Pioneering Environmental Group To Become National Project Of THEA

Dear friends,

I’m writing to share important news about the future of the national environmental health movement - and an exciting new chapter for THEA.

For nearly 45 years, the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ), founded by Lois Gibbs of Love Canal, has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with communities fighting for their families, their neighborhoods, and their right to a healthy place to live. CHEJ helped shape the national Superfund program, trained thousands of local leaders, and ensured that ordinary people had the tools to take on extraordinary environmental challenges.

What’s changing

I am excited and humbled to report to you that the leaders of CHEJ have chosen THEA to carry on their legacy. 

Beginning in 2026, CHEJ will become a national program of Texas Health and Environment Alliance (THEA).

Our role will be to ensure that CHEJ’s decades of experience — its publications, technical resources, organizing tools, and its commitment to grassroots leadership — remain available to the communities who need them most. We are committed to ensuring that communities across the country can continue to rely on the resources and training CHEJ pioneered. 

What Won’t Change

I want to be clear: THEA’s deep commitments here in Texas will not change. This region is our home, and we will continue to work side-by-side with the people who are threatened by historical waste in the Houston-Galveston area.The same team, the same focus, and the same dedication to protecting public health will continue. In fact, it will grow with the addition of CHEJ’s national resources, tools, and training into the next generation.

This transition is both an honor and a responsibility. Communities across the country face the same challenges we’ve confronted here: toxic sites left unaddressed, regulatory systems that move too slowly, and families who are desperate for answers and support. THEA will expand its work to meet those needs, while staying rooted in the place where all of this began.

What Happens Next

The first thing and most important thing I intend to do is listen.  The environmental movement has struggled in recent years. There is a growing sense that changing times call for new voices and new approaches.  As we bring THEA and CHEJ together, I need to hear directly from you — the people who believe Americans have a right to live in neighborhoods free of toxic waste and to drink water that is safe from carcinogens. I will be reaching out to learn your thoughts on how this new alliance can help shape the future of the environmental movement. 

In the coming months, we will share more details about program offerings, resources for communities, and opportunities to get involved. For now, I want to extend my gratitude — to everyone who has supported THEA, to everyone who built CHEJ’s legacy, and to the many community leaders who continue to push for safer, healthier futures.

Together, we will ensure that the hard-won lessons of the past 44 years continue to guide and strengthen the movement for environmental health and justice.

With gratitude,

Jackie Medcalf
Founder & CEO
Texas Health and Environment Alliance (THEA)