March 12, 14, 21, 31; April 9, 25— An Evening of Wild Hope: Film Screenings and Local Insights to Inspire. More events March 14, 21, 31; April 9, 25

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Discover bold solutions restoring our planet — from Singapore to Santa Barbara.

Thursday, March 12, 2026 

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Across the globe and right here at home, nature is proving its resilience in extraordinary ways. This Thursday, we’re celebrating climate comeback stories. Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC) for episodes of the PBS series Wild Hope, accompanied by expert local insight, as we explore how wildlife is returning, ecosystems are rebounding, and communities are reimagining what’s possible.

We’ll screen an episode exploring how Singapore is bringing biodiversity into the built environment — carving out wildlife habitats within urban life. CEC’s Bre Sliker will share insights on regional biodiversity efforts and explore how nature and cities can thrive hand-in-hand, connecting the global story to work happening in Santa Barbara County.

We’ll also watch an episode follows the return of sea otters to Elkhorn Sloughand the incredible ecological recovery that follows. The Nature Conservancy’s Dr. Phoebe Racine will offer insights on local wetland restoration initiatives and how our community is helping nature rebound.

This event is part of CEC’s A Year of Active Hope, a series of free gatherings at CEC’s Environmental Hub designed to unite our community and create space for courage, connection, and meaningful change. An evening of inspiration and wild hope awaits — we’ll see you there!

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.

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

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

Other Events

Clean Air Ride & Drive

Saturday, March 14, 2026

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Goleta Community Center

5679 Hollister Ave., Goleta

Experience the future of clean driving at the Goleta Ride & Drive, a free, hands-on event where you can test drive all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Explore state and local incentives that make EV ownership more affordable, enjoy tasty bites from local food vendors, and connect with experts from CEC for in-person guidance on EV incentives and applications. Bring your driver’s license — and if you’d like help with the Driving Clean Assistance Program Application, also bring your most recent tax returns, current vehicle title, and vehicle registration. Everyone who tests drives an EV at this event will be entered to win a $200 VISA gift card. Save time at the Ride & Drive check-in by completing your waiver in advance and fill out the DCAP application assistance registration form for support with incentives.

Join us for Repair Cafe Santa Barbara, a free, community-powered event where volunteers come together to fix broken treasures instead of tossing them away. Bring your worn-out clothes, appliances, toys, electronics, bikes, furniture, and more. The team of talented fixers will help you bring them back to life. This hands-on event is all about learning, sharing skills, and keeping items out of the landfill. This is not a drop-off service — we invite you to bring up to two broken items, roll up your sleeves, and take part in the repair process! Learn more and register.

Part of the Embodied Arts Workshop Series, this empowering dance experience invites you to move, release, and reconnect with your body in a safe and inclusive environment. Co-hosted by CEC and led by 5Rhythms teacher KiaOra Fox — who brings over 40 years of dance experience — this immersive workshop blends guided movement with intuitive exploration. The climate crisis can feel overwhelming, but dance is a tool to bring us back into the body — when we move in rhythm, we spark joy, build community, and remember we are a part of the Earth, not separate from it. Whether you’re new to dance or a seasoned mover, KiaOra’s grounded and compassionate facilitation creates space for everyone to explore at their own pace.Learn more and register.

Christopher F. Jones Lecture: The Invention of Infinite Growth

Thursday, April 9, 2026

8:30 – 8:00 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Join CEC and UC Santa Barbara’s Center for Restorative Environmental Work (CREW) Lab of CLAIR for an eye-opening lecture with author and environmental historian Christopher F. Jones. In his latest book, The Invention of Infinite Growth, he explores how the relentless drive for economic growth is pushing ecological limits. Drawing on decades of research and compelling storytelling, Chris will share insights on the balance between human ambition and the health of our planet through a hopeful lens. We invite readers, environmental enthusiasts, and all curious minds to come and engage with key questions about sustainability, Earth’s future, and how the choices we make as a society affect our world. Learn more and register.

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.

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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.