Gardena Youth Empowerment and Outdoor Equity
Year 1 Annual Report |
Jump to annual report details (2023-2025)| Amount | $693,120 |
| Grantee | Southern California Crossroads |
| Award Year | 2022 |
| Funding Source | General Fund, Outdoor Equity Program |
| Project Type | Program Operation |
| Project Status | In Progress |
Description
Conduct the Southern California Crossroads- Gardena Youth Empowerment and Outdoor Equity Program for residents near the Crossroads Gardena Youth Center. This program will include approximately 528 activity days in the community for approximately 10,000 participants and approximately 60 trips to natural areas for approximately 1,200 participants during four years of programming.
Activities in the community will include College and Career Workshops featuring Green Careers and Environmental Justice; Leadership and Team Building; Gardening Classes; Painting and Art Classes in the Park; Fitness Classes and Camp Skills Prep Class.
Trips to natural areas outside of the community will include Camping Trips in Southern California Campgrounds in San Bernardino Mountains, including Barton Flats, Joshua Tree National Park, Malibu State Park or LA Historic Park; Hiking Trips in Southern California at Malibu State Park, Eaton Canyon, Griffith Park, Temescal Canyon, Debbs Park and Whittier Narrows.
Community Home Base Location
16508 S. Vermont Avenue Gardena, CA 90262
| County | Los Angeles |
| Assembly District | AD 65 Mike A. Gipson (D) |
| Senate District |
SD 35 Laura Richardson (D) |
| Congressional District | CD 43 Maxine Waters (D) |
Program Goals
Service Learning/Career Pathway/Leadership Opportunities
Community Leader: 48 community residents / youth will have the opportunity to help serve as a Community Leader for the month and help Program Coordinator plan activities and natural area trips. Participant will receive a stipend for participating. All participants will give input to coordinate Annual Green Resource Fair at the Community Home Base. The Green Resource fair will focus on environmental justice focus organizations, career opportunities in community environment stewardship opportunities and environmental justice professions.
Partnerships
Wolf Tribe – will coordinate one or more activities conducting outdoor skills.
Homeboy Industries – will work with Re-Entry youth who will be invited to camping trips to co mentor Re Entry youth in the community. They will also share their Solar Panel Installation and Recycling Social Enterprise business workforce opportunities with the participants. They have volunteer staff who will support in camping trips as they have annual camping trips and similar programming.
Mentoring
Southern California Crossroads has a variety of youth development programs which will be offered to youth during the grant period and post the grant period. One of the goals throughout the grant period is to seek additional funding to fund continuous programming and equitable access to the outdoors. Priority would be to fund annual camping trips for youth.
In addition, grantee hopes to find youth workforce development funding to continue to host an annual Green Resource Fair. Youth will be trained in environmental justice and correlation with community wellness. Community wellness will include selfcare, mental health awareness, community safety and equitable access to clean outdoor spaces in their community. Through the organization of the annual Green Resource Fair youth will take lead in researching partners and potential job employers in green fields that promote sustainability and stewardship for their environment. Grantee hopes to find funding to provide stipends and internships for 12 youth each year and host the Green Resource Fair as a youth initiative annually.
Annual Report Details
Programs may span from one year to multi-year, not to exceed four years. The specific length of the program is contained in the description above.
| Category | 2023 | 2024 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Served | 0 | 150 | 150 |
| Days for Activities in the Community | 0 | 89 | 89 |
| Nature Area Trips | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Inspirational Quotes or Testimonials
2024
This is my first time in Big Bear and my first time seeing snow. I didn't know nature could be so magical and beautiful. I want to come back and bring my little sister. We have only seen snow in the movies. I wish more students in my school had the chance to come to the mountains and see snow. Thank you much for bringing us. This is better than I could have imagined
-- Lynwood High School Student who attended Big Bear Camping Trip
List of Educational Goals Achieved
2023
Program still in the planning stages and updates will be submitted in 2024.
2024
Our Outdoor Program met key educational goals by integrating STEM-based learning, environmental stewardship, and career exploration. We facilitated workshops at the Gardena Hub and local schools, covering forestry careers, conservation, and environmental justice. Participants engaged in "Leave It Better Than You Found It" activities, fostering responsibility for natural spaces. Workshops aligned with Statewide Environmental Education (Public Resources Code, Sections 71300-71305), connecting science, technology, and nature. We introduced career pathways in environmental protection, park operations, and conservation, helping youth explore green careers.Through our partnership with Wolf Tribe, youth developed leadership skills via team-building and mentorship. Facilitators provided hands-on learning, guided hikes, and conservation projects. These experiences empowered participants to become environmental stewards and advocates for outdoor equity.
List of Formed Partnerships
2023
Program still in the planning stages and updates will be submitted in 2024.
2024
We developed key partnerships with Deane Dana Friendship Park Natural Area and the Hispanic Access Fund to enhance outdoor youth equity and access for Latina/o families. Through our collaboration with Deane Dana Friendship Park, we facilitated guided hikes, nature programs, and conservation-focused community events, fostering environmental awareness and outdoor engagement. The Hispanic Access Fund played a vital role in expanding outreach and participation in Latino Conservation Week, where families engaged in educational activities promoting environmental stewardship. These partnerships have significantly increased community access to natural spaces, strengthening connections between youth, families, and outdoor recreation.
Lessons
2023
Program still in the planning stages and updates will be submitted in 2024.
2024
A key success of our program was partnering with local schools, which helped us effectively reach youth and community members. Schools provided a direct way to engage students in environmental education, conservation, and outdoor equity initiatives. Hosting workshops on forestry careers, environmental justice, and stewardship within familiar spaces increased participation and long-term impact. One unforeseen challenge was transportation to farther natural areas which we addressed for the new year. Another success was integrating hands-on experiences, such as guided hikes and conservation projects, which reinforced classroom learning. Teachers became great ambassadors in supporting our programs and even joining in our trips. Through their feedback and support we were able to increase participation. Another great outcome was our partnership with Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department and their Natural Areas. We hosted various events and programming at various Nature Centers.
