SB 1000, the Planning for Healthy Communities Act, passed in 2017 and requires all Cities and Counties to include environmental justice in their general plans. PlaceWorks and the California Environmental Justice Alliance prepared a toolkit to guide local government agencies, planners, and communities through this process. The toolkit explains the background and requirements for SB 1000 and walks users through the process of identifying “disadvantaged” communities using the most current tools.

It discusses principles and techniques for meaningful community engagement—with disadvantaged communities and the community at large—and provides guidance on developing environmental justice objectives and policies. Five case studies across California illustrate how very different jurisdictions approached planning for environmental justice, their outcomes, and the key learning points.