MENDOCINO ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

Mission Statement

The Mendocino Environmental Center (MEC) works through educational outreach, nonviolent direct action and the legal system to uphold and promote environmental and social justice in Mendocino County and beyond. The MEC is a resource center, which offers support to grass roots community groups and empowers individuals to work for positive change. The MEC networks with a politically and socially diverse community, encouraging integrity, tolerance, non violence and a sustainable future. Cloud Forest Institute is the fiscal sponsor of the Mendocino Environmental Center Environmental Education Fund and the MEC.

Declaration of Interdependence

What is the MEC?

The Mendocino Environmental Center (MEC) has a commitment to social justice and environmental issues through nonviolent grassroots action, education, lawsuits, mutual empowerment, and community organizing.

The MEC has a fifteen-year history of working for environmental and social justice issues. Beginning with the Save Trout Creek Campaign we have given support, organization, office space, computers, insurance, a photocopier, fax, e-mail, message phone and a mailing address for many local and regional activists, campaigns, and issues. The Center works to maintain a close rapport with local watershed and direct action groups concerned with forest issues.

With a current operating budget under $3,000 per month, the MEC is a model among non-profit organizations in its ability to provide tremendous resources and maintain a strong voice on behalf of environmental and social justice issues, all on a shoestring budget.

MEC workers write comments on various Environmental Impact Reports and Timber Harvest Plans, submit comments to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, sit on local committees, produce a quarterly Newsletter, sponsor forums, conferences, films and speakers.

Much of the work of the MEC is done by the Volunteer Network. Our volunteer coordinator, who is also a volunteer, aids people in finding jobs that are meaningful, enjoyable and benefit the environment, peace and justice. The MEC also finds volunteer jobs for developmentally disabled and court appointed volunteers doing community service.

What the MEC Provides

The MEC Newsletter is sent quarterly to give a voice to essential issues of concern to our members. It focuses on environmental and social justice topics of Mendocino County and beyond. Article submissions to the newsletter can be sent to our office address.

The MEC sends Action Alerts to the membership on issues, when time is of the essence between newsletters. MEC Alerts urge you to take action whether it is writing a letter, attending a hearing or a demonstration.

Free literature on many topics from various groups and individuals as well as newsletters from other organizations are available free in our office foyer. The MEC maintains a lending library and a reference library of periodicals, reports, files, technical manuals and government publications covering environmental and peace and social justice issues which can be checked out for free by the community. We have fifteen years of files and documents on local issues archived. Community members are welcome to come and read reference materials at our office space; lending library materials can be checked out for ten days.

We have a video library of over 150 titles concerning environmental and peace and justice issues. Many can be borrowed for free; out of production videos can be watched at the MEC.

The MEC maintains a contact database of extensive local and national contacts. Anyone is welcome to come and consult the list for individuals and organizations that work on environmental and peace and justice issues.

Click here to view The MEC Renovation

For more information please contact the MEC at

Mendocino Environmental Center
106 W. Standley
Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (707) 468-1660