USGBC-LA Selects Watts-Based Local Healing Space for Survivors of Violent Crime as 2022 Legacy Project
 
June 21st Garden Volunteer Day is Open to All 
 

LOS ANGELES (June 15, 2022) Adding nature to urban spaces can be a game changer - it can raise life expectancies, speed physical healing, treat PTSD, and increase civility. The Reverence Project’s Survivor’s Healing Garden, located in the heart of Watts, is a big step in aiming to achieve these outcomes, as well as address environmental issues driven by climate change.
 
Located adjacent to four housing projects and with a goal of providing local healing services through wellness, the U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles (USGBC-LA) has selected the garden as its 2022 Legacy Project. The first volunteer day at the garden will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, from 10:00am-1:00pm at 1673 East 108^th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059. Registration is encouraged.
 
The Survivor’s Healing Garden will serve as a local place of reflection and gathering for survivors of violent crime, confronting the lack of local wellness options. Project leader Oya Sherrills envisions filling the 3150 sq. ft. outdoor space with native California foliage, meditative trails and art installations to serve as foundations for individual and community restoration.

“Just fifteen minutes in nature can uplift health,” states Sherrills. “For years, The Reverence Project has driven survivors 45 minutes to an hour to reach green spaces and wellness services. During the pandemic, this wasn’t an option. We all need nature in our communities that people can easily walk to.
 
“In addition to the survivors of violent crime, we also want all the residents of Watts, including our neighbors without homes, to benefit from the space’s serene beauty and edible foliage,” says Sherrills.
 
Launched in 2016 to help empower local individuals and organizations in implementing programs that nurture sustainability and social equity within their respective neighborhoods, USGBC-LA annually provides a regional ‘legacy project’ $20,000 in funding--along with design, strategy and project management support, and member volunteers. The Legacy Project Committee strives to select a project that is community-supported, has an educational and sustainable focus, is replicable, and serves a variety of socio-economic conditions.
 
A long-time equity issue across Los Angeles (and other cities) is that of green space - where it exists and where it is absent. As an example, the community of Watts has just 0.65 parks per 1000 residents. This dearth of park space is amplified by a “hard” built environment, one with very little streetside greenery. As a result, Watts experiences temperatures 4.7°F degrees hotter than the city average, a significant number considering the drought and extreme heat conditions exacerbated by climate change.
 
Ben Stapleton, USGBC-LA Executive Director, notes, “This project provides the opportunity for our investment of funds, time, and expertise to have an outsized impact on the resilience of the community’s residents and the region’s environment. While private investments cannot catch up to inequities in public funding, we are hopeful our work here builds more awareness and connects with people in the community while showcasing the importance of helping Watts draw its fair share of public funds as well.”
 
The project will support training Watts residents in the value of urban greenery and in methods of civic engagement to help secure further project funding. Activities will include building out a community space that includes hardscape and softscape design and construction, as well as planting of native plants, herbs and food. Educational signage is also planned.
 
In support of the above goals, during the June 21st event volunteers will:

• build raised bed garden containers for local vegetables and fruits
• pot and plant native California herbs and flowers
• beautify; facility painting, create signage, facility mosaic
   

Additional volunteer dates are:
Thursday, July 28th, 9am-12pm
Saturday, August 27th, 9am-12pm
Tuesday, October 25th, 9am-12pm

“The Legacy Project is an important hands-on opportunity to help foster equity citywide through USGBC-LA’s core values of sustainability, resilience and community,” states Katie Freeze, Legacy Chair, and sustainability manager for Leading Edge. “We were inspired by the opportunity to help create a place of peace and resilience where Watts residents will find sanctuary.”
 
Past impactful Legacy Projects include the EcoTech Makerspace in Gardena (2016), the Veggie Bus Project in South Central LA, the EcoUrban / Arroyo HS garden in El Monte, the Boyle Heights Resilience Hub (2021) and more. For more information on this year’s Legacy Project and the June 21st event, please visit the Legacy Project page. If you’d like to contribute to this project or any other sponsorship support, please email [email protected].

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About U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles
USGBC-LA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to creating a prosperous and sustainable future within one generation. Our mission promotes sustainability in LA County's built environment by delivering access to knowledge, resources, recognition and networking. (www.usgbc-la.org)
 

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
Tuesday, June 7, 2022

MONDAY: Michelle Obama to Headline When We All Vote’s Culture of Democracy Summit

 Selena Gomez, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Alexis McGill Johnson, Nikole Hannah-Jones and more to speak at nonpartisan convening on protecting and strengthening democracy ahead of the 2022 midterm elections

(Los Angeles, CA): On Monday, June 13th, When We All Vote will host the first-ever Culture of Democracy Summit at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. When We All Vote Co-Chair and Founder Michelle Obama will serve as the keynote speaker. This nonpartisan, full-day convening will bring together artists, athletes, academics, grassroots organizers and business leaders to discuss the role different industries play in protecting and strengthening democracy through voter registration, education, mobilization and culture change. 

In addition to remarks on the main stage, a press room will be available on-site where speakers and talent will provide comments and interviews throughout the day. 

WHAT: The Culture of Democracy Summit

WHO:  

• Michelle Obama, Founder and Co-Chair, When We All Vote

• Stephanie L. Young, Executive Director, When We All Vote

• Selena Gomez, Co-Chair, When We All Vote

• Janelle Monáe, Co-Chair, When We All Vote

• Chris Paul, Co-Chair, When We All Vote

• Tracee Ellis Ross, Ambassador, When We All Vote

• Alexis McGill Johnson, President, Planned Parenthood Action Fund

• Nikole Hannah-Jones, Staff Writer, The New York Times Magazine; Creator, The 1619 Project

• Doc Rivers, Head Coach, 76ers

• Nneka Ogwumike, WNBPA President and WNBA MVP and Champion

• CJ McCollum, NBA Guard & NBPA President

• Magic Johnson, Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises

• Maya Wiley, President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund

• Mary Kay Henry, International President, SEIU

• Wanda Sykes, Emmy-winning writer, comedian, actor and producer

• A full list of speakers is available here. 

WHEN: Monday, June 13th from 19th at 9 am PST to 7 pm PST. Mrs. Obama’s remarks will take place at 6:00 pm PST

WHERE: Banc of California Stadium, 3939 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90037

A limited number of in-person press passes will be available. 

Press interested in attending must RSVP to [email protected] no later than Thursday, June 9th at 12 pm PST/3 pm EST

A full schedule of speakers and events for the Culture of Democracy Summit on June 13th is below:

Opening Remarks

• Stephanie Young, Executive Director at When We All Vote

Introductory Remarks

• Kyle Lierman, CEO of Civic Nation

• Valerie Jarrett, Board Chair of Civic Nation

Welcome to Los Angeles

• Magic Johnson, Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises

Armchair Conversation: History of Democracy and Voter Suppression in America

This conversation will reflect on the history of democracy in the United States and the parallels to what’s happening today. 

• Introduction: Tracee Ellis-Ross, Ambassador, When We All Vote

• Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and creator of the landmark 1619 Project, Historian on American democracy, and Staff Writer at The New York Times Magazine.

Voting Research Presentations

• Christina Baal, Executive Director of Public Wise

• Ian Bassin, Executive Director of Protect Democracy

• Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Newhouse Director of CIRCLE

Panel: Tech, Media, & Disinformation

Experts and researchers in disinformation will discuss how technology and media are used to spread disinformation, the role of culture, and solutions beyond mainstream news.

• Moderator: Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

• Graham Brookie, Senior Director of Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Research Lab

• Sonja Diaz, Founding Director of UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative

• Jacquelyn Mason, Director of Programs of Media Democracy Fund & Disinfo Defense League

A Conversation with Alexis McGill Johnson

What does the impending Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision mean for reproductive rights? This panel will cover what’s happening on the ground and how groups are organizing in the states.

• Introduction: Janelle Monáe, WWAV Co-Chair and Jeannie Mai Jenkins, Emmy Award-winning Producer and Host Of The Real Daytime

• Alexis McGill Johnson, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund

• Alencia Johnson, Founder & CIO of 1063 West Broad & Leading

Conversation: Workers' Rights and Democracy

• Mary Kay Henry, International President, SEIU

Lunch Break with DJ Diamond Kuts

Voting Research Presentation 

This presentation will premiere new research findings on civic representation — including the appearance of civic and elected leaders, voting behaviors, and issue advocacy — in popular television shows in 2020.

• Caty Borum, Executive Director of Center for Media & Social Impact

Panel: Entertainment & Social Responsibility — Changing the Narrative

The entertainment industry has a huge influence on how people view themselves and the world they live in. We will hear from creators, actors, and industry leaders on how we can create more impactful and balanced depictions of civic engagement in media and entertainment to promote a healthier democracy.

• Moderator Adam Conover, Comedian and Host of Higher Ground’s “The G Word” on Netflix

• Scott Budnick, Film producer, Founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), and CEO of One Community, LLC

• Charles D. King, Founder & CEO of MACRO

• Wanda Sykes, Emmy-winning writer, comedian, actor, producer

Panel: How the Criminal Justice System Disenfranchises Voters

Disenfranchising voters with felony convictions is a long-standing voter suppression tactic. From bail reform and ending mass incarceration to decriminalizing marijuana and police reform, so many issues impact who can and can’t vote. 

• Moderator: Tiffany D. Cross, Host of The Cross Connection on MSNBC

• Daryl Atkinson, Co-Director of Forward Justice

• Gicola Lane, Advocate at Campaign Legal Center and Restore Your Vote

• Louis L. Reed, Senior Advisor at the REFORM Alliance

• Maya Wiley, President & CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights)

Panel: Sports & Democracy

This conversation will focus on the role athletes and leagues play in moving our society forward and the critical role voting and civic education play in the fight for social justice. When We All Vote is hosting this conversion in partnership with the NBA Social Justice Initiative.

• Introduction: Chris Paul, Co-Chair, When We All Vote; James Cadogan, President of the NBA Social Justice Coalition

• Moderator: Cari Champion, Broadcast Journalist and former ESPN Anchor

• Doc Rivers, Head Coach of the Philadelphia 76ers and former professional player

• CJ McCollum, professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans

• Nneka Ogwumike, WNBA LA Sparks

• Vivek Ranadive, Owner of the Sacramento Kings

Panel: From the Screen to the Streets: What Drives Gen Z to Take Action Part II

As a follow-up from our virtual day, this conversation will feature rising activists of Gen Z as they share insights on movements, organizing, and more.

• Moderator: Judith Nwandu, Reporter of The Shade Room

• Anto Chávez, Video Producer/Journalist United We Dream

• Deja Foxx, Founder of Gen Z Girl Gang

• Chelsea Miller, Co-Founder of Freedom March NYC

Fight for our Vote Pledge Presentation

• Stephanie Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote

• Andrea Hailey, Executive Director of Vote.org

Awards Ceremony

The Culture of Democracy Awards recognize leaders across industries and communities who are doing critical work to strengthen democracy through voter registration, mobilization, and culture change. Awards will be presented across 13 categories including: Music, Sports, Entertainment, Media, Beauty + Fashion, Business Leaders, Community Partners, Grassroots Organizations, Volunteers, My School Votes, Tech + Platforms and Creative Alliance

• Stephanie Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote

Keynote Introduction

• Selena Gomez, When We All Vote Co-Chair

Keynote Speech by When We All Vote Founder and Co-Chair Michelle Obama
 

ABOUT When We All Vote: 

When We All Vote, an initiative of Civic Nation, is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable. 

In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.

Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Kerry Washington and Rita Wilson. 

When We All Vote is a key initiative within Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). These organizations are homes for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation. 

ABOUT Civic Nation:

Civic Nation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit home for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation. Civic Nation empowers and educates individuals, companies, institutions and organizations to drive culture, systems, and policy change, working towards a more inclusive and equitable America. Seven initiatives are a part of the Civic Nation family: When We All Vote, United State of Women, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, End Rape On Campus, It’s On Us, Made to Save and We The Action. Learn more here.

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