CHEJ is the only national environmental organization that was founded and is led by a grassroots leader. Lois Gibbs founded CHEJ after winning the nation's first community relocation of 900 families due to a leaking toxic waste dump at Love Canal, New York. Through this effort she also woke up the nation to the dangers of chemical exposure and the serious public health impacts such exposures can cause.CHEJ was created out of a commitment and passion to work with communities at risk and to empower local families to take steps to protect their neighborhoods and families from unnecessary chemical threats. Through skill training, strategic analysis, and scientific research, CHEJ has worked with over ten thousand groups since our founding 25 years ago.CHEJ's overarching goal has consistently been to prevent harm--particularly among vulnerable populations such as children. If a safer process, material or product exists, it should be used. We believe that everyone, regardless of income, race, religion, or occupation, has a right to live, work, learn, play and pray in a healthy community.

“The core of CHEJ’s mission has always been to prevent harm to human health by providing technical and organizing support to individuals and communities facing a toxic hazard.”