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Last updated on May 29, 2008

Our mission is to foster an understanding of the principles of environmental justice and urban sustainability in our young people in order to promote the long-term health of their communities. LEJ creates positive, school and community-based opportunities for young people to play a role in the determination of their neighborhoods.

Description:
LEJ is an urban environmental education and youth empowerment organization created specifically to address the unique ecological and social concerns of Bayview Hunters Point and the surrounding communities of southeast San Francisco.

LEJ engages urban youth in traditional environmental problems by drawing concrete linkages between the state of human health, the environment, and urban quality of life. Our experiences have taught us that once these inter-relationships are recognized many young people feel compelled to become involved in the cause of creating a 'livable' city. Students leave our programs with skills and a shared experience of positive and visible work.

Through this perspective LEJ staff members teach and/or employ young people to research, design and organize educational, neighborhood improvement projects. We offer free educational programs for public schools and paid high school youth internship programs. LEJ works both in the public school system and in partnership with community-based and governmental organizations.

History:
LEJ was founded in 1998 by Dana Lanza, a former resident of Hunters Point, and Juan Barragan, a Bayview teen, as a fiscally sponsored project of the Southeast Alliance for Environmental Justice (SAEJ). In 2001 SAEJ decided to close its doors, and LEJ became an independent non-profit corporation. Although short-lived, SAEJ played an instrumental role in birthing the grassroots environmental justice movement in Bayview Hunters Point, and in stopping the location of a third power plant in the community. Several of the original SAEJ members are still active supporters of LEJ today.

Since 1998 LEJ has led well-over 10,000 public school students in neighborhood improvement initiatives, as well as having hosted workshops and conferences on youth empowerment, community involvement and environmental justice nationally.

Contact person: Elsa Calvillo, Outreach Coordinaor, (phone), (email)
Main office number: (415) 282-6840
Office fax number: (415) 282-6839

Address:

800 Innes Ave., #11 San Francisco, CA 94124 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.lejyouth.org

Directions:

From 101 Southbound: Take 101 South from downtown San Francisco. Take the Caesar Chavez St exit East. Bear Right onto Evans Ave. Cross 3rd Street. Evans Ave becomes Hunters Point Blvd and then Innes Ave. The LEJ office is 1 mile past 3rd Street, on the left, and it has the LEJ logo on the window. From 101 Northbound: Take the Caesar Chavez St exit East (right at the base of the exit). Bear right onto Evans Street (see above). From 3rd Street: Turn East on Evans Ave (see above). MUNI: The 19 Polk Street has a stop across the street from our office. Take line 19 from Market at Eight Street in San Francisco and get off at the corner at Arelious Walker Dr (a.k.a. Fitch St).   Nearest Bus Stop: 19

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	Spanish
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	14
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	Yes

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