Diane Takvorian
Diane Takvorian has led the struggle for social and environmental justice for almost 30 years. She is Executive Director and a Founder of Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), an environmental justice organization based in the San Diego/Tijuana region. Founded in 1980, EHC works to protect public health and the environment threatened by toxic pollution through efforts that create a just society.
Under Takvorian’s direction, EHC’s community organizing and policy advocacy work with disenfranchised communities have eliminated many health risks and enabled thousands of residents to develop into community leaders. EHC successfully advocated for one of the first community Right-to-Know laws in the nation (1982) when local communities lacked information about chemicals used and stored at nearby businesses. That law led to a report identifying communities at highest risk (1990) and decades of community health victories, including: the stoppage of fruit cargo fumigation with the toxic pesticide methyl bromide at the Barrio Logan port terminal (1997); the shut down of a chrome plating business operating next to homes in Barrio Logan (2002); and approval of an ordinance to phase polluting business operations out of residential areas of National City (2006). Another EHC-sponsored law made California the first state to ban the sale of lead-contaminated candies imported from Mexico (2005). EHC’s advocacy also led to $22 million in federal funding for San Diego for programs to protect children by reducing lead hazards (2001 – 2009).
Takvorian served as Co-Chair of the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Advisory Committee from 2001-05. In 2003, this committee adopted historic recommendations to address community environmental justice issues. She is a co-founder of the California Environmental Justice Alliance –a coalition of organizations working to address environmental justice issues throughout California—and was appointed to the California Global Warming Environmental Justice Advisory Committee in 2007. The James Irvine Foundation honored Takvorian with its Leadership Award in 2008. The award recognizes individual leaders who are advancing innovative and effective solutions to significant state issues.
Takvorian holds a Masters degree in Social Work, with an emphasis in public policy and community organization. She served on the faculty at San Diego State University School of Social Work, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses on community organization and administration. She is married to Dr. Robert Bray, a clinical social worker whose work focuses on victims of trauma and abuse.
“Creating a thriving, sustainable Port is a goal that is well within our reach. We must strive to be good stewards of San Diego Bay and the waterfront, a good neighbor to communities, an ally to workers, and a shining example of how people, the environment, and industry can coexist without harmful impacts."
Diane Takvorian