Category: Our Work

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VIP Honors Co-Founder and Local Organizers at First Annual Community Empowerment Dinner

On Friday, March 23rd 2018 Valley Improvement Projects (VIP), a grassroots organization that builds community on social and environmental issues based in Modesto, hosted the first annual Community Empowerment Dinner where they presented the “Emiliano Amor Mataka Award,” named in honor of a VIP co-founder who lost his life in a car accident in 2015. … Continue reading VIP Honors Co-Founder and Local Organizers at First Annual Community Empowerment Dinner

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Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Releases New Video and Fact-sheet That Busts the Myths of ‘Waste-to-Energy’

Valley Improvement Projects ally, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), has released a new video and fact-sheet that busts the myths of ‘Waste-to-Energy’ a.k.a Trash Incineration. Stanislaus County is home to 1 of only 3 trash incinerators in California, located in the town of Crows Landing near Patterson. GAIA info sheet on incineration Continue reading Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Releases New Video and Fact-sheet That Busts the Myths of ‘Waste-to-Energy’

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Stanislaus County Needs Carpet Recycling, NOT Incineration!

Valley Improvement Projects is currently working to ensure that old and used carpet in Stanislaus County is recycled instead of being dumped in our local landfill or burned at the Covanta Trash Incinerator in Crows Landing. Currently, when a California consumer purchases new carpet, he or she pays a 25 cent per square yard fee … Continue reading Stanislaus County Needs Carpet Recycling, NOT Incineration!

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Environmental Justice Leaders Across California Head to Sacramento To Tell Policy Makers ‘Stop Protecting Polluters’ — California Environmental Justice Coalition

For more information: California Environmental Justice Coalition (CEJC) email Tom Helme, CEJC Coordinator, Valley Improvement Projects, (209) 589-9277 For immediate release, August 19, 2016 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LEADERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA HEAD TO SACRAMENTO; TELL POLICY MAKERS ‘STOP PROTECTING POLLUTERS’ Statewide Coalition of More Than 50 Organizations Representing Urban, Rural and Indigenous Communities Demand Accountability and Justice […] … Continue reading Environmental Justice Leaders Across California Head to Sacramento To Tell Policy Makers ‘Stop Protecting Polluters’ — California Environmental Justice Coalition

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VIP Protests Lenient Plea Deal for ex-Sheriff

“Justice for Rita! Jail for Abbey!” On Tuesday, June 28th, VIP members and several other members of the community protested the decisions of Stanislaus Judge Ricardo Cordova and District Attorney Birgit Fladager to NOT send corrupt Sheriff Kari Abbey to jail by dropping her murder charge and giving her a ridiculous plea-deal of probation, community … Continue reading VIP Protests Lenient Plea Deal for ex-Sheriff

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VIP Featured in ‘Stanislaus Connections’

Valley Improvement Projects was recently featured in Stanislaus Connections, the semi-monthly publication of the Modesto Peace/Life Center. Check out http://peacelifecenter.org/ for more information about the Peace/Life Center in downtown Modesto. You can read all the back issues of Stanislaus Connections at http://stanislausconnections.org/ Read the latest edition featuring VIP and information on the Peace/Life Center’s Homeless ID Project … Continue reading VIP Featured in ‘Stanislaus Connections’

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V.I.P. 2015!

After closing down the Valley Improvement Projects Community Center for Social & Environmental Justice in late 2014 V.I.P. volunteers have been working to determine the best way forward and ensure we stay true to our mission statement of improving the quality of life of underrepresented and marginalized residents of California’s Central Valley by promoting social and … Continue reading V.I.P. 2015!

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After a Year, VIP Community Center Closes Its Doors, Organization Will Struggle On

It’s been almost exactly one year since the Grand Opening of the Valley Improvement Projects Community Center for Social and Environmental Justice. Valley Improvement Projects, as a concept, began about two years ago with several friends, not co-workers or business associates or colleagues, but first and foremost friends. These friends envisioned an organization that provided … Continue reading After a Year, VIP Community Center Closes Its Doors, Organization Will Struggle On

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V.I.P. Featured in Modesto Bee’s Q&A

Valley Improvement Projects was recently featured in the Modesto Bee’s “Monday Question and Answer” column. Check out the article here (or see text below): http://www.modbee.com/2014/06/29/3416324/monday-qa-modesto-nonprofit-takes.html?sp=%2F99%2F1623%2F1618%2F   MONDAY Q&A: Modesto nonprofit takes on social, environmental issues By Erin Tracy etracy@modbee.comJune 29, 2014 By Erin Tracy The_Modesto_Bee Six Stanislaus County residents with different visions but the same … Continue reading V.I.P. Featured in Modesto Bee’s Q&A