Arizona

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona joins Phoenix’s Environmental Quality and Sustainability Commission.

In November 2020, the Phoenix City Council appointed Moms Clean Air Force Arizona organizer Columba Sainz to the city’s Environmental Quality and Sustainability Commission. The commission is tasked with identifying environmental issues and problems affecting the City of Phoenix and recommending solutions to those problems to the City Council. In this role, Columba is working to ensure our children’s and our communities’ health are top priorities for Phoenix. She will serve a 3-year term.

Arizona Moms join Moms Clean Air Force members from across the country to demand EPA protect our families from dangerous smog.

On August 30 and September 1, 2020, Moms Clean Air Force Arizona joined more than 50 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 14 states and DC to deliver testimony at the EPA’s virtual public hearing on ground-level ozone, or smog. Smog is a widespread and largely preventable form of air pollution that is a powerful lung irritant and asthma trigger. In July 2020, in the midst of a global respiratory pandemic, EPA chose to keep the standards for smog the same—in spite of strong evidence showing significant health harm at levels below the current standards—and opened a public comment period that would be considered notably short even if we were not in the midst of a global respiratory pandemic. This continues a disturbing trend at EPA, led by Administrator Andrew Wheeler, of sidelining science, ignoring environmental injustice, and stifling public participation in the rulemaking process.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona organizer Columba Sainz offered testimony.

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick joins our 2020 Stay In and Speak Out for Climate Action.

This year, we aren’t playing around. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we aren’t holding our happy, crowded, buzzing, and bubbling annual Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC. Instead, we’re asking legislators across the country to join us for virtual events and conversations with their constituents to talk about air pollution, climate action and what we can do to fight the climate crisis where we live.

On August 27, Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick joined Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz and a few of our littlest activists from Arizona’s 2nd District to discuss air pollution, climate change, and how the congresswoman is working to protect our families from these threats that impact health and well-being.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz is featured in “Phoenix Herstories” photography exhibit.

A task force of the Phoenix Arts & Culture and Women’s Commissions has selected Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz as one of 31 women honored in the “Phoenix Herstories” online photography exhibit. The 2020 exhibit is part of the city’s centennial celebration of a woman’s right to vote and includes video testimonials on why voting and community engagement matters. Columba was chosen because of her civic engagement and leadership in Phoenix on environmental and children’s health issues. She believes deeply that small communities can make huge impacts in the world and that moms advocating together for clean air and a healthy planet for their children are a powerful force.

Arizona Moms join members of Moms Clean Air Force across the country to demand stronger protections against deadly soot.

In May 2020, Moms Clean Air Force Arizona joined more than 65 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 18 states and DC to deliver testimony at the EPA’s virtual public hearing on PM 2.5, or deadly soot. In April 2020, Trump’s EPA proposed to retain the current standards for particle pollution, ignoring science and putting thousands of lives at risk. Even in the midst of a national public health emergency from COVID-19, moms participated in the public hearing in record numbers. It’s one of many ways Moms Clean Air Force Arizona is continuing to engage in serious and consequential advocacy and outreach during the coronavirus pandemic.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona organizer Columba Sainz offered testimony.

Parents Latina features Moms Clean Air Force Arizona field organizer, Columba Sainz, and her work fighting for clean air.

In the US, Latinos are disproportionately impacted by air pollution. Parents Latina May 2020 cover story, “Latino Children Are Affected the Worst by Air Pollution, but Parents Are Fighting Back,” highlights asthma and children. Moms Clean Air Force Arizona field organizer, Columba Sainz, is recognized for fighting for healthy air quality for her family and Latino families throughout the country.

“We want our community to be aware of how we’re affected by this problem. There’s nothing we won’t do to protect our children’s health.”

Leading Latinx millennial news outlet, Remezcla, features Moms Clean Air Force Arizona organizer, Columba Sainz.

Moms Clean Air Force team members Gabriela Rivera (regional field manager) and Columba Sainz (Arizona state organizer) were highlighted in an important article for Remezcla, “Environmental Justice: These Latina activists Are on the Frontlines.”

Moms Clean Air Force helps Arizona push for bold climate legislation.

In November 2019, Congressman Donald McEachin (VA-04) introduced the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 with Representatives Deb Haaland (NM-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Chellie Pingree (ME-01). This ambitious national bill aims to eliminate all climate pollution—including from transportation, electricity, buildings, and agriculture—by no later than 2050.

In the months leading up to the release of the bill, Arizona moms met with members of Congress across the state to urge them to join as co-sponsors. Moms Clean Air Force Arizona thanks Representatives Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02), and Greg Stanton (AZ-09) for being among the over 150 original co-sponsors leading on this issue.

Click here to learn more about the bill.

Arizona Supermom, Myrelis Diaz, fights the rollback of the national methane standards in Dallas.

Moms Clean Air Force members from around the country testified in Dallas at the only EPA public hearing on the rollback of the federal methane standards. Among them was Arizona Supermom, Myrelis Diaz. Diaz’s story was featured in the Dallas Morning News in the article, “Feelings of ‘despair’: Climate change activists testify against EPA plans to roll back methane emissions standards.”

Arizona Supermom, Claudia Faudoa, defends Arizona families’ right to clean air at the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards hearing in Washington DC.

In March 2019, along with dozens of Moms Clean Air Force members from more than 15 states, Arizona Supermom, Claudia Faudoa, testified at the only public hearing on the rollback of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in Washington, DC. Her poignant testimony was heard in Arizona and around the country on Public News Service, Arizona PBS, and other news outlets.

The EPA is working to undermine these lifesaving standards that prevent toxic mercury from poisoning babies’ brains. Moms Clean Air Force Arizona has been a leader in the fight against the proposed rollback. In addition to speaking out publicly in opposition, Arizona moms have met with their elected officials both in state and in Washington, made calls to their representatives urging them to take action, sent letters, and collected petition signatures asking EPA to withdraw the proposal.

Arizona Representative, Ruben Gallego, commits to fight the rollback of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

After meeting with Moms Clean Air Force Arizona in February 2019 in Washington, DC, AZ-7 Representative, Ruben Gallego, confirmed his commitment to fighting the proposed rollback of the Mercury and Air Toxics standards in a letter he sent to Moms Clean Air Force organizer, Columba Sainz.

Yale Climate Connections features Arizona Clean Air Mom, Columba Sainz, for her work organizing Latina moms around the state.

Click here to listen

Organizing Latina moms through Ecomadres.

Launched in September 2018, the Ecomadres program brings Latina moms together to address issues of clean air, climate, and toxics that affect the health of Latino children and families. Ecomadres is a collaboration between Moms Clean Air Force and a number of partner organizations across the U.S.

Since fall 2018, we’ve hosted cafecitos around Phoenix to provide opportunities for the community to discuss air quality and climate change. And it is not just for the community: we also invite local officials to hear about the issues their constituents are concerned about. When the Covid-19 pandemic began, we started hosting cafecitos on virtual platforms, like Facebook Live and WhatsApp, to ensure our comadres continued to have a safe place to talk about the issues of climate change and justice.

Connecting Arizona moms to local leadership:

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona works to connect moms to their mayors and local city officials through Moms & Mayors. The program helps moms voice the changes they want to see to achieve healthier communities—whether through addressing local air pollution issues, adding community solar projects, or developing a strong city sustainability plan.

At the 2018 Moms & Mayors Program, over 130 Phoenix residents came together for a day of celebration and action.

We are a rapidly warming state.

In the fight against dangerous warming, there is a lot at stake for Arizona.

Three of the 25 fastest warming cities in the United States are in Arizona—Tucson, Phoenix, and Prescott.

These cities are already hot; Phoenix is consistently the hottest large city in the country. Rising temperatures in these cities puts Arizona families at risk from heat related illness and death, especially outdoor workers, older adults, and young children who are more vulnerable to extreme heat.

Beyond rising temperatures, Arizonans also face higher wildfire risk, increasing droughts, and decreasing snowpack. This will not only put children and families at risk, but damage critical industries in Arizona, such as agriculture and northern Arizona’s ski industry.

Our children breathe polluted air:

Over 84,000 children in Maricopa County (Phoenix) have asthma. With an F grade from the American Lung Association for both ozone and particle pollution, these children face dangerous breathing days too often.

From 2015-2017, there were 97 code orange ozone days in Maricopa County.

We are working to educate parents on the links between asthma and air quality, and fighting for stronger protections so that children in Arizona don’t have to play inside.

We have immense renewable energy potential:

There are few states better equipped than Arizona to curb statewide greenhouse gas emissions. Arizona ranks #2 of the states with the highest solar generation potential, trailing only Nevada. Arizona also has the capacity to increase wind energy production, mainly near the Mogollon Rim.

With immense potential to transition to renewable energy, Arizona has the opportunity to significantly reduce climate warming greenhouse gas emissions throughout the state. Moving to renewable energy would also help clean up Arizona’s air by reducing particulates, smog-forming pollutants, toxic mercury, lead, and arsenic—all of which are byproducts of burning fossil fuels.

Past Events

December 2020

In December, members of Moms Clean Air Force and EcoMadres Arizona met with their members of Congress to encourage bold climate action in 2021. Arizona moms had meetings with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02), Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), and Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07).

On December 10, Moms Clean Air Force Arizona joined the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter and partners for a virtual roundtable discussion of the Paris Climate Accords and what they mean for Arizona communities and families, as well as the rest of the world. Panelists included Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, Senior Sustainability Scientist at Arizona State University Sonja Klinsky, State Representative and Senator-elect Kirsten Engel, and Daniella Lopez, a 15-year-old youth climate leader from Mesa. Watch the replay.

October 2020

To celebrate the second anniversary of our EcoMadres program, we hosted a special event with music, conversation, and highlights of the amazing work EcoMadres across the country have been doing to educate and mobilize Latino families on the impacts of air pollution and climate change. The bilingual broadcast on October 29 was co-hosted by two Latinas, Nevada organizer Cinthia Zermeño Moore and Iowa organizer Karin Stein. This celebratory program featured brief interviews on topics including the impact of wildfires on Latinos and the importance of the Latino vote, interspersed with Latin music, most notably the premiere of the song “EcoMadres,” featuring dozens of organizers and members of the EcoMadres team. Watch the replay.

On October 22, our Ecomadres hosted a powerful discussion on the passion and practicalities of voting in the Latino community. The event was moderated by Iowa field organizer Karin Stein In the first segment of the event, Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz, Nevada field organizer Cinthia Zermeño Moore, and Florida field organizer Yaritza Perez shared stories with Nicole Randall of Corazon Latino about voting and empowering others to vote. In the second segment, EDF’s Esther Sosa and Fair Fight Action’s Jose Morales offered resources and advice for planning your vote and making sure it’s counted this election and in every election. Watch the replay.

August 2020

Arizona moms joined Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to testify in EPA’s virtual hearing on its proposal to retain the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ground-Level Ozone. Arizona organizer Columba Sainz urged EPA to follow the science and strengthen the existing rule.

On August 27, Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick joined Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz and a few of our littlest activists from Arizona’s 2nd District to discuss air pollution, climate change, and how the congresswoman is working to protect our families from these threats that impact health and well-being as part of our 2020 Stay In and Speak Out for Climate Action. Watch the video here.

On August 13, Congressman Raul Ruiz joined Moms Las Vegas organizer Cinthia Moore, Arizona State Representative Raquel Terán, and Mi Familia Vota’s Salvador Hernandez for an Ecomadres panel discussion on overlapping concerns in the Latino community around immigration, health, and our environment. With the full restoration of DACA in limbo along with 100 environmental rollbacks that weaken our clean air protections and public health made more fragile by COVID-19, the stakes could not be higher. The panel was moderated by Emilia Pablo, host of “Desde Nevada.” Watch the video here.

July 2020

In July, Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz began hosting a virtual story time on Thursday afternoons on Facebook Live. Her first book was Our House Is on Fire: Greta Thunberg’s Call to Save the Planet.

Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz joined Moms Clean Air Force organizers from across the country to offer comment in a meeting with OMB officials on the EPA’s proposed National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone on July 8.

June 2020

On Friday, June 5, Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz began hosting a weekly virtual cafecito on WhatsApp. Arizona Moms use this space to discuss pressing climate issues and the best ways to take action online.

May 2020

Arizona Moms joined Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to testify in the EPA’s virtual hearing on its proposal to retain the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter. Arizona organizer Columba Sainz testified in favor of following science and strengthening the existing rule.

April 2020

On April 22, Ecomadres and Corazón Latino hosted a virtual Earth Day Cafecito: “Clean Air, Coronavirus, and the Latino Community.” Moderator Karina Martinez spoke to Iowa organizer, Karin Stein, Arizona organizer, Columba Sainz, and Nevada organizer, Cinthia Moore about coronavirus, the Latino community, and how advocating for strong protections from air pollution has changed during the pandemic. Watch the video here.

Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz was featured on “Under the Hat” with Mister G. Find the video here. Columba and her daughters appear around 10:12.

December 2019

Arizona Ecomadres hosted a cafecito with South Mountain Community College in Phoenix.

October 2019

Arizona Field Organizer, Columba Sainz, and the Ecomadres were invited to a City Council meeting to talk about the effects of air pollution on communities of color and low income families.

Members of Moms Clean Air Force from around the country including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas testified in Dallas at the only public hearing on the EPA’s New Source Performance Standards for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry. Moms spoke out against the EPA’s plan to weaken methane pollution standards. Read more here.

Arizona Organizer, Columba Sainz, and the Ecomadres participated in a Townhall at Burton Barr Library with Elders Climate Action Network. During the Townhall, Columba had the opportunity to speak about her continued passion and motivation for advocating for clean air.

Arizona Ecomadres tabled at the Barrio Santa Cruz Fiesta, a community center celebrating their second anniversary, to share information about Moms Clean Air Force.

July 2019

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Arizona attended the sixth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

June 2019

Arizona Ecomadres hosted a press conference in Tucson in partnership with other environmental organizations. The focus of the event was to provide the community with 11 ways to help reduce air pollution.

March 2019

On March 18, 2019, members of Moms Clean Air Force Arizona traveled to Washington, DC to testify in support of the lifesaving Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) at EPA’s hearing on their proposal to undermine MATS.

January 2019

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona field organizer Columba Sainz met with her members of Congress in D.C. to communicate on the dangerous nomination of Andrew Wheeler to head EPA. On January 16, 2019, Moms Clean Air Force members (including kids!) attended Wheeler’s nomination hearing to make it clear that as an ex-coal lobbyist, Wheeler is unfit to run EPA. View photos from the meetings and hearing here.

December 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona hosted a “Health Cafecito” at Burton Barr Library in Phoenix.

October 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona hosted two Cafecitos in South Tucson focused on educating members on the Trump EPA’s attack on Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona hosted a Cafecito to celebrate the launch of Ecomadres in Phoenix.

September 2018

Field organizer, Columba Sainz attended the Mexican consulate where she spoke about the launch of Ecomadres.

Field organizer, Columba participated in a Clean Cars Conference with Defend our Future.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona participated in the People’s Climate Movement rally, where, along with a large group of volunteers, trees were planted!

August 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona participated in the LULAC Youth Conference.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona presented on Ecomadres at the Mexican Consulate.

Field organizer, Columba participated in a press conference in Phoenix along with Sierra Club and other partners focused on clean cars.

July 2018

Field organizer, Columba spoke at the Univision Youth leadership program.

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Arizona attended the fifth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona hosted an Ecomadres cafecito/house party.

June 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona hosted an Ecomadres cafecito/house party.

May 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona hosted a Mama Summit in Phoenix. Moms, families and local elected officials united on May 12th for our first ever city-wide Mama Summit. Together, we worked with our local officials and Mayor Greg Stanton to build a healthier, safer, and cleaner Phoenix for the sake of our kids.  

April 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona tabled at Rhodes Junior High-Latino Community fair.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona attended Dia del Nino at St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona participated in a televised town hall with Univision.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona celebrated Earth Day by joining City of Phoenix council member, Kate Gallego in an effort to plant 100 trees and 80 plants.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona attended the Divine Mercy “fiesta” at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Moms Clean Air Force Arizona partnered with Mi Familia Vota to present at a Citizenship workshop.

2020

• Univision, Es hora de que nuestros líderes vuelvan a comprometerse a #ActuarPorElClima y sean firmes en la lucha
• AZ Central, Rivers, clean air, imperiled species: How Trump’s environmental rollbacks affect Arizona
• USA Today, Rivers, clean air, imperiled species: How Trump’s environmental rollbacks affect Arizona
• Arizona Mirror, Maricopa County’s air quality is awful. It doesn’t have to be that way.
• Front Page Live, ‘How do you tell your kid they can’t go outside?’: Columba Sainz is fighting for clean air
• Noticias Telemundo, Estas ‘ecomadres’ latinas luchan para que nadie tenga que elegir entre perder la salud o pagar la renta
• Aleteia, Su misión, salvar a los bebés desde el vientre materno y niños de morir por el aire envenenado
• Arizona Daily Independent, With Much Of The Planet On Lockdown, Earth Day Goes Digital
• Arizona Republic, 50 years after the first Earth Day, environmental activists confront another global crisis
• Cronkite News, With much of the planet on lockdown, Earth Day goes digital
• Arizona Public Media, EPA won’t expand pollutant rule — ‘mistake’ during COVID-19, critics say
• Parents Latina, Latino Children Are Affected the Worst by Air Pollution, but Parents Are Fighting Back
• Time, Trump Rollback of Obama Mileage Standards Guts Efforts on Climate Change
• AP News, New Trump mileage standards to gut Obama climate effort
• Mother Jones, Your City’s Air Pollution Could Make COVID-19 Even More Dangerous
• The Center for Public Integrity, A Likely but Hidden Coronavirus Risk Factor: Pollution

2019

• The Arizona Republic, Winter air really is worse in south, west Phoenix. Here’s why
• Remezcla, For These Latina Activists, the Struggle for Climate Justice & Racial Justice Must Be Fought Together
• Press Release, La División de Arizona de Moms Clean Air Force Aplaude la Introducción de la Ley de Economía 100% Limpia de 2019
• Press Release, Moms Clean Air Force’s Arizona Chapter Applauds the Introduction of the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019
• Dallas Morning News, Feelings of ‘despair’: Climate change activists testify against EPA plans to roll back methane emissions standards
• AZ Big Media, How can we survive the dirty air in Phoenix?
• La Voz Arizona, Ambientalistas piden a senadora de Arizona Martha McSally más acción, menos palabras
• Press Release, AZ Moms Join Members of Congress on Capitol Hill as Part of Sweeping Movement for Climate Solutions
• Press Release, Moms Applaud New Bill to Cut Methane and Protect Arizona Families
• Phoenix Patch, Phoenix Mom Joins Protest Of EPA Plan To Ease Mercury Standards
• Cronkite News, EPA plan to ease mercury standards raises ire of moms’ group, activists
• Arizona Daily Independent, EPA plan to ease mercury standards raises ire of moms’ group, activists
• Tucson Sentinel, EPA plan to ease mercury standards raises ire of moms’ group, activists
• Public News Service, Grassroots Activists Protest EPA Toxic Regs Rollback
• Daily Miner, EPA plan to ease mercury standards raises ire of moms’ group, activists
• Panorama Online, Madres Latinas del Valle preocupadas por el ambiente alzan sus voces en Washington DC
• Arizona mi Casa Radio, Interview with Columba Sainz of Moms Clean Air Force
• La Opinión, Madres latinas preocupadas por el ambiente alzan sus voces en Washington DC
• Cronkite News Arizona PBS, Arizona mom joins activists protesting Wheeler nomination to head EPA
• Facebook Live Interview with Adriana Ruggiero, Conversando con Columba Sainz y Gaby Rivera de la organización EcoMadres

2018

• Yale Climate Connections, Arizona woman organizes Latina moms to speak up on climate change
• Phoenix New Times, Trump’s Proposed Emissions Rule Will Choke Efforts to Clean Polluted Phoenix Air
• Cronkite News, Moms use play to fight for clean air 
• Univison, Play-In for Climate Action 2018 Media Clip 
• Univision Arizona, Video Clip