Our Mission: To improve the quality of life of underrepresented and marginalized residents of California’s Northern San Joaquin Valley by advocating for social and environmental justice
Our Advocacy
- Clean Air: Reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants, especially in disadvantaged communities
- Pesticide Reduction: Reduce the use of, and exposure to, harmful pesticides near schools and in rural, disadvantaged communities
- Clean Drinking Water: Reduce contamination and expand access to safe drinking water for all
- Climate Justice: Implement sustainable local land use and development practices that decrease greenhouse gas emissions, increase resiliency, and facilitates a just transition to clean energy and a green economy
- Zero Waste: Ban trash incineration and eliminate single-use plastics while increasing recycling, composting, reuse, refill, repair, item sharing, and other sustainable practices
- Police Accountability: Provide “Know Your Rights” information to community members and increase community oversight of local law enforcement agencies to eliminate abuse, profiling, and harassment
- Tenant’s Rights: Provide information to tenants on their rights, expose slumlord practices, and increase affordable housing in disadvantaged communities
Outreach, Networking, and Solidarity:
- Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Communities: VIP strives to reach-out to low-income and working class communities, communities of color, immigrants, Spanish-speakers, LGBTQ community, religious minorities, indigenous communities, youth, elders, people with disabilities, houseless community, and many others who carry the extra burdens of our society
- Youth Outreach and Education: VIP works to provide our local young people with productive recreational activities as well as socially and culturally relevant educational workshops and information
- Representatives and Officials: VIP maintains contact with elected representatives and relevant agency officials in order to efficiently advocate on behalf of our local disadvantaged communities
- Regional and Statewide Coalitions: VIP is a proud member of the California Environmental Justice Coalition (CEJC), Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ), Stanislaus Sustainable Communities Coalition (SSCC), Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN), Clean Vehicle Empowerment Collaborative (CVEC), Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR), Break Free From Plastic Movement (BFFP), and California Cleaner Freight Coalition (CCFC)
Our Staff and Volunteers:
Bianca Lopez – Co-Founder/Project Director
Thomas Helme – Co-Founder/Project Director
Edgar Garibay – Project Manager
Laura Plascencia – Community Organizer
Matt Holmes – North Valley Project Coordinator
John X. Mataka – Community Advocate
Rosenda Mataka – Community Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator
Sara Arroyo Hernandez – Community Outreach
Our Contact Info:
Valley Improvement Projects (V.I.P.) P.O. Box 4214 Modesto, CA 95352
(209) 589-9277
valleyimprovementprojects@gmail.com
facebook.com/valleyimprovementprojects
Finally, a group in the Modesto area doing good environmental/social justice work. Can’t wait to work with you peeps!
The President, lol.
Fryin Brian, lol.
Grand opening was great, you peeps are amazingly dedicated and united. It’s about time to change the bad ol’ boys way of thinking in the Valley.
I run one of three needle exchanges in Sacramento and am here quite often. Since it is unauthorized to perform a needle exchange in this county, I would like to meet up with people that are sympathetic to changing the DAs mind. Shoot me an email or text 2095424022 -Doc