Join the frontlines to help build a

climate-safe Central Coast.

LAST CHANCE to register! CEC’s Climate Stewards course begins Tuesday, September 9.

From organizing restoration projects to hosting educational podcasts, CEC Climate Stewards are sparking a wave of climate action across California’s Central Coast. If you’re ready to make a real difference in your community, the Climate Stewards certification program is your chance to start.

Register today and get ready to gain the knowledge, tools, confidence, and network to drive impactful change where it matters most.

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Empower yourself to drive climate solutions.

Our communities, ecosystems, and future generations depend on stewards who are ready to lead. Becoming a certified Climate Steward allows you to be a part of the solution. Through the eight-week course, you will:

• Learn how to effectively communicate climate risks

• Find ways to cope with and channel eco-anxiety

• Understand the science and psychology of climate change

• Forge lasting connections with like-minded changemakers and climate champions

• Access resources and opportunities to join the climate movement

• Join a supportive alumni network who continue to drive action long after the course ends

• Attend unique field trips to explore our local landscapes, the threats they face, and the solutions within reach

Anyone can be a Climate Steward!

Climate Steward alum Cody Howen took the course to deepen his understanding of the climate crisis personally, professionally, and as a community member in Santa Barbara. As the owner of Sunrise 805, a local solar and energy storage company, Cody regularly discusses renewable energy, resilience, and utility costs with homeowners. He found the course invaluable for navigating those conversations with more confidence and context.

Cody teamed up with fellow cohort member Miranda Magaña to host an in-person environmental justice panel at the CEC Environmental Hub for their Stewardship Project. The community event spotlighted the “guerilla gardening” efforts of MiniNature Reserve in Oxnard — a grassroots initiative transforming overlooked spaces into thriving native habitats.

Course Details

Next Cohort: Fall 2025, September 9 – October 28

Format: Online classes via Zoom + in-person field trips

Frequency: Classes on Tuesdays: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. PST; three to four field trips on weekends: two hours plus travel time

Cost: $350; A limited number of scholarships are available for those who express financial need. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

Instructor: Kathi King

Teaching Assistant: Ali Hanson

Other Opportunities

Agriculture professionals, experts, and organizations: CCAL can serve as a resource to receive direct referrals from local producers, expand outreach to new landowners, and collaborate through shared events and technical assistance.

Learn more about CCAL and sign up here.

Upcoming Events

Climate Fridays Santa Barbara

Friday, September 5, 2025 (AND every first Friday in 2025)

3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month. At these events, climate activists, students, community partners, and friends gather to learn about regional climate change issues and how to take collective action to protect our planet. September’s gathering will focus on the national Sun Day day of action event on September 21, a celebration of the power of clean energy. Learn about plans for our local event at the Santa Barbara Public Library and how you can participate in the clean energy revolution. Stick around after the meeting for our quarterly happy hour to enjoy complimentary refreshments and network with the community. Learn more and register.

CEC National Drive Electric Month Event: EV Incentives Resource Fair

Wednesday, September 10, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

If you’re considering an electric vehicle, now is the time to take advantage of thousands of dollars in savings. Learn more.

Central Coast National Drive Electric Month Events

Join us at other National Drive Electric Month events to learn about EV rebates, incentive programs, and the benefits of switching to an electric vehicle. Event information below; visit the CEC Events page to learn more about each event.

Santa Maria Downtown Fridays EV Showcase

Friday, September 26, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

345 Town Center E, Santa Maria

EV Expo at the Madonna Inn

Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo

Ventura County EV Showcase

Sunday, October 5, 12:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Ventura Harbor, 1591 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura

Thousand Oaks Rotary Club Street Fair & Electric Vehicle Showcase

Sunday, October 19, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Booth in front of Moorpark Rd and Brazil St, 449 N. Moorpark Road, Chick-fil-A Parking Lot, Thousand Oaks

TGIF! Happy Hour

Friday, September 12, 2025

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

EDC Courtyard

906 Garden St., Santa Barbara

Join us at the Environmental Defense Center’s September TGIF! happy hour to meet and mingle with environmentally minded community members. Enjoy live music, food and drinks, and engage with local non-profit and environmental organizations, elected officials, and climate leaders from throughout the South Central Coast. CEC is a partner on this event. Learn more and register.

Santa Barbara Sun Day Celebration

Sunday, September 21, 2025

1:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Santa Barbara Public Library

40 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara

Join us for a local celebration of clean energy progress as part of the national Sun Day of action, led by Third Act. Hosted by CEC, Sierra Club Santa Barbara/Ventura, Society of Fearless Grandmothers, and the City of Santa Barbara, this free, festival-style event will feature speakers, kids’ activities, community booths, and resources to help electrify your home or business. Come take part in building a sun-powered future for Santa Barbara County and beyond! Learn more and register.

CEC’s Green Gala

Saturday, September 27, 2025

5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

The Bakery Block in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone

120 Gray Avenue

The Green Gala is CEC’s premiere annual fundraising celebration, bringing together over 250 community leaders, philanthropists, and climate activists in support of bold climate action. This year’s theme is resilience, symbolized by the Matilija poppy, to honor our collective strength as we face intensifying environmental challenges together. Keynote speaker Los Angeles County Fire Captain Sheila Kelliher Berkoh, will share inspiring stories from the frontlines of how communities like Santa Barbara provided resources and refuge during the devastating L.A. fires. Guests will enjoy a VIP cocktail reception, climate-smart cuisine, live entertainment, and an exclusive auction — all in support of a climate-safe future for California’s Central Coast. The After Party kicks off at 8:00 p.m., so stick around for an unforgettable night of live music by The Academy, dancing, and celebration. Buy tickets, tables, and sponsorships.

Green Gala After Party (Open to all 21+)

Saturday, September 27, 2025

8:00 – 10:00 p.m.

The Bakery Block in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone

120 Gray Avenue

Hosted at one of the newest hotspots in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, the Green Gala After Party welcomes the public to join us for a high-energy dance party under the stars, featuring live music from The Academy, complimentary drinks from local makers, and the chance to connect and celebrate with climate champions and changemakers. A suggested donation of $35 gets you in the door and helps power a climate-safe future for our community and beyond. Bring a friend and meet us on the dance floor! 21+ only. Purchase tickets.

The Issue with Tissue Screening and Filmmaker Discussion

Thursday, October 30, 2025

6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Join CEC and the Sierra Club Santa Barbara/Ventura Chapter for The Issue with Tissue film screening, followed by an enlightening discussion with writer, director, and producer Michael Zelniker, moderated by CEC board member and UC Santa Barbara professor Dr. David Pellow. This documentary reveals the powerful connection between the boreal forest and the Indigenous Peoples who call it home — and the deforestation threats they now face from the toilet paper industry. Scientists, activists, and First Nations Elders and Leaders speak out on why conserving this ancient forest is not only necessary, but deeply human. Learn more and register.

Support Critical Work Like This

Recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and a City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero, CEC is led by CEO Sigrid Wright, 2022 Congressional Woman of the Year. See our most recent impact report to learn how we are serving California’s Central Coast by advancing rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.

Learn more about how you can invest in CEC’s work to accelerate regional climate solutions at cecsb.org/donate.