently-public-health/.
17. “Environmental Health Coalition, San Diego Foundation to Receive $22M Grant for Climate Projects in Central Historic Barrios.” San Diego Foundation, December 18, 2023. https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/environmental-health-coalition-san-diego-foundation-to-receive-22m-grant-for-climate-projects-in-central-historic-barrios/.
18. “Diane Takvorian.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/team/diane-takvorian/.
19.  Begert, Blanca. “Why These Environmental Groups Still Aren’t Endorsing Harris.” Politico, July 30, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/30/environmental-groups-harris-endorsement-00171778.
20. “José Franco García.” Environmental Health Coalition. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.environmentalhealth.org/team/jose-franco-garcia/.