When I moved to Richmond 25 years ago, Chevron was so entrenched in Richmond’s politics that it was rumored that they had a desk in the city manager’s office.
For ordinary folks—especially immigrant and refugee families—who lived here, the message back then was clear: Richmond isn’t really yours.
But for the past three decades APEN members — driven by courage, creativity, and a fierce love for our city— have challenged Chevron’s power, proving that Richmond belongs to us.
I spent the last 30 years working with national organizations on issues of climate justice and corporate power. Across that time, much of my own political thinking was shaped by the organizing I saw APEN leading in Richmond.
I joined APEN as Co-Director because I know that the reality of a Just Transition is possible. What’s more – I’ve seen it happen, right in my backyard.
As a new Richmond resident, I knew I had to stand up to Chevron’s toxic policies.
I knew APEN as a neighbor first. I met APEN staff as our children ran around together while we packed the Richmond city council chambers during meetings.
One experience that sticks out is a meeting in 2020. The council was deciding on whether Richmond’s port would continue to store and handle coal and petroleum coke, a carbon-rich solid byproduct of oil refining.
The tension in the air was palpable as activists and residents packed the chambers.
When APEN members arrived in a sea of green shirts, I knew that our community had shown up: organized, informed, and ready.
But we weren’t the only ones turning people out – fossil fuel interests had brought speakers to give old and misleading arguments.
The lack of empathy was at a fever pitch; I even overheard someone scoffing and rolling their eyes at “yet another” resident testifying about suffering from asthma.
APEN members gave essential and powerful testimony to combat the misinformation parroted by fossil fuel representatives. The passion and dedication to Richmond was crystal clear.
Together, we moved the city council to vote to end storage of harmful substances in our city.
Over the past three decades, APEN members have inspired me with their tenacity and bold presence.
So much has changed in Richmond in the last 25 years.
In 2024, grassroots organizers won a $550 million settlement from Chevron—a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in a Just Transition for Richmond.
And, Chevron is on the defensive, going so far as to fund their own newspaper to parrot their talking points, because they know that ordinary, working-class people are transforming Richmond and taking back control.
This is the transformative power of grassroots organizing. The energy of Fire Horse year reminds us that bold, courageous action is needed to ignite lasting change.
APEN members are exactly that – passionate and fearless – as they continue to raise their voices in Richmond, Oakland, and Los Angeles’ South Harbor.
I’m excited to draw on my experience and build grassroots power alongside Co-Director Vivian Huang.
This month, we are raising $28,000 to fund the crucial work of our bold members.
In the coming weeks we’ll share victories from youth in Richmond and LA’s South Harbor, as well as milestones in Oakland’s Chinatown—all are a testament to the transformative power of APEN’s long-term grassroots organizing.
We have received a generous matching grant of up to $25,000! This means when you give today, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar; that’s double the impact!
I’m honored to join the team at APEN to support our members and build a Just Transition that makes sense for poor and working class communities of color in California.
In Solidarity,
Michelle Chan, Co-Director, APEN
