Solis Recognizes CultivaLA and California Climate Action Corps Fellows for Pioneering Climate Solutions
Los Angeles, CA (December 10th, 2024) – Today, Chair Pro Tem Hilda L. Solis presented a scroll on behalf of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to CultivaLA’s California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) Fellows and CultivaLA cultivadores for their work in increasing food access in Los Angeles County, contributing to wildfire resiliency, urban greening, and volunteer engagement.
The California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) is a direct response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s call to serve and commitment to fighting climate change. The California Climate Action Corps Fellowship places a statewide force of emerging leaders with tribal communities, nonprofits, public agencies, and educational institutions to mobilize communities through volunteer engagement, climate action, and education service projects.
Currently, CultivaLA has four fellows from the CCAC Fellowship who are placed with host partners throughout the state, principally in underserved communities. These fellows serve 1,700 hours over an 11-month term and mobilize their communities through climate volunteer engagement, climate action, and education projects focused on urban greening, organic waste and edible food recovery, and wildfire resiliency.
Together, CCAC fellows aim to mitigate climate change or otherwise contribute to climate resilience and recovery through urban agriculture in South El Monte, Rosemead, Westlake, and the Greater Los Angeles. Fellows also develop leadership skills through hosting large-scale volunteer events and conduct monthly outreach for food giveaways, in addition to working alongside CultivaLA’s cultivadores. As a part of their CCAC program, fellows become climate champions, integrating the local ecosystem into urban agricultural landscape, honoring native land, plans, and cultural heritage, all while building sustainable and resilient climate infrastructure and connecting Los Angeles communities through food.
“CultivaLA embodies the mission of environmental justice, ensuring that climate solutions are crafted by local leaders who understand their communities’ unique needs,” said Rola Halawanji, Program Director of California Climate Action Corps. “Through this partnership, our fellows—many of whom come from these communities—gain the opportunity to see the direct impact of their work, building resilience and creating lasting change where it’s needed most.”
At CultivaLA, cultivadores grow and supply fresh organic herbs and vegetables to individuals and families, as well as to the community through Mercado Al Aire Libre, an innovative and free farmer’s market based in the Westlake/MacArthur Park Neighborhood in Greater Los Angeles. Through CultivaLA’s unique partnership with social service providers and local leadership, they develop a 12-week urban agriculture model with a strong emphasis in community workforce development, mentorship, and entrepreneurship for youth and adults. The fellows and cultivadores help with various community events including providing ongoing fresh produce distributions. To date, they have given away more than 15,000 pounds of produce, have used more than 80,000 pounds of compost, and served more than 1,850 people.
“I am honored and inspired by the resilience and dedication demonstrated by those at CultivaLA,” said Chair Pro Tem Solis. “CultivaLA’s fellows and cultivadores have made a tremendous impact in our communities and remind us that each of us has the power to make change in our communities.”
“We are honored to be recognized by Chair Pro Tem Solis, as we continue to nourish Angelenos and heal the soil left to care from our ancestors. Together, we transform urban agriculture,” said Jose Miguel Ruiz, MSW, Founder of CultivaLA.
CultivaLA is a Los Angeles based nonprofit organization which has helped transform healthy food access and wellness across the County by establishing community and working with neighborhood residents of all ages to become urban farmers, in addition to hosting various food distributions and community events.
In 2023, CultivaLA established a unique partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation for a 6.5-acre community farm and garden in South El Monte in the East San Gabriel Valley, and most recently, was awarded $1 million dollars from the First District Community Grants Program to continue expanding healthy food access and wellness.
