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Moving California Communities From Climate Vulnerability to Resilience
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CEC’s Em Johnson reports back from the California Economic Summit and Resilient California Summit.
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How can we help California communities become climate resilient?
CEC’s Senior Director of Climate Programs Em Johnson explored this question at the California Economic Summit and continued the conversation at last week’s Resilient California Summit. She presented on the Central Coast Community Resilience Hubs Accelerator, a regional effort to help trusted community spaces, including community centers, schools and nonprofit sites, become Community Resilience Hubs that support residents before, during, and after a disaster.
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At the Resilient California Summit, Em facilitated a panel on the Central Coast’s efforts to advance climate resilient infrastructure through regional collaboration. The panel highlighted lessons from years of work with local jurisdictions and community-based organizations, offering practical guidance other communities can apply to their own resilience planning. Speakers also discussed financing options for physical and nature-based infrastructure and how coordinated technical assistance can help smaller, under-resourced communities move projects forward and better prepare for recovery.
We’re grateful to our regional partners Ecology Action, Regeneración Pajaro Valley Climate Action, Blue Sky Center, and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, for their collaboration in advancing community resilience across the Central Coast. Special thanks to Resilient Cities Catalyst and California Forward for spotlighting our work at both Summits.
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Embodied Arts Workshop: Sensory Storytelling
Tuesday, Oct. 27
6:30–8 p.m.
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CEC’s Environmental Hub
1219 State St., Santa Barbara
Everyone is a storyteller. Join Elaine Gale, MFA, PhD, for a community storytelling workshop to explore how stories can connect you with others, with nature, and with yourself. Through sensory storytelling practices, reflection, and sharing, you’ll learn the essential elements of a well-told story and think about how stories can carry the DNA of our humanity. Come curious and ready to listen, share, and discover how storytelling can cultivate connection, understanding, and compassion. Bring a journal and something to write with! Learn more and register.
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Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative Network Event
Thursday, Oct. 29
9:15 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
The Mission Club
4300 Club House Rd., Lompoc
The Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative brings its network together in Lompoc for an annual event, celebrating two years of the Guadalupe-Lompoc Initiative and the projects, partnerships, and community benefits it has helped cultivate. The gathering offers an opportunity to reflect on what has emerged through collaboration and explore opportunities for continued learning and coordination across the region. Attendees can also take an optional afternoon tour of Collective Cultures Creating Change, a community garden supported through the initiative. Learn more and register.
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The Power of Possibility: A Night of Light in Santa Barbara
Thursday, Nov. 5
5–8 p.m.
San Marcos Courtyard, 1129 State Street
Join Unite to Light during Santa Barbara’s First Thursday Art Walk for The Power of Possibility, a free, family-friendly evening celebrating 300,000 solar lights distributed to people living without electricity around the world. Transforming a downtown courtyard into a celebration of light, art, and community, the evening will feature illuminated art installations by local artists, live music, and hands-on creative activities for all ages. Visitors can explore Unite to Light’s solar lights and chargers and discover how access to light helps students learn, supports maternal health, and strengthens communities during disasters. The courtyard is free and open to everyone. For those who want to make an even greater impact, optional tickets include dinner, two drinks, and access to the VIP area. Early-bird tickets are $45 through October 30, then $60. Every ticket helps fund solar lights for people living without electricity. Come celebrate what’s possible when we bring light to the world. Learn more and purchase tickets.
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Rideshare Drivers: Get Up to $20,300 Toward an EV
If you’re a rideshare driver for Uber, Lyft, or HopSkipDrive, you may qualify for California’s Rideshare Incentives for Driving Electric (RIDE) program. Income-qualified, high-volume rideshare drivers can receive up to $20,300 toward a new zero-emission vehicle or up to $14,200 toward a used vehicle, — plus up to $1,170 annually for charging costs. To qualify, drivers must have completed at least 4,500 rides across eligible platforms in the previous 12 months. Learn more and see if you qualify through RIDE.
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Where Santa Barbara’s Changemakers Gather
Planning a board meeting, strategic retreat, workshop, or community event this fall? The Community Environmental Council’s Environmental Hub offers flexible, sustainably designed meeting and event space for nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies.
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With competitive nonprofit pricing, professional AV, and versatile spaces for meetings, trainings, film screenings, and community gatherings, The Hub provides the perfect setting to bring people together. Every booking also supports CEC’s work to advance climate solutions across the Central Coast.
Explore the space and book your event.
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Support Critical Work Like This
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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.
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Learn more about how you can invest in CEC’s work to accelerate regional climate solutions at cecsb.org/donate.
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