First person: L.A. environmental activist Nalleli Cobo

Hello, my name is Nalleli Cobo. I am a high school student at Alverno Heights Academy in Sierra Madre.  I have lived in South Los Angeles my whole life. Until recently, I lived across the street from an AllenCo Energy oil drilling site which had negative impacts on my family’s and community’s health. It was this issue which sparked my passion for environmental justice at a young age. 

I have been a warrior for environmental justice since I began sharing my story when I was 9 years old. At that age, I started experiencing intense nose bleeds and heart palpitations that required me to use a heart monitor. I was diagnosed with asthma. People in my community were experiencing similar symptoms. There were times when my mother was unsure I would make it through the night because of my health issues. 

My community grew tired of this neglect and lack of action from governmental agencies. We rose and created the People Not Pozos campaign to close down this oil drilling site. 

Since the beginning of this campaign in 2011, I have been able to share my story with many people. Some of these people have included government officials like presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Los Angeles City Attorney, and Sen. Barbara Boxer.  

In addition, I canvassed my neighborhood and took an active role in motivating my community to act, through surveys, passing out flyers, phone banking, and much more. I have also had the honor of being added to the Sierra Club’s The People’s Power List for my efforts in this fight.  

After years of sharing my story and seeing the impact I can make, I now want to do more for my community. I recognize that attending the right university would help me access the tools necessary to empower my community.  Fighting for environmental justice has made me realize that I want to make a career out helping others find their voice and share their story with the world.