Who’s Who in Green: Irma Muñoz

Far too often, in places like Los Angeles County, California, Latina mothers have helplessly watched their children play in streets, parks and waterways contaminated with pesticides and other pollutants. They worry about the effects that these toxins could have on their sons and daughters, but it seems like nobody out there is too concerned about cleaning up poor communities, which are disproportionately home to factories and dumping sites. What could they do, when they needed to focus all their energy just on making ends meet?

That’s where Irma Muñoz came in. The community organizer, activist and advocate has dedicated herself to abolishing environmental racism and helping Latina women take action against the injustices they’re faced with on a daily basis. She is the President, Founder and CEO of Mujeres de la Tierra – ‘Women of the Earth’, the nation’s first Latina environmental organization.

“Mujeres gives groups of women a platform so they can go to the City Council, the School Board and be a force to be reckoned with,” Muñoz explained in a 2007 interview with Whole Life Times.

Mujeres de la Tierra has six chapters in the Los Angeles area, and Muñoz takes the time to interact on a personal basis with group members as often as possible. She emphasizes the need to tackle environmental problems that have a daily impact on the local community, helping Latino families achieve small victories that add up in a big way.

Asked by Newsweek what she sees as the biggest environmental issues facing Latinos in the Los Angeles area, she said,

“That’s a tough question, but I would say it’s a lack of access to passive and active recreational opportunities, to green space to play, to parks. Latinos in many urban areas are the new mainstream, but unfortunately that does not translate in the equitable distribution of resources – especially in the “green world.” A lot of power plants and factories are traditionally put in minority neighborhoods, and we suffer as a result of that. What we want are all the things that are necessary to good community health in any urban area: trees and clean air quality.”

Muñoz credits her upbringing in Los Angeles and her father’s encouragement when it comes to her strong sense of responsibility and drive to take action for the good of the community. One of seven daughters, Muñoz was brought up in a home with strong family values and a deep respect for their Mexican heritage and cultural traditions.

Muñoz was named in Hispanic Business Magazine’s 100 Influential Hispanics in October of 2008 and was featured in the November 2008 issue of O, Oprah Magazine. She has also been honored with La Opinion’s Mujeres Destacadas 2007 community award for leadership.

Irma Muñoz’s Green Score: 42,677

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