Raízes Incorporated is proud to be one of five community-based organizations awarded funding through Senate Bill 125 (SB 125) to support the development of the Lithium Valley Specific Plan and its Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) in Imperial County.
Our mission: Ensure local voices shape the future of Lithium Valley.
Through SB 125, Raízes focused on:
- Educating residents about lithium extraction, geothermal energy, and environmental impacts
- Hosting listening sessions and public forums to gather community input
- Reaching underserved and non-English-speaking populations through inclusive outreach
- Collecting feedback to inform county planning and environmental review
Raízes Lithium Valley Engagement Survey
Raízes developed and distributed a bilingual (English & Spanish) survey to understand:
- Community awareness of Lithium Valley projects
- Concerns about environmental and health impacts
- Priorities for land use, jobs, and infrastructure
- Trust in government and industry
- Ideas for equitable development
This data was shared with planners to ensure community perspectives are reflected in the PEIR and Specific Plan.
Digital & In-Person Engagement
To expand outreach, Raízes launched two websites:
🌐 LithiumValleyInfo.org
🌐 Valledelitio.org
We also conducted face-to-face outreach and built a strong presence on social media, helping residents understand how to get involved and voice their concerns
