In celebration of Earth Day, we caught up with Diana Lopez, the young activist featured in the Adobe Youth Voices film “Image of Contamination”, a story about Diana’s discovery that toxic chemicals from nearby Kelly Air Force Base were causing serious health problems for residents in her community.

Diana made this discovery during a summer internship with the Southwest Workers Union, and after a summer of volunteering with the union, she decided to change her life plans in order to keep fighting for environmental justice in her community.

Adobe Youth Voices (AYV): Since the filming of “Image of Contamination”, what are some of your main accomplishments with the Southwest Workers Union in the neighborhoods around Kelly Air Force Base?

Diana Lopez (DL): One of the biggest accomplishments was convincing the city to put up signs around Leon Creek advising people of the health risks, telling people not to swim near the base. This is an accomplishment because not only will the signs help protect people, but they also mean that the city is acknowledging that there is a problem, they’re acknowledging that pollution is going off Kelly Air Force Base and affecting the community.

We were able to get the signs thanks to studies conducted by the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality & by MetroHealth. These two organizations tested for a wider variety of chemicals than were being tested for by the government, and the independent studies both revealed dangerous levels of certain toxic chemicals.

AYV: What other projects have you been working on in the last few years?

DL: One major project has been around food sustainability and security. We have transformed a brown, abandoned lot into a community garden and sustainability center, where we teach the community sustainable gardening skills, such as rainwater harvesting, building a garden using recycled materials, and how to create an urban farm. Many of the people who first started organizing with us have gone back to their homes and started community gardens in their neighborhoods.

Diabetes and other obesity related diseases are a big problem in the San Antonio area, so we see our community garden as both an environmental and community health project. Not only do we teach community members how to garden, but we also teach them how to cook fresh and healthy meals with the vegetables they have grown.

One future plan is to create a farmer’s market with a trading system, so that community gardeners can sell their harvests or trade for other products.

AYV: Do you have any words of advice for young people who want to get involved with environmental activism?

DL: One thing I want young people to know is that it is important not to hold back any opinions or suggestions that you have around bettering your neighborhood. It is important to demand that young people be part of a struggle for environmental justice. Your opinions and ideas are important, because many times we get used to the same routine and when young people introduce new ideas into the space, it advances the movement.

There are many opportunities for summer internships for young people with the Southwest Workers Union. I invite any young people to apply with us, or to look for an internship in their area. It might just change your life!

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