As we prepare for a well-deserved holiday break, we took some time to reflect on an eventful 2023. While we never lose sight of our mission and goals, collecting data and hearing from staff and community members about our programs always reminds us of our impact.
We recently celebrated the 9th anniversary of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument designation! We gathered with our team, coalition partners, and community partners who are committed to protecting and caring for our local forest.
We are proud of our team, which has continued to expand, for their dedicated efforts this year. With their participation and support, we:
- Kicked off our new Southeast LA Leadership Academy program, led by Program Manager Steven Ochoa, which centered on providing residents with the tools necessary to develop as environmental leaders. We thank the California Department of Parks and Recreation for making this possible through the Outdoor Equity Grants Program!
- Contributed to volunteer efforts in the community, from recommitting to work with volunteer groups and coalition members on National Public Lands Day to participating in the The City Nature Challenge.
- Joined elected officials, community leaders, and residents from throughout Los Angeles County at a community event to urge the Biden administration to add 109,000 acres of public lands to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument via the President’s authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The proposed designation would protect the western-end of the San Gabriel Mountains and its significant natural, cultural, and recreational treasures.
- Provided interpretative programming during All Aboard for Nature trips for fourth grade students and their families, led by Program Managers Brenda Kyle, Araceli Hernandez, Lizbeth GonzalezRuiz, and Steven Ochoa. We visited Chino Hills State Park, coastal beaches and parks, and our local San Gabriel Mountains.
- Hosted various bike rides along the Lower LA River, and enjoyed park and nature hikes with community members throughout Los Angeles County, with events led by Program Managers Julio Soria and Steven Ochoa.
- Offered workshops, led by Program Managers Araceli Hernandez and Steven Ochoa: Intro to Camping, Climate Resilience, and Health and Wellness, which served well over 500 community members.
- Trained more environmental leaders via our Leadership Academy and Ambassador Development program. Cohort 20 of our Leadership Academy completed the program (bringing us to a total of 250 graduates!) It was the first cohort led by Program Manager Brenda Kyle, who graduated from the program. We also saw many grads complete projects, from Sharnell’s project on how forest health affects river health to Morgan’s Empowered Teens Exploring Nature project creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ teens to explore natural spaces. Centered mental health and grounding practices in nature through our Wellness Wednesdays outdoor yoga events led by Program Manager Araceli Hernandez.
- Made big plans for the future when we convened with coalition members at an in-person retreat, where we had in-depth discussions about our work to protect public lands and support our communities—and so much more to mention.
