Texas Health and Environment Alliance

Texas Health and Environment Alliance (THEA) is a women-led, community-rooted nonprofit dedicated to protecting human health and the environment from toxic contamination. We empower communities impacted by legacy contamination and environmental injustice to organize, advocate, and lead, transforming residents into trailblazers empowered to create systemic change.

THEA’s strategy is simple but powerful: 

1. Listen to communities. The heart of THEA’s mission is within the communities we serve. Their lived-experiences and visions for change guide our process and define the goals for each community. 

2. Collect and analyze critical data. THEA gathers and reviews available data from multiple sources and may fill gaps by providing air and water testing to validate community concerns and identify contaminants of concern. This testing is done at no cost to residents.  

3. Translate science into action. Technical data is often formatted for the understanding of scientific professionals alone. Most communities impacted by site contamination lack the education to understand this jargon. THEA responds by translating data into plain language that is modified to each community’s individual needs. This empowers residents with knowledge that is accessible and actionable. 

4. Build coalitions and leadership. Through education and organizing, we equip residents to advocate effectively, pressure responsible parties and agencies, and demand systemic change.