Backyard Monthly -November 2023 - The Center for Health, Environment & Justice

November 2023

CHEJ's "All In" - Spotlight of the Month

Last month, we had the privilege of being joined by CHEJ’s Founder Lois Gibbs to lead an amazing training call on how to set fundraising objectives, identify the target audience, and discover appropriate opportunities to meet your fundraising goals. Here’s a summary of what Lois covered.

Individual donor fundraising is crucial for organizational stability and community support, providing unrestricted funds for various needs. It builds people power, expands volunteer bases, and boosts your influence with corporations and elected officials. In the U.S., 68% of charitable contributions come from individuals, even those with modest incomes, highlighting the importance of asking for contributions from your community. Don’t underestimate the potential support from your neighbors and local community members. Asking for money might be uncomfortable, but embracing both donor and fundraiser roles can significantly benefit your organization’s long-term success.

Overcoming resistance to fundraising and understanding your personal relationship with money is essential, and remember that it’s about your organization, not you. Assess your feelings when asking for or giving money. Develop a clear individual donor fundraising plan with specific goals, audience, strategies, and timelines. Personal stories matter when explaining your involvement in the cause. Practicing mindfulness and intuitive communication with potential donors is key, and always express gratitude and invite them to join your cause.

If you would like to see the full training call, you can view the replay here.

Your Voice is Needed:

The Unity Council for the EP Train Derailment wants you to let Jim McPherson know how you've been affected by the East Palestine train derailment

In the wake of President Biden’s executive order, Jim McPherson, a seasoned government official, has been delegated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to spearhead the recovery operations in East Palestine following the train derailment.

Time is of the essence, and we are keen to ensure that McPherson opens a line of communication with the affected inhabitants. If he genuinely engages and understands their plight, we remain optimistic that he will advise President Biden to declare a disaster. This is a pivotal step towards authentic recovery, as the declaration would unlock the provision of essential financial assistance and thorough environmental testing for the residents.

He only has until mid-November to make his recommendation. Email Jim McPherson today!

Toxic Tuesday

Metals & Preterm Births

Over 10% of births worldwide are preterm, meaning delivery occurs earlier than 37 weeks of pregnancy. It is a leading cause of neonatal mortality, and evidence suggests that exposure to heavy metals from the environment could be a risk factor… [Read more]

Asphalt VOCs

Asphalt is made of a compacted “aggregate” mixed with a “binder.” The aggregate takes the wear-and-tear of traffic while providing a nonskid surface. It comes from rock quarries, natural gravel, and/or soil. The binder is a type of cement that holds the… [Read more]

Training Calls

Creating Your Individual Donor Fundraising Plan

Lois instructs attendees on how to establish fundraising goals, how to determine an audience, find relevant strategies, figure out the necessary amount of donors/donations, and construct a realistic timeline. As she says, “Without a timeline, non-profits are unlikely to succeed.”…. [Watch now]

Backyard Talk Blogs

Using Scientific & Technical Information to Win

By Stephen Lester. I’m often asked what it is that I do at CHEJ. As a trained scientist, I provide technical assistance to grassroots community groups. People send me their environmental testing data to review. This data spans chemicals foun… [Read more]

Water is the New Black Gold

By Sharon Franklin. A recent New York Times series concerning fracking and water by Hiroko Tabuchi and Blacki Migliozzi explores the relationship between hydrofracking and our disappearing water sources. Giant new oil and gas wells that requir… [Read more]

The Future of Groundwater: A Fleeting Resource

By Juliet Porter. Climate scientists have discovered that Americans are using up groundwater faster than ever before in our history. Recently, the New York Times investigated this phenomenon by examining 84,544 monitoring wells… [Read more]

Do you find this information useful? Please consider pitching in and making a contribution to CHEJ. We appreciate your support!

Three years after a federal judge revoked the permit allowing for the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross the Missouri River and ordered an environmental review, the oil still flows as it has since the pipeline began operating in 2017. Now, with the release of a new, and heavily biased, Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the American Army Corps of Engineers has opened a process for public comment.

The Native Organizer’s Alliance Action Fund is determined to flood the Army Corps with thousands of letters demanding the blockade and removal of the pipeline. No citizens within the Missouri River watershed should be in danger of their water source being ruined by contamination.

And most certainly, the Standing Rock Sioux should have been consulted concerning this violation of their unceded and sovereign territory rights! Please join the demand to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline now!