Community Scientist Interview: Jaqui
Jordan: Hi Jaqui! Thank you for taking the time to interview with us, I am so grateful for your time and excited to learn more about all of the community scientists on the team. Can you share a little bit about yourself and your interest in the project?
Jaqui: Yes, I live in East LA, I grew up there all my life. And then also neighboring Montebello. I have a big family, so six kids. I'm the daughter of Mexican immigrants. This is my community, it's really important to me. I always come back to it because it's where I feel it's home, and that's kind of what drew me to this project and other projects like this that are very community based. Because it's close to home and it's something that directly impacts me. People doing the research know, you don't have to go far, there's contamination of all kinds within a five mile radius of anything.
“This is my community, it's really important to me.”
Jordan: Yes, and I feel like even when I think I am informed, and aware of the sources of pollution around me, then I hear about another one down the street from my house!
Jaqui: Yes, like even Montebello I remember growing up hearing about Quiet Cannon. That all those homes are built on a dump. And I had friends who lived up there, and we would see people in hazmat suits, taking samples, and were like, “why are they in hazmat suits?” And we're just here chilling in your backyard. And on certain days it just smelled so bad. Even where I live now, there's some days, like in summer we're just like, “where's that stench coming from? It's some dump site nearby.” If it's not one type of pollution, it's another. I think it affects all communities from all economic backgrounds. Now I know it's not safe to walk around on that dirt and play with it. And that was my main concern, that my kids grew up eating and playing in that dirt, and I didn't know any better. That's what was most shocking about all the results from the soil sampling, the initial samplings, the lead. I know how to garden safely. I know that certain trees are okay to eat from and plant. You guys provide a lot of great information on how to stay safe or protect ourselves a bit more. Like how to keep our homes clean from dust and having air filters. I did have a lot of questions at first, and you guys were really good about providing information that answered a lot of those questions.
“I have a huge backyard and, believe me, to me, that makes me feel like I'm rich. To have a green space is a big deal.”
Jordan: Thank you for sharing. I learned a lot from those resources as well. It's crazy to think that we have to learn to be safe when interacting in our own homes, in our gardens, in our safe spaces. Are there any questions that you still have about lead safety or exposure?
Jaqui: I think another question people have is what's a safe level of exposure? And I'm just like, is there any actual safe level of exposure? Everyone is different. Someone can have a higher tolerance, someone lower tolerance. So I understand people's concern or beliefs that, "my family member's cancer may have been caused by our contaminated dirt," or any materials in their home that are contaminated. So I understand how people can have those beliefs. And nobody can tell them it's not true because we don't know. Until a certain point we do and don't know. So that's another question that I feel like even though people can try to answer it, it's like we don't know exactly how much exposure is bad or a safe level of exposure.
Jordan: Definitely. There is still so much to learn. Can you share about your plans for the raised beds?
Jaqui: Yeah, you guys did provide a sheet that said here are some things to consider for planting. I'm so glad I didn't put the soil in or plant yet, because I feel like these rains would've just drowned that out. I'm excited to do zucchinis, tomatoes, I want to do some chilies. I've never, ever gardened before, so even if it doesn't work out this first batch, I'm going to keep at it. I just really want to do it. Thank you guys so much for that garden bed, it's expensive, so thank you. I have it set up right now, luckily now that this weather hopefully has passed, I can start filling it up and starting to plant. I watch a lot of YouTube videos of gardening now. Yeah. I want to be that lady.
“I've never, ever gardened before, so even if it doesn't work out this first batch, I'm going to keep at it.”
Jordan: Yes! That's so cool. I'm so excited to garden this year too. My son already has a list of things he wants to grow. We haven’t planted that much either. We're renting, so we can't really dig up anything or move plants around. But there's this one narrow and really long strip of soil, and my uncle's like, "let's just plant some tomatoes and see what happens." And we're like, "okay... it's really small. It doesn't look like it's full of any good soil." It was full of rocks and stones. But that plant grew and covered the whole sidewalk, and we had hundreds of tomatoes. It was awesome. Just with this little spot and this little plant. And it kept coming back for like two years. We got a lot of fruit from it to share with neighbors. I'm so excited to see what everyone grows.
Jaqui: That's awesome. And then also, like you mentioned, just having the space to do it. Not everyone has that privilege. People who have backyards. Like I have a huge backyard and, believe me, to me, that makes me feel like I'm rich. To have a green space is a big deal. You know, during COVID, people were talking about how they felt like cabin fever, some people didn't even have a balcony to sit in. So I understand. And having just some dirt, like you said, to grow anything. And those plants just show you, you give people a little space and they'll take it, they will run with it.
Jordan: Yes, definitely. Let us know how it goes! So now that we're at the end of the project, is there something that you're hoping for or looking forward to? We've heard a lot about the results, or wanting to see more advocacy around the issue. Is there anything you are hoping for?
“It has to be all these different minds coming together to really solve this problem.”
Jaqui: Yeah, like you said, more activism, more awareness, community awareness, more community involvement. And also, just for it to become more common knowledge about these socioeconomic, like environmental repercussions of this kind of contamination in our communities. And that leads to like, local legislation and just something has to be done where corporations can't be using our neighborhoods as dumping sites, you know? And not just our neighborhoods, like any neighborhood. I don't know what the solution for that is. This is a start to that conversation, spread the awareness and get more people involved. And the more people involved you have from different backgrounds and skillsets, that's where we're going to find more answers. And that's what I think Prospering Backyards is doing. They're bringing the scientific perspective, the community perspective, the artistic perspective. It has to be all these different minds coming together to really solve this problem. And it's going to be baby steps. I know that it's a lot of us versus them, but we have to start somewhere. And obviously the micro is more impactful to me. That knowledge that I've gained is something that I spread. I tell people about "you should have your backyard checked" and "if you're going to plant, do this." That's how it's more personal for me. Because a lot of people don't know and are not aware of the level of contamination and where the contamination or events that have happened, like the Exide. I think if anything, this is going to be building, it's growing still.
Jordan Salcido
Communications and Community building
Jordan Salcido (she / her) is a multidisciplinary community organizer based in the Los Angeles area. Through a number of projects, she supports efforts to advance environmental justice and amplify community needs and priorities. She greatly believes in the power of storytelling and seeks to shine a light on community stories of strength and resilience. As a California naturalist, Jordan enjoys learning about the land and its plants, animals and people.
Jaqui
Community Scientist
Jacqueline (Jaqui) is a mother of two young boys, a wife and the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. She’s an independent graphic designer living in East Los Angeles, where she was born and raised. Her culture, community and social equity have always been the driving forces behind all that she does in life.
