Who we are

People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER) is a grassroots organization that works to create people-powered solutions to the profound environmental and economic inequities facing low-income Latino immigrants and other communities of color in San Francisco. Since 1991, with participation from residents in the Mission, Excelsior and other southeast San Francisco neighborhoods, we have won important advances in public health, the availability of affordable housing, access to parks and open space and accountable government.

We hope to bring about a meaningful multiracial democracy and create new models for economic resiliency and environmental sustainability in a city facing growing inequality. We believe that solutions to local problems depend on the active participation of a wide range of community members in the decision making process.

“PODER’s work inspires me and motivates me to become an active leader in my community and my organization. Together, we are organizing to bring changes to our neighborhoods. I am really proud to be a PODER member,” says Victoria Sanchez.

“I realized that many small changes together become big changes when we all do it together,” says Estela Ramos Guzman, a native of El Salvador.

“I’m really glad to have found PODER. It feels like a home to me, a family.” She says. “I love how PODER is so tied to people, so sensitive, so political.”

Find our more about our campaigns and join us in making San Francisco greener, healthier and more just.