Local and Regional Groups
We consider each of the organizations listed on this page as allies in the work of 1) fostering peace, justice, and the flourishing of life; 2) resisting and helping to alleviate the ravages of environmental destruction and human misery; and 3) seeking to understand and educate others about the underlying causes of these harms. We affirm these organizations and are grateful to be able to work in coalition with them as they focus on specific issues that are important to our time.
The Palestine-Israel Working Group of Nevada County
The Palestine-Israel Working Group of Nevada County (PIWG) advocates for human rights, equality and justice for all in Palestine and Israel. PIWG’s current focus is on the rising death toll in Gaza due to constant bombardment, starvation, polio and other disease, torture of prisoners, as well as increasing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. PIWG’s Facebook page has information about upcoming local events as well as reports from Palestine and Israel about the struggle for an immediate ceasefire, return of hostages and political prisoners, an end to US arms shipments to Israel, and immediate humanitarian aid.
Friends of Bear River (FROBERI)
Friends of Bear River (FROBERI) | Facebook
Our original mission was accomplished! On September 25th, 2024, the NID Board voted to pursue raising Rollins dam and canceling Centennial dam. The lifting of the dam threat over Bear River gives many opportunities for the future. The former citizen’s group Friends of Bear River has reorganized around the Rights of Nature and become a 501c3 Public Benefit NGO, as Friends of Bear River. We also adhere to the Nisenan Declaration of the Cultural and Biological Rights of K’umim Sew’, aka Bear River.
🐻 Mission: We will use our knowledge, skills, and abilities to advance the interests and well-being of K’umim Seyu and the Lizzie Enos Nisenan Family Foundation, and T’umim Seyu and the Colfax Todd Valley Consolidated Tribe as expressed in the written material provided, as well as our own ideas in collaboration and community.
🐻 Core Value: We take the undeniable reality, K’umim Seyu, T’umim Seyu, as an indivisible material and metaphysical entity and treasure, which is inherently connecting us to Everything, and including the entire watershed/riverine environment comprising its tributaries, springs, airspace, streams, banks, fisheries, vegetation, wetlands, water, bed, islands, lakes, waterways, substratum, floodplain, water column, and geothermal springs as foundational to our worldview.
Immigration Action Alliance
The Immigration Action Alliance is a Nevada County action-based group committed to participation and involvement in local, statewide, and national actions that support the immigrant community, both in the United States and at U.S. borders. Their activism has takes several forms, including attending and leading workshops and educational events, publicly demonstrating, fundraising for organizations that support immigrant causes, travelling to border cities and into Mexico to volunteer to support immigrant families, contacting/educating legislators, posting online articles and photographs, working to reunite immigrant families and free children from detention, and continuing to spread the message that “seeking asylum is legal.” They have now joined with Earth Justice Ministries and other local groups in our Immigrant Rights Network. – Return to Associated Groups
Minewatch (A Project of Community Environmental Advocates)
(CEA) Foundation advocates for responsible land use and environmental protection policies and actions in Nevada County. The organization’s goal for Nevada County’s future is a thriving community, a strong economy, and a healthy environment. CEA coordinated the Minewatch Coalition to track, assess, organize, and defeat RiseGold’s proposal tracks and assesses the Proposal to Reopen Idaho-Maryland Mine in Grass Valley. The mine would have harmed the local environment, created huge traffic impacts, and greatly increased the region’s carbon footprint. After years of organized action, in February 2024 the Nevada County Supervisors voted unanimously 5-0 to reject the project. We are celebrating. Rise Gold is suing the County but also selling off some properties. Earth Justice Ministries was (and still is) part of the Minewatch coalition.
The Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP)
AVP is an association of community, school and prison-based groups offering experiential workshops in personal growth, nonviolent communication, community development, and creative conflict management. Nevada County AVP offers workshops in schools, the local jail, and community groups. Earth Justice Ministries co-founder and Board President, Guarionex Delgado, leads AVP facilitator trainings locally. Contact us to inquire about upcoming workshops or facilitator trainings. Workshops are by donation and scholarships are available through Earth Justice Ministries. Find out more at AVP California, AVP USA and AVP International.
Creating Communities Beyond Bias (CCBB)
CCBB was born in 2011 in response to a racist event in Nevada County, California, and continues to support anyone who experiences a racist or hateful act. CCBB members have served on a number of panels related to prejudice and racism and have advised school administrators and student groups concerned about racial and other forms of discrimination. Earth Justice Ministries works with CCBB to offer workshops in schools and other community events to help people recognize white privilege and to undo bias and discrimination of every kind. They have now joined with Earth Justice Ministries and other local groups in our Immigrant Rights Network.
Color Me Human
Color Me Human, formed in 2020, works to dismantle systems of oppression both within ourselves and within the institutions of Nevada County, on Nisenan land. Led by a multi-racial, multi-cultural, and multi-issue coalition, it aims through education, cross-movement solidarity building, and crisis response to eliminate harm inflicted on people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and folks with disabilities in Nevada County. They have now joined with Earth Justice Ministries and other local groups in our Immigrant Rights Network. Keep up with their events on Color Me Human’s Facebook Page. Return to Associated Groups
Nevada County Climate Action Now
Nevada County Climate Action Now: NC-CAN is made up of individuals concerned about the effects of climate change locally and around the world. Their purpose is to 1) to Stay informed, educate, and update members about the crisis of global warming and its causes, consequences, and potential solutions; 2) Stay connected and coordinate actions with national and global grassroots organizations addressing climate change, and coordinate actions with these groups; 3) Plan local actions that will help raise awareness, defeat denial, spread truth, and seek to limit greenhouse gas emissions, both locally and globally; 4) Support actions which will influence climate policies at local, state, and federal levels; 5) Act in solidarity with vulnerable people who are experiencing the effects of climate change first and worst. Stay connected by liking the Nevada County Climate Action Now Facebook page.
The Peace and Justice Center of Nevada County
The Peace and Justice Center of Nevada County offers education, events, and action for peace and justice. The organization is dedicated to principles of non-violent resolution of conflict. While PJCNC is a diverse community of many spiritual, religious, and political beliefs, it is not a political or religious entity. Through open inquiry, education, and nonviolent direct action, the organization nurtures peace, equality, justice and dignity “in ourselves, our community and our Earth.”
Occupy Beale Air Force Base
Occupy Beale Air Force Base: For years, activists from several Northern California communities have gathered for anti-militarization demonstrations at the site of Beale Air Force Base, between Grass Valley and Marysville. Protest have taken place there against drone warfare, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, military escalation in Asia and around the world. Currently, demonstrations focus on the U.S. military’s financing and weapons transfers of Israel’s relentless war against the people of Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel. Check out Occupy Beale’s Facebook Page for upcoming events.
Sunrise Movement, Nevada County Hub
The Sunrise Movement, Nevada County Hub: In 2018, Earth Justice Ministries helped to start the Nevada County hub of the Sunrise Movement. It is made up of young people working in a coordinated way with the national Sunrise Movement, a youth-led organization that supports the Green New Deal and is actively working for a brighter future. They support diversity, equity, and inclusion in their struggle for climate justice. Locally, the group has taken up the struggle for justice for the people of Gaza and are demanding a Ceasefire, an end to US arms transfers to Israel, and immediate and sufficient humanitarian aid.