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Health & Hazards Project

Health & Hazards in the San Fernando Valley

The Health and Hazards Project focuses on the San Fernando Valley (SFV) and consists of an interdisciplinary group of CSUN faculty members, students, community activists, and community organizations. One objective is to provide a basic resource about local healthcare providers, policy-makers, researchers, and activists.

Mapping where health hazards are and examining inequities is key to our central purpose; mapping can serve as an important research and dissemination tool. We also keep in mind that health exists in a context; we need to measure it and understand its consequences for all people.

San Fernando Valley Mountain View
 

Toxic Tour

As this umbrella project takes on various directions, we are developing Toxic Tours, Virtual Tours, and more. Our first tour provides an overview of the various environmental burdens in the Valley affecting human communities. Future Toxic Tours will focus on HERE Center partners, specific toxic sites, and environmental hazards, all highlighting the health hazards posed to humans.If you are interested in learning more about the toxic tour and have a suggestion for a particular hazard or neighborhood affecting the Valley, please email lisa.chaudhari@csun.edu.

VIEW TOXIC TOUR
 

Natural Gas

Natural gas is an important hazard in the Valley when considering the Aliso Canyon well of SoCal Gas’ well SS-25, as well as an ongoing leak at LADWP Sun Valley generating station. Natural gas has as number of negative human health effects you can learn more about below.

COMMUNITY PANEL

The Invisible Dangers Of Natural Gas

A community panel discussion about natural gas as a hazard to human and environmental health.

Panelists: Dr. Jeffrey Nordella, Andrew Krowne, Graciela Jimenez, Noemi Romo, Angelica Duenas
Hosted By: Hayley Diep and Hanli Su

April 8, 2021
4:00PM - 5:15PM PST
View Facebook Event Page

**Sponsored by APHA, Institute for Sustainability, and CSUN’s HERE Center and featuring key stakeholders from two environmental disasters: Aliso Canyon and Sun Valley.

the invisible danger of natural gas virtual event social media flyer

STORY MAPS

The invisible Dangers Of Natural Gas

Understand how natural gas, such as methane, impacts human and planetary health.


Watch the recorded panel here

Actions Taken And To Be Taken

Actions taken and to be taken, to address the issue of how Natural Gas acts as a health and planetary hazard.

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Alisa canyon gas blowout YouTube thumbnail

Food & Water Watch Interview

What are the human health implications of the Aliso Canyon blowout?

Alisa canyon gas blowout YouTube thumbnail

Food & Water Watch Interview

Organization's Mission

 

 



At California State University, Northridge (CSUN) we developed a project seeking to uncover the untapped wealth of Local Ecological Knowledge within CSUN and the San Fernando Valley (Valley). Local Ecological Knowledge is a set of knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding ecological relationships gained through personal observation and interaction with local ecosystems. The goal of our Cultivating Local Knowledge (CLK) initiative is to bring together diverse stakeholders across campus, the Valley, and CSUs invested in resilience in our communities and who will co-develop opportunities to support existing and new projects. The objective of this initiative is to bring together people, to actively share what we are currently doing, and to contribute to or support local ecological knowledge initiatives. We invite you to join the conversation, network, brainstorm, and help us build this initiative.

Learn about cultivating local knowledge and become a part of the community

Contact us at clk@csun.edu for more information

 

 

 

Coalition Members:

Community

  • Alexandra Nagy, Food and Water Watch (California director, Aliso Canyon)
  • Breathe Southern California (air pollution expertise)
  • Cecilia Mejia, One Degree (community asset mapping)
  • Anthony Ortiz-Luis, Valley Care Community Consortium (SFV Needs Assessments)

Coalition Members:

CSU Northridge

  • Carrie Saetermoe, HERE Center and Psychology
  • Lisa Chaudhari, HERE Center, CSUN Sustainability and Health Sciences
  • Steve Graves, Geography
  • Josey Vargas, HERE Center Postdoctoral Fellow
food and water watch logovalley care consortium logobreathe la logoCSUN sustainability logo
one degree logohere center logohere center logo

Student Opportunities

  • Students who are skilled in mapping and GIS can join the consortium as cartographers and geographers.
  • Students who are interested in learning how to take action can attend meetings, or take part in trainings and report back to the general group for opportunities to conduct research or support meeting health equity in the community.
  • Students who are ethnographers or community engaged can join our depth research team.

Faculty Opportunities

  • Faculty who are mapping the San Fernando Valley are welcome to join us to add their input.
  • Faculty who are evaluating social and environmental determinants of health in the San Fernando Valley are welcome to join us.
  • Faculty who have existing projects are welcome to apply to the HERE Center as a HERE Center Partner.

Community Partner Opportunities

  • Community activists and organizations are encouraged to provide additional information for maps.
  • Community activists and organizations are encouraged to bring CSUN faculty, staff, and students into local activism to improve our health environment.

For more information, please contact: Dr. Lisa Chaudhari, HERE Center Co-Director, lisa.chaudhari@csun.edu.

Projects

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