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March 7 — Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Free Youth Climate Workshop – Take Action on Santa Barbara’s Oil & Gas Phase-Out, more events

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2026 • Comments Off

Join CEC, SBHS students, and Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura for a free, hands-on Youth Climate Workshop!

Collaborate with peers, map climate solutions, and learn how you can help advance Santa Barbara County’s Oil & Gas Phase-out.

Saturday, March 7, 2026

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

CEC Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Students in grades 6–12 who want to start or continue their climate action journey are invited to a free, hands-on workshop hosted by Community Environmental Council (CEC) and Santa Barbara High School’s Environmental Advocacy Club. CEC’s Youth Climate Workshop offers practical tools, real-world advocacy experience, and connections to peers and local climate leaders that can help youth make a meaningful impact in the community.

We’ll hear from Maureen Ellenberger, Sierra Club Santa Barbara–Ventura Chapter Chair and CEC Climate Stewards alumna, as she shares the latest updates on the proposed oil and gas production phase-out in Santa Barbara County. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn how they can help protect our coastal ecosystems, communities, and wildlife from the devastating impacts of oil drilling.

Participants will also take part in an interactive Climate Solutions Mapping activity, exploring local solutions, identifying opportunities for impact, and collaborating with peers to strengthen climate resilience. With free snacks to enjoy, community service hours to earn, and opportunities to build meaningful connections, this workshop offers an easy and engaging way for young people to use their voices for climate advocacy, setting them up for success as future climate leaders.

Other Opportunities

Non-profit Office Space Available

Are you a non-profit looking for a downtown Santa Barbara office space? Located at 1219 State Street, this ground-floor office in the Community Environmental Council’s Environmental Hub is a vibrant, inspiring space for work and collaboration.

Work alongside CEC, White Buffalo Land Trust, Human Rights Watch, and other local organizations in this exciting location. Non-profit tenant required. Competitive rates. See more photos of the space.

To learn more or schedule a tour, contact: Kathi King, kking@cecmail.org

Become a Resilience Hub and Help Your Community Prepare for Disasters

The California Central Coast faces growing challenges from extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, and poor air quality. Community resilience hubs — trusted local spaces like schools, libraries, community centers, and churches — can provide aid and resources before, during, and after these events. CEC can help activate your site to:

Provide clean air during smoke events
Act as cooling locations during extreme heat
Distribute food
Serve as an emergency shelter or hub for emergency services
Facilitate disaster preparedness training and neighborhood organizing
Host off-grid charging during power outages or shutdowns

Learn more about Community Resilience Hubs, take our short survey, and use our toolkit to get started today.

Other Upcoming Events

“Stand By, Mother” Film Screening

Friday, February 13, 2026, 9:00 p.m.

SBIFF Film Center, Auditorium 4

916 State St, Santa Barbara

“Stand By, Mother,” a magical, music-filled eco-fable for kids, by kids, will debut at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). The story begins when a mysterious book comes alive in the hands of a curious boy named Felix, who then embarks on an imaginative journey, without ever leaving his garage. Through dance, song, and aerial performance, he discovers the wonders of planet Earth and the dangers it faces. Based on a stage play and filmed in an intimate theatrical setting, “Stand By, Mother” features non-professional child actors, bringing authenticity, playfulness, and heart to its urgent message. Blending theatre, cinema, education, and enchantment, the film brings the climate crisis to life in an inspiring and unforgettable way. Learn more and view the trailer.

High-Voltage EV Safety Training for Central Coast Fleets

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

UC Santa Barbara Transportation Services Facility

6789 Navigator Way, Goleta

The Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5) is offering a one-day High-Voltage Electric Vehicle Safety Training for fleet technicians serving the Central Coast tri-county region (Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo). Designed for technicians working on light, medium, and heavy-duty EVs, the training covers critical safety topics including high-voltage hazards, required PPE, safe-down procedures, and proper use of diagnostic tools. The session will be led by Willie Castro, automotive instructor at Cerritos College and field service engineer for General Motors, with more than 37 years of industry experience. This in-person training, hosted at UC Santa Barbara, is limited to 20 fleet technicians. Lunch is provided, and registration is first-come, first-served. Learn more and register.

Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival

Saturday – Sunday, April 25 – 26, 2026

Alameda Park

1400 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara

Now in its 56th year, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is among the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the nation and one of the largest on the West Coast.

The event draws more than 30,000 attendees and 150+ eco-friendly exhibitors for a vibrant weekend jam packed with live music and speakers, CEC’s Environmental Hero Award ceremony, a robust Green Car Show, a plant-forward food court and beer garden, and family-friendly programming. Presented by the Community Environmental Council and CarpEvents. Learn more.

Register to exhibit.

Sign up to volunteer.

Become a sponsor.

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.