What Growing up Near the Most Polluted Zip Code in the U.S. Was Like and What I Am Doing To Change That

By Laura Martinez, Manager of Environmental Justice Programs at Cultivando and HECHO HCLC member.

I was born and raised in Colorado. When people think of my home state, they may think of the many breathtaking views, the mountains and of course, fresh, clean air. Unfortunately, that is not the case everywhere in Colorado, especially not where I grew up.

We have a lot of beautiful places in Colorado where you can hike, walk, and enjoy the great outdoors. But in Commerce City, we can't do all that because you must decide whether to go outside and inhale high levels of pollutants or stay indoors to protect your health. 

While I was growing up in Commerce City, I got used to the rotten odor in the air that I was breathing every day. As a child, I didn’t make much of it; I just covered my nose and went on with my day. I still live in Commerce City, which is near the most polluted zip code in the country.

As an adult, I learned –through enjoying fishing and the great outdoors with my family in the mountains and through my current job- that that fetid smell was not normal or safe to breathe. I discovered that it was possible to spend time and do recreational activities outside without sacrificing my health or breathing that unbearable stench in the air.  

That realization has impacted me personally and driven my environmental justice work.  

Before I joined Cultivando, a non-profit community-driven organization that serves the Latinx community in Adams County, I remembered a day students of a nearby elementary school had to stay indoors on a beautiful day for their safety because Suncor, a neighboring oil and gas facility, released a catalyst that left a clay like ash on cars, homes and streets. 

Suncor's response was to pay the expenses for car washes instead of offering to clean and pay for the impacted peoples' medical bills. Their reasoning was that it was not hazardous. I was furious. 

Our Latino community is on the lower income side and is disproportionately impacted by environmental issues like polluted air and water. There isn’t enough done to regulate the contamination or protect our communities.

Growing up as I did and seeing what is still happening in my city, I wanted to do something about it.

I was already a leader with Coloradans for the Common Good, a broad-based nonprofit organization that focuses on community organizing and developing leaders, when I found the opportunity in Cultivando to be involved in the AIRE project. I got to lead their program for environmental justice in my community, it was a perfect fit for me.

We monitored the air quality in Commerce City and around Suncor’s refinery for over a year and a half. At the end of June, the levels of pollutants in these areas were much higher than in any other place in the state. This particulate matter is known to stick to your lungs and cause health issues. It becomes even more harmful and dangerous when it mixes with other pollutants, such as benzene.

There are other sources of air pollution in the area, but Suncor constantly violates permits and consistently releases higher levels of chemicals into the air.

Cultivando has been working with legislators and other organizations to get bills passed so Suncor and other industries are held accountable for polluting the environment, impacting our communities, and affecting public health.

Some people in our community don't speak out because they or their relatives work for these industries. Others feel intimidated or afraid to stand up to these power players because of the consequences they can face. Add to that the fact that we are not being considered when making decisions about our community and we don't have a seat at the decision-making table.

Our community deserves to have a seat at the table, hence the reason why we are also working with them to lift their voices and share their experiences with others, because power lies in organized people for a common goal.

Cultivando and HECHO provide Latinos a platform for their voices to be heard and have in common their work for environmental justice. I am proud of my role at Cultivando and of being an HECHO Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council member. 

As a community, we must unite, organize, get involved and find solutions together. That's where we'll find the power and the change.

Learn more about Cultivando.