Pacoima is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the northeast San Fernando Valley. Surrounded by three freeways and home to an airport, a railway line and industrial facilities.  The predominantly-Latino community is one of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in California in terms of pollution. Today we talk about Pacoima as part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaborative of more than 400 media outlets, focusing attention on the climate emergency in the run up to Earth Day on Thursday.  But first, we start with a history lesson.

Guests:

• Jean-Paul Contreras deGuzman, a history teacher at Windward School and lecturer at UCLA. His forthcoming book project is called “A Touch of Danger: Southern California’s San Fernando Valley and the Racial Politics of An American Dream"
•  Crystal Jacksonis president of the Pacoima Historical Society and author of “The Entrance: Pacoima's Story.”