People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER)

Origins and Organizational Structure

People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights was founded in 1991 to combat supposed environmental racism and promote community organizing in San Francisco’s Mission District. According to its organizational history, the group emerged when mothers organized against lead poisoning in their neighborhoods, establishing early precedent for the organization’s approach to environmental health issues. ³ The organization claims a dual focus on environmental justice and economic advocacy for Latino immigrants and other low-income communities of color. ³

As of 2025, PODER was operating with Antonio Diaz as its organizational director, who had years of experience in community organizing. ⁴ PODER maintains a board of directors that includes individuals with extensive backgrounds in tenant organizing, immigrant advocacy, and community development work throughout San Francisco. ⁴ The organization’s leadership structure emphasizes what it calls “intergenerational leadership development,” positioning youth and adult community members in coordinating roles across its various programs. ⁵

Programs and Activities

People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights’ activities are operated in four primary program areas: civic engagement and immigrant rights, community organizing and power building, solidarity economy and climate resilience, and intergenerational leadership development. The organization operates through what it claims is a “Promotora model,” deploying community leaders as advocates who conduct outreach and education within immigrant neighborhoods. ⁶ Promotoras engage in door-to-door organizing, political “education,” and advocacy work to advance the organization’s policy agenda. ⁶

The organization’s environmental work focuses on land use planning, affordable housing development, and community-controlled economic projects. PODER has organized campaigns to reclaim public lands for parks, push for affordable housing, and advocate for urban agriculture projects, particularly in the Mission and Excelsior districts. ⁷

PODER operates youth organizing programs, including the Common Roots collaboration with the Chinese Progressive Association, which has been active since 1997. This program emphasizes “cross-cultural solidarity” and environmental justice organizing among immigrant youth communities. The organization also maintains what it describes as an “Urban Campesinx Program” focused on urban agriculture and food justice initiatives. ⁵

Funding

People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights receives funding from a variety of foundations and government sources. Major private funders include progressive philanthropies such as the San Francisco Foundation, the Satterberg Foundation, and the Solutions Project. PODER also receives grants from foundations focused on environmental justice work, including the Building Equity and Alignment for Environmental Justice Fund and the Libra Foundation. ⁸

Government funding sources include various San Francisco city departments, including the Department of Children Youth and Their Families, the Environment Department, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, and the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs. ⁹ PODER also receives support from collaborative funding initiatives such as the Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing and the Northern California Youth Organizers Funders Collaborative. ⁹