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In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected the Port of Oakland’s proposal for a Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles (CHDV) Grant. This initiative, in partnership with UPS, Black Cultural Zone, and Lifers Leaving a Legacy, is designed to reduce diesel emissions, improve air quality, and bring new workforce opportunities to East Oakland and nearby communities.

🚛 What’s the Project About?

• 60 diesel trucks will be replaced with electric delivery trucks

• Charging stations will be installed in Oakland, Richmond, and San Francisco

• The project will reduce pollution along delivery routes that pass through historically impacted neighborhoods

This transition supports California’s climate goals and promotes environmental health in areas closest to freight and industrial activity.

🌱 Lifers’ Role

As a trusted community-based organization, Lifers Leaving a Legacy (3L) is supporting:

• Community outreach to raise awareness of the project

• Listening sessions and workforce pathways that reflect local needs

• Environmental education and updates to keep the public informed

We are committed to ensuring East Oakland residents benefit from this investment in a healthier, more sustainable future.

🎯 About the EPA CHDV Program

The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the nationwide transition to zero-emission trucks and buses.

Program Objectives:

1. Replace diesel vehicles with zero-emission options

2. Reduce air pollution in overburdened communities

3. Install charging infrastructure to support future growth

4. Create green workforce opportunities

5. Help meet state and federal climate goals

This program recognizes that communities like East Oakland deserve clean air and investment in both environment and economy.

🌫️ What’s Polluting East Oakland’s Air?

To support change, we first need to understand the sources of pollution affecting our neighborhoods. East Oakland is surrounded by activity that impacts the air we breathe. While many of these systems serve essential roles, they often come with side effects — and the burden is not equally shared.

Main Contributors to Air Pollution:

🚚 Freight Trucks

Diesel trucks transporting goods release fine particles that worsen asthma and heart health.

🛫 Air Traffic

Aircraft contribute ultrafine particles and emissions, especially near residential zones.

🏭 Industrial Activity

Manufacturing, scrap yards, and shipping centers contribute chemical emissions and dust.

🚗 Highways

Freeways like I-880 and I-580 run close to homes and schools. Constant traffic adds to air quality challenges.

🗑️ Trash & Illegal Dumping

Burned vehicles, piles of trash, and uncollected debris can emit toxins, especially if burned or disturbed.

🏚️ Encampment-Related Hazards

Fires, fuel usage, and debris in areas lacking proper sanitation may unintentionally add to local pollution. These environmental impacts highlight the urgent need for sustainable housing solutions.

🤝 How You Can Help

Clean air is a shared responsibility. Lifers invites residents to:

• 📱 Follow @LiferLegacy on social media

• 📸 Take photos of local air hazards like smog, illegal dumping, or debris

• 🏷️ Tag us using #EastOaklandAirWatch or #LifersLegacy

• 📍 Join our clean air workshops to learn more about pollution and how to monitor it

• 🗣️ Share your observations to help build a healthier East Oakland

Clean Air for Oakland: Breathing Shouldn’t Be Dangerous

The air we breathe should sustain us—not make us sick. Yet, in East Oakland, pollution levels are dangerously high, leading to increased rates of asthma, heart disease, and cancer. This isn’t just bad luck—it’s the result of unchecked emissions, industrial pollution, and a lack of environmental protections in our most impacted communities.

At 3Ls, we are tracking air quality disparities, demanding stronger regulations, and advocating for cleaner, healthier neighborhoods. No one should have to choose between staying in their community and protecting their health. We are fighting for a future where every Oakland resident can breathe freely—without fear.

Combating Illegal Cigarette Sales: Protecting Health, Defending Our Environment

Illegal cigarette sales don’t just harm public health—they pollute our air, land, and water, worsening the environmental hazards our communities already face. Cheap, loosely sold cigarettes increase toxic air pollution, while discarded cigarette butts litter our streets, contaminating our soil and waterways.

At 3Ls, we are taking a stand against illegal cigarette sales by raising awareness, pushing for stronger enforcement, and leading clean-up efforts to reduce their environmental and health impacts. This isn’t just about smoking—it’s about stopping pollution at its source and protecting the future of our neighborhoods.

Our community’s health matters more than illegal profits. Together, we can create a cleaner, safer Oakland.

At 3Ls, we believe that environmental protection is about people—about your health, your family, and your future. The challenges we face are not just environmental; they are social, economic, and deeply rooted in systems that have neglected and harmed our communities. But we are not waiting for change—we are actively creating it.

We need you—whether you're a community member, an organization, or an ally—to stand with us in this fight for a cleaner, healthier Oakland. Together, we can build a city where every resident has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and just environment. Your support, your voice, and your actions will drive this vision forward and help make it a reality.

Ending Food Deserts: Fresh, Affordable Food for All

Access to nutritious, affordable food is a basic necessity—yet too many East Oakland residents live in food deserts, where grocery stores are scarce and corner stores overcharge for low-quality options. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s an environmental and public health crisis that impacts our community’s well-being.

At 3L, we are partnering with local organizations to create community gardens, expand access to fresh food, and push for policy changes that bring fair pricing and quality nutrition to our neighborhoods. No one should have to travel across town just to put healthy food on the table. We are reclaiming our right to fresh, affordable food—right here in our own communities.

Ending Illegal Dumping: Protecting Our Environment, Safeguarding Our Communities

At 3Ls, we see illegal dumping not just as blight—but as an environmental hazard threatening the health, safety, and dignity of Oakland residents. Piles of waste pollute our air and waterways, attract vermin, and create dangerous conditions for families.

We are taking direct action to combat this crisis by leading clean-up efforts, advocating for stronger enforcement, and working with the community to prevent dumping at its source. A clean city isn’t a privilege—it’s a necessity. Every Oakland resident deserves safe, healthy streets, free from toxic waste and neglect.

This is more than a fight for cleaner neighborhoods—it’s a movement to restore Oakland’s self-esteem and protect our future.

Community Clean-Ups: Beautify Oakland, Uplift the Block

Oakland is more than a city—it’s a legacy. But somewhere between illegal dumping, unhoused displacement, gentrification, and neglect, our city’s natural beauty has been buried beneath debris and forgotten pride.

Once a vibrant tourist destination with palm-lined streets, family-owned shops, and parks full of laughter, Oakland now struggles under the weight of trash and toxins that aren’t just harming the environment—they’re hurting us.

The Harsh Reality:

• Dumped trash carries toxic runoff, polluting our soil and stormwater

• Hazardous waste near homes leads to increased asthma, allergies, and even long-term illnesses

• Blighted neighborhoods take a toll on mental health, increasing stress, anxiety, and hopelessness

• Communities of Concern often bear the heaviest burden, with little city response

It’s Time to Reclaim Our Roots

Lifers Leaving a Legacy (3Ls) is reclaiming Oakland’s beauty—block by block. Through our Community Clean-Up Events, we bring together residents who care, roll up our sleeves, and take action. From deep cleaning alleyways to planting fresh greenery, we’re restoring not just our neighborhoods—but our self-esteem as a city.

Here’s how you can jump in:

• Join an existing clean-up crew—we host regular events all over town

• Start your own clean-up team—and we’ll support you with tools and tips

• Follow us on social media @LiferLegacy to find out where we’ll be next

• Show up, bring a friend, and contribute to a cause that matters

Oakland Deserves to Shine

Our city has been through enough. It’s time to remind ourselves—and the world—what Oakland is made of.

Grab a rake. Bring a trash bag. Show up with pride.
Let’s make Oakland beautiful again—together.

Plastic Reduction: Protecting Oakland, Preserving Our Future

Plastic waste isn’t just litter—it’s an environmental threat that poisons our water, pollutes our soil, and harms our health. Oakland’s most impacted communities are flooded with disposable, low-quality products, forcing us to bear the burden of plastic pollution.

At 3Ls, we are taking a stand. Through education, advocacy, and direct action, we are reducing plastic waste, pushing for sustainable alternatives, and holding producers accountable. This isn’t just about cleaning up—it’s about reclaiming our environment and ensuring a healthier, waste-free future for all Oakland residents.

Our Ongoing Fight

Some challenges require persistent advocacy, strategic partnerships, and deep community engagement. Our ongoing initiatives reflect long-term commitments to issues that continue to impact Oakland’s environment and the well-being of its residents—especially the Unhoused and those in areas overburdened by pollution and neglect. Through data-driven action and community collaboration, we work to protect the right of every Oakland resident to live in a clean, safe, and healthy environment.

The 1000 Tree Legacy Project

Leave Your Legacy. Help Oakland Breathe.

At Lifers, we’ve launched a powerful initiative to restore Oakland’s natural beauty, improve air quality, and uplift community pride—one tree at a time.

We call it the 1000 Tree Legacy Project—and it’s about more than planting trees. It’s about healing Oakland from the inside out.

A City Rooted in Legacy

Did you know the City of Oakland’s official logo is an Oak Tree?

That’s no accident. Oakland was named for the vast oak groves that once covered this land—symbols of strength, growth, and deep community roots. But decades of industrialization, disinvestment, and environmental neglect have stripped many neighborhoods—especially Communities of Concern—of these vital trees.

Lifers is determined to help bring the oaks back.
We’re honoring our city’s namesake, spirit, and future—by planting 1,000 trees where they’re needed most.

Why Trees Matter

• Combat Greenhouse Gases – Trees absorb CO₂ and other pollutants, cooling the air and cleaning the environment.

• Cool Our Communities – In “brown zones” with few trees, temperatures soar. This heat can increase stress, worsen health, and even contribute to violence.

• Support Mental & Physical Health – Green spaces reduce anxiety, depression, and health risks tied to pollution and extreme heat.

• Beautify Oakland – Trees bring life, shade, and pride back to our streets.

We’re focusing on industrial corridors near the Port of Oakland, neighborhoods lacking greenery, and areas most impacted by environmental and economic hardship.

How to Get Involved

• Join a Tree Planting Meetup
  Our events bring residents together to plant trees, build community, and leave a visible mark of change.

• Adopt Your Block
  Want trees on your street, at your school, or in your park? Reach out via our website or socials and request Lifers to bring the 1000 Tree Legacy Project to your neighborhood.

• Leave Your Legacy
  Every person who plants a tree becomes part of Oakland’s next chapter. Together, we are restoring more than just the land—we’re restoring our city’s confidence, history, and future.

This Is Oakland’s Time to Grow

• Follow us on social to catch our next Tree Meetup

• Click the link below to submit adoption request or to volunteer

• Donate today to help us reach 1,000 trees—and beyond

Oakland’s roots run deep. Let’s honor them. Let’s plant our legacy.

Green Infrastructure = Community Protection

This is more than beautification—it’s climate resilience, public health, and community protection.

We’re advocating for green infrastructure across Oakland’s industrial corridors and overheated neighborhoods to create spaces where residents can breathe easier, live longer, and feel proud of where they come from.

Want to Help Oakland Breathe Better?

• Join a tree planting day

• Adopt a young tree and care for it

• Help us identify planting sites near your neighborhood

• Follow us on Instagram for upcoming planting days

Together, we’re growing something beautiful.
1000 trees. One Oakland. One Legacy.