Community Environmental Council (CEC) announces upcoming events

Thousand Oaks Rotary Street Fair & EV Showcase

Sunday, October 19

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

449 N Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks

Learn more.

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.

Youth Climate Workshop

Saturday, November 8, 2025

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Students in grades six through 12 who want to take meaningful climate action are invited to a free, hands-on workshop at CEC’s Environmental Hub. Join CEC staff and local leaders to dive into environmental policy advocacy and learn how to use your voice to stand up for climate justice. You’ll hear from inspiring guest speakers from the Environmental Defense Center and Make Polluters Pay Santa Barbara as they share how their organizations are leading the charge on high impact campaigns in our communities. A lively panel discussion with local elected officials will give you an opportunity to learn what they are doing on environmental action and connect with them one-on-one afterwards. Co-hosted by CEC and Santa Barbara High School’s Environmental Advocacy Club, the workshop will include complimentary snacks and drinks, opportunities to collaborate with peers, and tools to help you lead positive change in your community. Learn more and register.

Other Opportunities

Gather for good this holiday season at CEC’s Environmental Hub

Book by October 15 and save 15%!

The holidays are just around the corner — host your end-of-year celebration in a space that reflects your values!

Introducing the Sustainable Chill Guide: Energy-Efficient Refrigeration for a Healthy Planet

Commercial refrigeration units consume a lot of energy and the refrigerants that keep them cool contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. By replacing old units with healthy, energy-efficient options, businesses can lower their energy bill, reduce their environmental impact, and keep their perishable goods fresher for longer. The Community Environmental Council and the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network have developed a guide for California small businesses that explains the benefits of healthy refrigeration, offers affordable solutions, and points to funding sources and resources to help make the switch.

View Sustainable Chill: A Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient Refrigeration.

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:

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

Take our short survey to learn more and get support or use our toolkit to get started today.

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.