We are super excited to announce the start of Cohort 16!
Orientation took place on Sunday, July, 21. The orientation started at Rio Vista Park where we discussed and highlighted our coalition’s work. We then took a trip to Haramokngna American Indian Cultural Center to discuss land acknowledgment and Native tribes that lived and traded in the Angeles National Forest, the work we have done in the Forest, and some of our local initiatives. Learn more about Cohort 16 by reading their bios.
To find, educate, develop and encourage environmental stewards to care for our public lands and to advocate for the protection and enhancement of our mountains, forests, rivers, parks, and urban open spaces.
Our Work
The Leadership Academy is a five-month training program of Nature For All that focuses on developing organizing and advocacy skills, civic engagement, and local community action.
Our Progress
Since 2011, the Leadership Academy has graduated 15 cohorts and a total of 165 individuals.
Leadership Academy Projects: Academy graduates have successfully executed 60+ community engagement projects around Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, and in the San Fernando Valley. Projects have included leading educational bike tours of the watershed area; organizing community workshops to raise awareness on protecting public lands among park-poor communities; and painting trash receptacles along the West and East forks of the San Gabriel River.
LOS ANGELES, CA — We are extremely pleased to announce the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act was considered in a key hearing in the United States House of Representatives. The historic legislation, introduced in April by Senator Kamala Harris and Representative Judy Chu, will protect wild lands, open space and rivers and improve recreation opportunities in Los Angeles County. Stretching from Santa Clarita to San Bernardino, these open space resources, particularly the San Gabriel Mountains, are the recreational “backyard” for more than 17 million Southern Californians.
“Since the designation of the National Monument, we’ve seen our rivers cleaned up, our picnic areas cleared of trash, increased access to trails that are safer and better marked, more rangers interacting with visitors, and most importantly, our entire community at the table developing the management plan for our San Gabriel Mountains,” said Congresswoman Chu. “Building on that success through the San Gabriel Mountains Foothill and Rivers Protection Act will mean more Angelenos – many of whom are among those with the least access to parks in the country – will be able to experience these rivers, forests, mountains, and trails in a safe and sustainable way that supports our entire area.”
This is a historic progress in the effort to protect and restore the best remaining parts of our public lands in the Los Angeles region. The legislation will:
Expands the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by adding approximately 109,143 acres in the upper Los Angeles River watershed;
Establishes the San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area for the San Gabriel and San Jose Foothills and the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Rivers comprised of over 51,000 acres;
Expands Wilderness area designations within the San Gabriel Mountains by 31,069 acres; and
Designates 45.5 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) in the San Gabriel Mountains
With the Committee Hearing, Representative Chu has put us one step closer to implementing our vision, which is that everyone in the Los Angeles area – no matter where they live – has equitable access to the wide range of benefits that nature can provide.
###
About Nature for All
Nature for All, formerly known as San Gabriel Mountains Forever, is a coalition of 11 organizations working to build a diverse base of support for ensuring that Nature for All is best known as the leading community group that built support for the designation of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in 2014. For more than a decade, Nature for All has been advocating for policies and programs to protect the mountains, rivers and parks in our area, create more natural spaces, and connect people to public lands. We bring together local, state and national organizations to develop leaders who advocate for policies and programs to positively impact our historically-underserved communities.
Nature for All’s mission is to build a diverse base of
support to ensure that everyone in the Los Angeles area has equitable access to
the wide range of benefits which nature provides. We’re committed to building
support to protect, create access to our forests, rivers, and parks, and developing
a new diverse generation of environmental leaders and stewards who connect to
and care for our public lands.
As you’ll see throughout our report, 2018 has been a banner
year for Nature for All. We celebrated numerous achievements and milestones,
including tremendous policy wins, such as the Safe Clean Water Program and the development
of equitable grant guidelines for Measure A; finalized the SGM Mountains
Monument Plan; completed the Metro Transit to Parks Plan; established a new
office in a central SGV location; filed Articles of Incorporation with four
committed advisory board members; and launched our Community Leadership
Development Program.
With more than a decade of experience, Nature for All has coordinated
efforts among a diverse array of organizations and constituencies to restore
and protect the San Gabriel Mountains and watershed. We partner with local,
state, and national agencies to fund and coordinate policy initiatives, ongoing
sustainability programming, and on-the-ground community projects that recognize
the region’s diverse and rich natural, historical, and cultural heritage.
Because of your continued support, all of this has been possible
for Nature for All. As we work with tireless passion over the next year, we
invite you to join us!
One-hundred and thirty seven people have graduated from Nature for All’s Leadership Academy! This month, we welcome 15 new participants to the 15th Nature For All Leadership Academy Cohort!
The Leadership Academy’s six-month training program helps community members develop new skills in political organizing, civic engagement and communications techniques.
The fifteenth class is composed of Tania Romero, Miguel Ramos, Margarita Gatica, Sierra-Dawn Bennaton, Lupita Solano, Jacqueline Ramirez, Carly Curiel, Adriana Lola Pellicer, Felipe Guzman-Donate, Karlamaria Aguilar, Marisa Cherry, Danielle Furuichi, Alfredo Martinez, Manuela Garay, and Jaime A. Jorge-Memije! Yet another VERY impressive group — get to know them!
Our Nature for All Leadership Academy application for the Spring 2019 term is now OPEN! Applications are due at 11:59pm, January 8, 2019 (deadline extended). Apply online today!
The Nature for All Leadership Academy is a five-month training program focused on organizing, advocacy, civic engagement, and local community action.
Individuals must meet the following criteria:
A) Individuals must demonstrate experience OR interest in environmental protection related to the San Gabriel Mountains, River, watershed areas and local parks.
B) Individuals must commit to carrying out Nature For All’s vision of engaging diverse communities in protecting and improving equitable access to the San Gabriel Mountains and our public lands.
C) Applicant must live in the San Gabriel Valley OR within the greater Los Angeles region.
Senator Kamala Harris has introduced the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act today, which will protect wild lands, open space and rivers and improve recreation opportunities in Los Angeles County. Stretching from Santa Clarita to San Bernardino, these open space resources, particularly the San Gabriel Mountains, are the recreational “backyard” for more than 17 million Southern Californians. This legislation mirrors two bills previously introduced by Congresswoman Judy Chu, the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act (HR2323) and the San Gabriel Mountains Forever Act (HR3039).
This is a historic milestone in the effort to protect and restore the best remaining parts of our public lands in the Los Angeles region. The Harris bill will:
Expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by adding approximately 109,143 acres in the upper Los Angeles River watershed; and
Establish the San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area for the San Gabriel and San Jose Foothills and the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Rivers comprised of over 51,000 acres; and
Expand wilderness area designations within the San Gabriel Mountains by 2,027 acres; and
Designate 25.3 miles of wild and scenic rivers in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Senator Harris has also introduced the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act in the Senate. The bill will restore forests and fisheries, protect wild lands and streams and improve recreation opportunities in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties.
Help us say thank you to Senator Harris by posting on social media: Thank you Senator @SenKamalaHarris for introducing legislation that will protect precious areas of #NorthwestCalifornia and the #SanGabrielMtns! #ProtectCAPublicLands
