The challenge

As in many American cities, a highway runs through the center of Austin, Tex. and divides it — not only racially and economically, but also in terms of environmental quality. In 1928 Austin's segregationist zoning plan physically relocated the city's communities of color and the city's industries to the east side, creating what would become an intolerable mix of residential and industrial zoning. Today, nearly four-fifths of Austin's industrial zone remains there. East Austin is also home to generations of low- to moderate-income Latino and African American people. These longtime residents have not enjoyed the expected employment benefits of living so close to the industrial complexes — nearly one in three are jobless, and of those with jobs, few work in the industries near their homes. They do, however, experience the disadvantages of that proximity: traffic congestion and pollution.


Seeds of commitment

Susana Almanza and Sylvia Herrera, co-founders of People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources (PODER), grew up in Spanish-speaking households in East Austin. Throughout their childhoods and adolescent years, they experienced educational, cultural, social and economic inequities that motivated them to become community activists. Herrera became the first Mexicana from East Austin to receive a Ph.D. from the nearby University of Texas at Austin. "If it wasn't for the work I was doing with PODER, I couldn't have finished the Ph.D. program," she says. "It was the knowledge that this degree was going to benefit the community that kept me going." Almanza has worked most of her life for nonprofit agencies. "Both of us feel we are 'survivors' because our parents provided us with principles, discipline and fortitude to be proud of who we are regardless of whatever obstacles were thrown in our path," the two leaders wrote in a recent essay. Both women are raising their own children in East Austin.


Accomplishments

Formed in 1991, PODER is an environmental-justice organization that brings East Austin neighborhood residents together to fight unsafe industrial development in residential neighborhoods. Armed with scientific data and a mobilized community, Almanza and Herrera led a successful effort to shut down the "Tank Farm," a 52-acre fuel storage tank area with three main pipelines owned by 6 major oil companies. For 35 years, the Tank Farm had emitted toxic chemicals that were believed to cause chronic illnesses for residents. The organization has also helped the neighborhood fight excessive increases in property taxes resulting from the closure of the Tank Farm, and pressured state officials to crack down on the oil companies that have made minimal progress toward cleaning the site.

In 1997, PODER also helped relocate the seven-acre Browning Ferris Industries (B.F.I.) recycling center. The landfill was too small for recyclables from more than 350,000 households; much of the trash sat outside exposed to the sun, wind would blow litter into the neighborhood and rats would follow. In addition, the center's glass crushing operation kept neighbors awake late at night. PODER, ensured that both the landfill and the Tank Farm were moved to non-residential areas so as not to inflict the same problems on other low-income people.

PODER also worked with El Pueblo (a network of East Austin neighborhood groups) and City officials to establish an East Austin Overlay Ordinance to help protect East Austin residents from potential dangers of further industrial development. The ordinance requires that neighborhood residents be notified and given an opportunity to voice their concerns any time an industrial facility seeks to locate or expand its operation in East Austin. PODER is also conducting a transportation-issues campaign that has created bus shelters, street realignments and sidewalks, along with additional streetlights and street signs. PODER continues to work with members of the community to establish a Bus Riders Union, and mentors young leaders through its Young Scholars Program.


Leadership style

Almanza's and Herrera's "twinned" leadership, as they call it, is based on open communication — between themselves and with their community. They produce a weekly radio show, provide childcare during their meetings, making it easier for parents to participate, and PODER's educational materials (fliers, brochures, videos) provide Spanish translation. To involve community members in its organizing efforts, PODER trains them to administer neighborhood surveys, which increase knowledge about the community, but also communicate PODER's message. Over the past decade, PODER has trained many young people to take leadership positions through internships, apprenticeships, mentoring projects and other training programs. PODER's recently established Anita Padilla Young Scholars for Justice Fund pays high school and college students for part-time and year-round community work. Raúl Alvarez, once a PODER intern is now an Austin City Councilman.


The future

Now that PODER and other groups have helped clear out the most noxious industrial facilities, East Austin faces a new challenge: gentrification. Recently, moneyed Texans have begun to buy the old houses, taking advantage of tax abatements for historic preservation. For the existing residents, property taxes were already high, because Texas lacks a state income tax; but this gentrification has caused East Austin property taxes to skyrocket, forcing some longtime residents out of the neighborhood. Almanza and Herrera have involved PODER in a growing movement to help people stay. They have called on the city to put protections in place for low-income residents before granting new historical designations. Raising awareness about this issue, PODER members recently picketed a tour of historic homes in East Austin. "This is not a race issue," says Almanza. "It is an economic issue."


More about Susana Almanza, Sylvia Herrera

"PODER is the authority on the environmental, economic and health impact of industries in communities of color. Others who traditionally inform policy decisions — such as engineers — forget about the human element. Sylvia and Susana understand the technical, cultural and human aspects of the issue. They look at all aspects of the community and the multiple possible effects that their strategies and actions could have on the community — both good and bad. As County Commissioner, I traveled all over and worked with many people. Susana and Sylvia stand out: they are experts."
— Marcos DeLeon, Chair of East Town Lake Citizens Association and Former Austin County Commissioner

"It's hard to keep your morale up and keep on fighting. Susana Almanza and Sylvia Herrera are pretty unique individuals with a vision bigger than the neighborhood. Nothing is separate; everything is connected." — Richard Moore, Executive Director, Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic
und him."
— Sister Mary Mulholland, Member of the Sisters of Mercy