Empower_Q1_NE_TREES_25_v32c_FINALAPPROVED

Empower Issue 4 | Q1 2025

ROOTED IN SUSTAINABILITY NORTH EAST TREES

“WE’RE LOOKING GENERATIONS AHEAD...”

Aaron Thomas, North East Trees

A SoCalGas Publication E M P O W E R

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Ladale Hayes, North East Trees

SoCalGas volunteers at a North East Trees event.

COVER STORY

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Rooted In Sustainability North East Trees is a non-profit that has planted over 200,000 trees in an effort to develop green spaces in Los Angeles.

IN THIS ISSUE

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16

18

20

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Akoma Unity

AltaSea at the Port

The Ecology

The North

The Trust for

Center

of Los Angeles

Center

American

Public Land

Employs an African-

Committed to

Dedicated to

Launched the Los

fostering scientific

educating the

Sustainable

centered framework to educate, heal,

collaboration,

Refrigeration

Angeles Green

community on

and transform

advancing the

creative solutions

historically excluded

blue economy, and

for managing food

communities.

inspiring future

waste and producing

generations.

nutritious products.

Council Dedicated to promoting natural refrigerants to foster a

Schoolyards Initiative to create resilient and equitable communities in LA.

sustainable future.

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Luis Rangel from North East Trees waters a native sapling

ROOTED IN SUSTAINABILITY NORTH EAST TREES

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Trees leave a legacy.

Trees let us look at things over time.

A tree can live hundreds of years.

We’re looking generations ahead.

“

Watch The Video Story

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Aaron Thomas, Director of Urban Forestry

“

People have written off some places as ‘unfixable,’ but we look at these places with potential.

“

People have to cultivate deep roots in a community to make a difference, and North East Trees of Los Angeles has done that. North East Trees is a non-profit urban forestry organization that has planted over 200,00 trees to develop urban green spaces in Los Angeles that also does design, construction, community outreach/engagement, workforce development, and nursery propagation. For over 30 years, Aaron Thomas has helped lead that effort. He’s seen the long-term impact of planting trees, building parks, and restoring native habitats throughout many communities. “Our time here is limited,” Thomas said.

“Trees leave a legacy. Trees let us look at things over time. A tree can live hundreds of years.

We’re looking generations ahead.”

North East Trees has focused on making a lasting footprint on future generations since it started in 1991. The organization had humble beginnings, starting with a simple motto – “more trees are better.” Scott Wilson, who created the institution, began by planting five trees a day, teaching young people how to plant trees and try to bring nature to the ever-growing metropolis of LA. Over the years, the non-profit expanded, branching out into different neighborhoods throughout the city of Los Angeles. Thomas, who has been with the group for 30 years, can walk the city sidewalks shaded by trees that he planted in the early nineties.

As the organization has developed, its sense of purpose has deepened. Today, it’s about more than just planting trees – it’s about bringing green spaces to communities that have been overlooked, cultivating a canopy of trees to provide cooling and developing urban forests to mitigate climate change. “We identify places in the city that have been neglected or blighted,” Thomas said. “People have written off some places as ‘unfixable,’ but we look at these places with potential.”

One of those places ripe with possibility is the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles’ (HACLA) Watts Public Housing Developments.

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Trees reduce carbon, replenish oxygen, they provide a run-off solution for polluted stormwater.

They have major health benefits,

“

Ladale Hayes is the crew supervisor for the residential tree planting project that develops green spaces at three public housing properties under the Watts umbrella: Nickerson Gardens, Imperial Courts, and Gonzaque Village. Hayes is a former wildland firefighter who met Thomas at a job fair in Los Angeles and immediately got involved with the organization. Hayes studied how climate change and limited access to shade disproportionately impact people of color, and he works daily to change that.

“Watts has some of the worst air quality in the region,” Hayes explained. “There are airplanes, freeways, and industrial centers right next to schools.” Hayes knows that trees are a part of the solution to this problem. “Trees reduce carbon, replenish oxygen, they provide a runoff solution for polluted stormwater. They have major health benefits,” Hayes said. In

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addition to offsetting climate change and protecting the neighborhood’s residents, bringing this program to public housing has ripple effects throughout the community.

The program employs 15 young people from Watts who will plant 1,200 drought-tolerant trees in their communities.

Engaging with the community is the primary focal point of the non-profit, and both Thomas and Hayes have witnessed how those efforts have positively influenced the neighborhoods in LA. “It takes everybody, and after people understand the importance of trees, planting improves their lives,” Thomas said. Hayes explained that, for some people, it takes some time to get there. Sometimes people want trees planted right away. When he has the opportunity to explain the “why” of the work to residents, they often come back wanting trees.

Native tree planting above downtown Los Angeles in Lincoln Heights

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“

It’s social and environmental justice.

But this work takes a leap of the imagination – we’re envisioning a better future.

“

“I love the community outreach most,” Hayes explained. “Breaking through to people – we can change people’s hearts and minds.” Thomas, Hayes, and the team at North East Trees have changed so many lives, they have a motto to mirror their work: reach one, teach one. “If we reach one, we can teach one and then they pass along the information.” People have become so involved in the program that, recently, a community reached out to the group to plant trees in their neighborhood to remember loved ones who had been lost to gun violence.

during unprecedented temperature spikes and giving back green spaces to communities that have been overlooked. In order to continue building careers in the canopy, North East Trees collaborated with SoCalGas for tree plantings, tree giveaways, and dig safety education.

SoCalGas donated upwards of $216,000 to the organization and funded the planting of over 1,200 trees, as well as dozens of employees volunteering time to give away trees and help plant. In April of 2023 alone, SoCalGas helped plant 250 trees.

While North East Trees has made substantial progress making LA more green, there is still a lot of work to be done. “The culture of the city is changing, but we are still underfunded for tree infrastructure,” Thomas said. “LA needs to quadruple its budget for public trees.” As the impacts of climate change become more tangible with every passing year – showing up in the form of droughts, blackouts, heatwaves, and forest fires on the West Coast – it becomes increasingly pressing to fund programs to counteract climate change. Thomas continued, “LA would be unlivable without our tree canopy.”

While the financial assistance from SoCalGas was essential to the operation, it’s just one of many elements that make up the foundation SoCalGas built to support North East Trees.

Thomas explained that 90% of their urban forest initiatives are built on private property and SoCalGas helped facilitate those projects.

“This is where they’ve been extremely helpful,” Thomas said. “They helped us with the work on private properties, with residential tree giveouts and with the funding and resources.”

They also ensured that residents who open up their property to urban forestry programs don’t experience any disruptions to their utilities.

Today, that canopy is more important than ever. It’s educating young people and providing them with jobs, cooling people

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The collaboration between SoCalGas and North East Trees even made its way to

Ladale Hayes at the Watts Public Housing Development projects. SoCalGas facilitated the planting of 500 trees at different Watts sites. “The importance of this collaboration is getting trees in the ground,” Hayes explained.

Every tree planted is an opportunity to reduce energy use by providing cooling and to offer an employment opportunity for young people in the community and to spread the word about the importance of green space in LA.

SoCalGas volunteers at North East Trees events.

Most importantly, the relationship with SoCalGas allowed North East Trees to continue their indispensable work. “I love everything about what we do,” Thomas said. “It’s social and environmental justice. But this work takes a leap of the imagination – we’re envisioning a better future.” After 200,000 trees, dozens of projects, and countless community connections, it isn’t such a leap of the imagination anymore. Now, people can walk down the city streets covered by tree canopies planted decades earlier, a welcome reminder that we can reap exactly what we sow.

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SOCAL CLIMATE CHAMPIONS SoCal Climate Champions was a competitive grant initiative that reinforced SoCalGas’ commitment to programs, projects, and research that address climate solutions within communities in Southern California served by SoCalGas. SoCal Climate Champions focused on Resilient Energy, Clean Air, or Organic Waste Diversion Solutions, utilizing Education, Community Planning, or Municipal Strategies.

The 2023 SoCal Climate Champions Initiative awardees received funding for 2023-2024.

Their project summaries include metrics accomplished and proposed goals through mid-year 2024.

$400k

$440k

AWARDED TO 13 ORGANIZATIONS IN 2023

AWARDED TO 11 ORGANIZATIONS IN 2024*

Akoma Unity Center

Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Inc.

AltaSea Port of Los Angeles

Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation

The Ecology Center

Climate Action Pathways for Schools

Friends of Ballona Wetlands

Community Services Unlimited

Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Explore Ecology

The Go Green Initiative Association

Food Finders, Inc.

GrowingGreat

Friends of the Los Angeles River

The North American Sustainable Refrieration Council (NASRC)

Los Angeles Conservation Corps

Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association San Bernardino Valley College Foundation Santa Monica Mountains Fund

Making Hope Happen Foundation San Diego State University Foundation Strategic Energy Innovations

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) Wyland Foundation

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AKOMA UNITY CENTER Akoma Unity Center, a small nonprofit in San Bernardino, CA, employs an Africancentered framework to educate, heal, and transform historically excluded communities.

Their mission focuses on cultivating healthy families, organizing for climate and racial justice, and fostering economic empowerment.

The center operates two community gardens and a school campus garden, serving 4,500 students from TK/K-12th grade in the San Bernardino City Unified School District. These gardens provide fresh fruits and vegetables to scholars and their families, particularly benefiting Ward 6, one of the city’s poorest areas. With a median household income of $43,600, the community includes 32,000 residents, 17% of whom identify as Black and 75% as Hispanic, with approximately 9,000 children.

By providing healthy, free food options, Akoma Unity Center combats poverty, poor diets, and community apathy, making a profound difference in the lives of San Bernardino’s most vulnerable residents.

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PROJECT SUMMARY The Vermi Center Composting and Greenhouse Project emphasizes community engagement, education, and collaboration. The gardens are open to all scholars and their parents, offering a therapeutic space to connect with nature. Every Saturday, families gather to plant, maintain, and harvest, making it a cornerstone of the center’s programming. Support from SoCalGas enabled the expansion of organic waste recycling and greenhouse growing, enhancing the center’s ability to serve the community.

This project significantly reduced landfill waste by diverting organic materials and woodchips. By collecting food scraps from local restaurants, they prevented 500 lbs. of waste per week from reaching landfills, totaling 26,000 lbs. annually. Additionally, they plan to reuse 100 cubic yards of woodchips per year, equivalent to 40 pickup trucks. The resulting compost and worm castings enrich garden soil, promoting sustainable growth and expanding the project’s positive impact over time. Composting not only reduces landfill waste, but also cuts methane emissions and recycles valuable nutrients back into the soil.

Solution Type Organic Waste Diversion Strategy Type Education Location

San Bernardino County

4,500 STUDENTS

500 LBS

SERVED BY COMMUNITY GARDENS TK/K-12TH GRADE

WASTE PER WEEK DIVERTED FROM LANDFILLS E M P O W E R

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ALTASEA AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is committed to fostering scientific collaboration, advancing the blue economy, and inspiring future generations for a sustainable, just, and equitable world. Through the Marine Energy & Clean Air (MECA) Center on the AltaSea campus in San Pedro, the program supports research, demonstration, commercial translation, education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship in renewable marine energy and carbon sequestration. Renewable marine energies like wave energy and green hydrogen have the potential to decarbonize economies and create clean jobs, with the Port of Los Angeles prioritizing hydrogen in its decarbonization efforts.

SoCalGas’ investment in the MECA Center enabled AltaSea and its partners to drive innovative and inclusive community and economic growth, addressing local and global environmental challenges. The AltaSea campus serves disadvantaged and low-income communities in San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, Watts, Compton, South Central Los Angeles, and beyond. These areas, primarily Latinx (70%) and Black (29%), face significant challenges, including higher poverty rates (49% vs. 11% nationally) and lower educational attainment (37% have not graduated high

school). Over half of local elementary students do not meet state standards in core subjects, and 65% of schools have low academic performance.

Despite many adults working multiple lowpaying jobs, the median household income is just $24,728.

AltaSea’s MECA Center continues to create a sustainable future by advancing renewable marine energy, supporting disadvantaged communities, and fostering educational and economic opportunities.

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PROJECT SUMMARY The Climate Champions Grant supported two key projects within AltaSea’s Marine Energy & Clean Air program. The first project, the Blue Economy Climate Action Pathway program, involved over 13 Los Angeles Community Colleges, the Los Angeles Economic Development Agency, and AltaSea working together to create Workforce Development Certificate programs that supplemented student Associate of Science degrees. Los Angeles Harbor College, AltaSea, and commercial partners are developing a certificate program in marine energies for students seeking careers in the renewable marine energy sector. This process involves identifying viable courses and developing an 18-month program to supplement the associate degree.

Solution Type Resilient Energy Strategy Type Education Location

Los Angeles County

The second project supported by the Climate Champions Grant offered semester-long marine renewable energy classes to under-resourced high schools in Harbor Gateway. Curricula covering energy from ocean wave motion, wind, and hydrogen were taught by AltaSea instructors in both English and Spanish. These educators entered classrooms once a week for 10 weeks, reaching up to 175 students daily and incorporating experiential activities like building underwater robots, solar probes, and hydrogen vehicles. The final class day was spent at the AltaSea campus, where students tour labs and test the vehicles they built. Additionally, 18 high school students from 12 different Title 1 schools participated in a summer mentorship program at AltaSea, learning the material, building vehicles, and working alongside college graduate students.

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THE ECOLOGY CENTER The Ecology Center is a 28-acre Regenerative Organic Certified non-profit farm and education center dedicated to educating the community on creative solutions for managing food waste, while producing nutritious products that benefit both health and the environment. The center has expanded to include a community farm and learning institute to enhance engagement with ecological agriculture, food, and artisan culture. It serves as a leading model in the ecological food movement, promoting care for the planet, people, and sharing surplus with those in need.

C E N T E R I M PA C T S HOSTS

100K

ANNUAL VISITORS

for farm tours, community dinners, workshops, and more.

PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR

5K

CHILDREN / YR

bridging diverse community demographics and offering experiential education in farming, environmental stewardship, and culinary training, particularly to local K-12 students from nearby Title 1 schools.

THE FARM SUPPORTS

200

LOCAL FAMILIES

each month through the Nourishing Neighbors program.

The Ecology Center significantly reduces environmental impact by closing the loop on agricultural production. The farm sequesters 40 tons of carbon annually using regenerative organic methods and produces no food waste by transforming surplus into value-added products and composting any remaining organic waste. With food waste contributing to 8% of greenhouse gas emissions, the center teaches practical skills in diverting and repurposing food waste, empowering the community to reduce their carbon footprint. The model is replicated through an Apprenticeship Program and partnerships with local school districts to create sustainable community gardens, further scaling their environmental impact. socalgas.com/community

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THE LAB HAS: PRODUCED

UPCYCLED

of new pantry items and tomato products.

of strawberries into products like strawberry vinegars and jams.

3K+ UNITS

3K+ LBS

PROJECT SUMMARY The center’s project included the expansion of the new Fermentation Lab to increase capacity for diverting organic waste into value-added products. This lab, led by Chef Irving Zarate and built in an upcycled shipping container, aligns with the Zero-Waste Initiative, transforming food surplus into products like jams, sauces, and kombuchas. In 2022, over 60 new products were developed. The lab is integrated into educational programs, teaching students and families about fermentation and food waste management. Products are sold directly to consumers and used in the new Campesino Café, which expanded its menu seasonally using farm produce.

Solution Type Organic Waste Diversion Strategy Type Education Location

Orange County

The lab’s operations have grown to meet the café’s demand, with intended impacts in 2024 of:

150K VISITORS

7K STUDENTS

engaged in educational programming

20% INCREASE

in production and sales of value-added products

To date, the lab has: ENGAGED

ONLY

DEVELOPED

through field trips focused on food waste issues

going to compost

BY INCREASE of the diversion of food waste from the farm and Farm Stand

including Amish Paste Tomato Passata, Bumblebee Tomato Passata, Heirloom Tomato Shakshuka, and Strawberry Vinegar.

1,300+ STUDENTS 5% OF PRODUCE

6 NEW PANTRY ITEMS

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THE NORTH AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE REFRIGERATION COUNCIL The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) is dedicated to promoting natural refrigerants in supermarkets to foster a sustainable future.

PROJECT SUMMARY The Climate Workforce Training project addressed the technician shortage in the refrigeration industry, which hinders the transition to climate-friendly technologies. By training Heating Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR) school faculty on new refrigeration technologies, the project prepared students to meet workforce demands and support the shift from high global warming potential (GWP refrigerants to natural refrigerants like CO2. This initiative aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure food security, with impacts extending beyond Southern California.

Solution Type Clean Air Solutions Strategy Type Education Location Ventura County

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants: Once considered suitable substitutes for ozonedepleting refrigerants, are now recognized as super-polluting greenhouse gases. In contrast, natural refrigerants like ammonia, CO2, and propane have zero or near-zero GWP and are considered future-proof solutions.

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol: (ratified by about 150 countries including the U.S.) aims to reduce HFC emissions by 85% by 2036, potentially preventing nearly 0.5°C of warming by the end of the century.

The 2020 American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act: (implementing the Kigali Agreement in the U.S.) expected to avoid 4,560 MMTCO2e of greenhouse gas emissions.

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In January of 2024, NASRC began outreach to faculty by identifying schools offering HVACR programs within the SoCalGas territory.

They contacted 84 faculty members from 31 different school programs and secured participation from 13 individuals representing seven programs, surpassing their initial goal.

They developed an online curriculum to train faculty on supermarket refrigeration and climate-friendly CO2 refrigeration, which launched on June 24, 2024, and ran through the end of July. The program saw excellent participation, with 11 of the original 13 faculty members completing the program.

NASRC also collaborated with faculty from two schools to expand their programs to include

supermarket refrigeration and climate-friendly refrigerants. They hosted a two-day field training on August 1-2, 2024, at CoolSys’s training center, featuring interactive sessions, a knowledge assessment, and a post-participation survey.

This training aims to further promote the outcomes and success of the program.

With support from SoCalGas, this project unlocked significant GHG emission savings potential by transitioning refrigeration equipment from high GWP HFCs to climatefriendly natural refrigerants like CO2.

Training HVACR school faculty is crucial for preparing, training, and recruiting the workforce needed to achieve this transition and reduce emissions.

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THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND The Trust for Public Land (TPL) launched the Los Angeles Green Schoolyards Initiative to create resilient and equitable communities in Los Angeles County, focusing on children and vulnerable populations.

PROJECT SUMMARY This initiative transformed asphalt-covered schoolyards into green spaces, opening them for public use outside school hours. TPL, a national leader in green schoolyards and climate-smart park design, has completed nearly 300 transformations across over a dozen school districts, leveraging over $93 billion in public funding. It targeted high-need areas in South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, and El Monte, aiming to improve park access and community health.

With SoCalGas’ support, TPL worked on one green schoolyard at Castellanos Elementary. The initiative combined policy advocacy, curriculum integration, community engagement, nature-based design, and phased construction.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second largest in the U.S., had many schools with asphalt playgrounds and limited tree canopy, exacerbating health issues. TPL’s project at Castellanos Elementary focused on a disadvantaged community of about 110,000 people, with significant Hispanic, Black, and Asian populations, and high eligibility for free/reducedprice meals. This area faces environmental justice challenges due to a lack of parks and high pollution burdens.

Green schoolyards provide numerous benefits, including climate resilience, improved health, and increased physical activity. They help absorb

Solution Type Resilient Energy Solutions Strategy Type Community Planning Regions Served Los Angeles County

heavy rainfall, capture carbon, and reduce extreme heat exposure. Studies show that access to green spaces improves mental health and academic performance. If all LA County public schools were transformed, over one million residents could gain access to a park within a 10-minute walk.

In the first year, TPL conducted outreach and began design development for the green schoolyard transformation, focusing on coalition building with the Living Schoolyards Coalition.

They aimed to increase policy and funding support for green schoolyards.

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Throughout the grant period, TPL effectively engaged stakeholders at Castellanos Elementary School, including:

450 STUDENTS 37 EDUCATORS AND STAFF

130 PARENTS AND COMPLETED

the design and construction of the green schoolyard.

This collaborative effort resulted in a project design that the local community feels a sense of ownership over, featuring a tree circle for outdoor classes, a climbing structure, tables, logs, rocks, a grassy field, and a seasonal creek. The design demonstrates the schoolyard as not only a focal point of community and civic pride, but also a functiona space that enhances physical and mental health and educational outcomes while contributing to climate resiliency.

To mitigate the heat island effect and stormwater runoff, the renovation: ADDED

REMOVED

1K+ SQ FT 20+ TREES of blacktop 5K NATIVE PLANTS AND A STORMWATER CAPTURE SYSTEM

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Akoma Unity Center

SOCALGAS.COM SERVING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1867

EMAIL: COMMUNITYRELATIONS@SEMPRAUTILITIES.COM 24

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SOCALGAS IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER