Community Action Works
Community Action Works

Statistics for Action

SfA for Environmental Organizers

There are some common suspicions or concerns that come up when dealing with an environmental problem. Use the guide below to find SfA resources that will help you take control of the situation.

In every situation, you will need to learn the basics, gather data, explore strategies, and make your case. Each set of options is listed in a sequence, but it’s not a recipe that needs to be followed from beginning to end. Use your judgement to decide:

  • Which steps make sense for this situation, and in what order?
  • Which of these things should be done with a large community group, just with group leaders, or by oneself?
    • How do these resources fit into a larger strategy (local politics, media, etc.?)
SUSPICIONS OR CONCERNS SFA OFFERS HELP WITH…
ASSESSING THE PROBLEM
We suspect an industry has polluted the soil, water, or ground water, or air.

We’re concerned about toxic products in our home, school, or workplace.

Air Quality Monitoring
Soil and Water Testing
Home & Workplace Concerns
SHOWING IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY
We suspect contamination is affecting our health, and we want to do a study.

We’re concerned about the economic or aesthetic impacts of a potential or existing industry.

We’re concerned about traffic going to and from a site.

Health Studies
Economic Impacts
Traffic Impacts
Collecting Your Own Data
USING RULES AND REGULATIONS
They’re proposing a new or expanded polluting industry. We want to challenge their claims.

Cleanup is planned. We want to make sure it goes well.

We think a business is in violation of their permit, or that a permit should not be granted to the business.

Stopping a Polluter
Monitoring a Cleanup
Permit Granting & Renewal
GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT
We have the key facts and information, now we want to use them in a powerful message.
Communicating with Numbers

Find out more about SfA.