Green Pockets: Neighborhood-Wide Survey Day Saturday, May 1

In partnership with Big Sunday, the DLANC Sustainability Committee is looking to survey the ENTIRE Downtown community for left-over spaces that could be potentially transformed into small gardens. Our Green Pockets project is looking to identify these small opportunities for more greenery around Downtown Los Angeles, map these areas, and help property owners create a more livable urban environment through the transformation of these spaces.

REGISTER WITH BIG SUNDAY TO VOLUNTEER! Click here.

More details on the volunteer day to be provided later this week so make sure you're on our mailing list!

Tree Planting Survey Day was fun - and a bit of work!

Thank you to the 17 community volunteers who came out and helped us survey the Skid Row pilot project area - an area defined by East 4th Street on the north, Alameda on the east, East 7th Street on the south, and Los Angeles Street on the West. We couldn't have done it alone! It took a few groups a bit longer than others as they covered an additional survey area but all in all it was a morning of outdoor community service on a beautiful day.

Thank you to Board members Stanley Michaels and Wendell Blassingame for their support of this event as well!

If you are interested in volunteering for future surveys (or would like to survey a part of our neighborhood) - please email us at sustainability@dlanc.com

Our planting day will be scheduled sometime in October-November 2009.

Volunteer opportunity: Tree Planting Survey Day, Friday June 26, 2009 9:45am

We look forward to the kick-off of our tree planting project with a survey day scheduled for the end of this week.

The plan is to meet up at the Neighborhood Council Office on Friday, June 26 at 9:45am. We will divide up the route so everyone has a small portion of the pilot project area. We plan on finishing no later than 12:45pm - and look forward to a fun community day!

If you're interested in participating, please email us at sustainability@dlanc.com

2009 Project 7: Event and Education Programming & Calendar

Create calendar of engaging and educational sustainable programming aimed at fostering a culture of sustainability in and around downtown. (J. Regan)

EDUCATION: DLANC to create publicly accessible educational programming on topical environmental issues.

OUTREACH: DLANC to partner with other Environmental event calendars and event organizations to help promote attendance at all environmentally related events occurring in Downtown. Create a system for ongoing maintenance and update of this information as well as a network of contacts that will help maintain this resource for our community. DLANC to determine which groups of stakeholders are currently not engaged in the conversation and to create program aimed at attracting participation from a broad spectrum of stakeholders.

Project Lead: Volunteers wanted! If you're interested, please email us at sustainability@dlanc.com

A Call for Volunteers

Please get involved with the new Sustainability Committee - now approved by the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. Submit your qualifications and interest today!

The Sustainability Committee will work to develop a building-by-building greening strategy for Downtown Los Angeles. Through partnership and planning, we will develop the tools necessary to get the participation of all downtown stakeholders – whether residential tenants, building owners, business owners, or homeless. We will make resources available to all stakeholders to foster a healthy, sustainable neighborhood and assist our community in establishing their own sustainable goals.

A website will be maintained to facilitate the distribution of information, accessibility and compliance with the Brown Act, and engage the community in this project. The intent is to plan and design the program over the first 9-12 months. Implementation will follow with a period of review and revision before the completion of the 2008-2010 Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council term. A project summary and committee recommendations will be published with the hope that the program will continue in the hands of the community.

Local chapters of organizations such as the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), headquartered Downtown, have already expressed interest in participating and we continue to solicit interest from all stakeholders for this exciting project and opportunity for involvement. We want this committee to broadly represent and reflect the needs of our community (public and private sector employees, business owners, residents, property owners, homeless, students, and those who have an active role in an organization downtown) as we work towards a better future for our neighborhood.

The committee will meet once a month to develop the building-by-building greening strategy and there will be many opportunities for your involvement. Please contact us at with your qualifications or interest and contact information – this will become part of our project as we appoint members of the committee, volunteers for outreach and awareness, and participants in the greening of our neighborhood. You can contact me either by completing our form, posting to this blog or by emailing me directly at ashley.zarella@gmail.com.

We look forward to working with you. In the meantime, check out our initial blog and post your ideas at http://downtownsustainability.blogspot.com/ Thank you Downtown!