Earth Month Kickoff Event for $35 Million Equity Grant in South Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES - TreePeople and our partners in the South LA Eco-Lab are excited to announce the South LA Eco-Lab Earth Month Kickoff, which will feature an Eco Fair with booths from the organizations and public agencies implementing transformative climate efforts in the community over the next several years. With this many groups working together in unison, we plan on transforming South Los Angeles into a thriving, climate resilient neighborhood – one with widespread tree canopy cover, clean air, renewable energy infrastructure, and dynamic mobility options for pedestrians, bikers, and public transit.

The event will commence with speakers including Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan, Councilmember Curren D. Price, the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office and more. Meet the groups making the project happen and learn how you can get involved!

TreePeople’s planting event – happening concurrently with the Eco Fair – is the first project of many to be implemented by the Transformative Climate Communities funded South LA Eco-Lab effort. TreePeople provides the tools, knowledge, and trees for volunteers from the community to plant and care for trees. Throughout the next five years, TreePeople will be planting 4,000 trees in the area and distributing an additional 2,000 fruit and shade trees. To participate in the planting portion of the day, registration is required here: bit.ly/harvardparkplanting.

These projects and the crucial investment by the Strategic Growth Council will be transformative for this region. The South LA Eco-Lab community encompasses portions of Vermont Harbor and South Park along the 110 freeway corridor. After decades of redlining practices, deindustrialization, and disinvestment in South LA, the entire community within our 3.9 square mile project area where 60% of the population in the project area live below the poverty level. In a community embracing various mobility options, 18% use active modes of transportation (walking, wheeling, and taking transit) to commute to/from work.

The Eco Fair will include booths with art, activities, demonstrations, and information from the South LA Eco-Lab projects, LADWP, LASAN, Los Angeles Urban Forestry, Council District 9, LA Commons and more.

The South LA Eco-Lab is a collaborative of 18 organizations – StreetsLA, Metro, LADOT, LADWP, LACI, GRID Alternatives, Climate Resolve, TreePeople, LANLT, TRUST South LA, SCOPE, CicLAvia, SAJE, CRCD, LATTC, Community Partners, and the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office – working on implementing 11 sustainability projects and 3 transformative plans in the heart of South LA. There are many exciting events coming from the Eco-Lab including the "Seeds of Unity Fest'' on April 20 from 11am-3pm at Harvard Park, which celebrates a commitment to climate justice and community power and will feature resources, food, music, art, and more.

SLATE-Z, a federally designated Promise Zone, is proud to serve as the Strategic Advisor for the South LA Eco-Lab and formed part of the lead applicant team with Community Partners and the City of Los Angeles. SLATE-Z is a collective impact effort focusing on issues of environmental sustainability and economic revitalization in South Los Angeles, working with around 100 cross-sector partners.

TreePeople unites the power of trees, people, and nature-based solutions to grow a more climate-ready Southern California. The organization inspires, engages and supports people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, facilitates collaboration among government agencies, and promotes leadership in grassroots volunteers, students and communities. In this way, TreePeople seeks to build a powerful and diverse coalition to grow a greener, healthier and more water-secure Southern California for present and future generations. For more information, visit treepeople.org.

For more information, please contact:
Alex Miller
Director of Communications, TreePeople
amiller@treepeople.org
818.639.2143