On December 29, 1999, Diana Bazan died of breast cancer. She was only 42. Several people at her services came up to the family to talk about others Diana's age that lived on the Westside community too that were dying or had died of cancer. The family became concerned that perhaps Diana's death and the deaths and illnesses of others was due to the fact that they grew up sandwiched between old pre-regulation dumpsites and decided to investigate.

Suzie Canales, one of Diana's sisters, took the lead and placed ads in the Thrifty Nickel and Adsack asking for anyone that grew up in the area around Cunningham Jr. High School and knew of anyone with cancer or who had died of cancer, to please give CFEJ a call. Then the group went door to door in the immediate vicinity of the Westside community and conducted an informal health survey.

Because CFEJ found a direct link to the oil industry in their Westside community and because environmental injustice issues are prevalent along refinery row too, CFEJ environmental justice work focused on refinery emissions and health impacts. The group's mission was to work for environmental justice.