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Heal the Bay Blog

Category: Events

See the full Gala Photo Album (Michel Guyon & John Salangsang of Line8 Photography)

What a night!!  Thank you to all who were a part of the celebration. Your generous support of the Bring Back the Beach 2023 Gala enables Heal the Bay to continue (and expand) our mission to make coastal waters and watersheds in Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy, and clean. Guests enjoyed drinks, dancing and a one-of-a-kind experience in the Time to Act Augmented Reality Tents all at the iconic Jonathan Club right on the beach in Santa Monica.

Bring Back the Beach was a tremendous success, raising critical funds to reinforce our work!

With your support the event raised more than 🎉$925,000🎉exceeding all expectations and allowing Heal the Bay to continue our mission to #protectwhatyoulove: our irreplaceable Southern CA watersheds and coastal waters.

We were delighted you were part of the celebration honoring Assemblywoman Luz Rivas with the Dorothy Green Award; Amy Liu, Founder Tower 28 Beauty, with the Wave Award; and Jan & Marsh Mokhtari, Co-Founders Gray Whale Gin, with the Walk the Talk Award (Images below).  We also hope you had fun!

 

Check out the Bring Back the Beach Gala Flickr for even more pictures of the spectacular celebration.

A tidal wave of thanks to all the elected officials who came out to show their environmental support for our coastline from #Summit2Sea:

🔷Assemblymember Luz Rivas

🔷Assemblymember Mike Fong

🔷Senator Ben Allen

🔷Assemblymember Laura Friedman

🔷Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi

🔷Assemblymember Jaqui Irwin

🔷Assemblymember Lisa Calderon

🔷LA City Katy Yaraslovsky, 5th Council District

A Great Wave of Gratitude for our Special Supporters

Thank you once again to our special supporters–without whom this magical night would not have been possible–for being part of the movement to improve LA from summit to sea!

Liquid IV

LAcarGUY

Gregory Willis Air Lease Corporation

Laura Woeste Air Lease Corporation

Laura Woeste Air Lease Corporation

Dan Bunce Brown and Caldwell

Gray Whale Gin

Craig Perkins The Energy Coalition

Marsh Mokhtari Gray Whale Gin

Adam Sullins Latham & Watkins LLP

Robin Onkka GHD Ticket

Beverley Stinson AECOM

Amy Bowers Arcadis

Audi Pacific Donation

Jim Clark Black & Veatch

Leneyde Chavez Carollo Engineers

Melissa Ferguson CDM Smith

Kristi Steinberg Ernst & Young Donation

Ian Eddleston EY

Ian Eddleston EY

Donna Bloom-Crook HDR Engineering, Inc.

Brandon Ramirez Hyundai Motor America

Brandon Ramirez Hyundai Motor America

Rich Nagel Jacobs

Larry Witzer Johnny Carson Foundation

Pamerla Perez LA Sanitation

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

Nikita Lingenfelter McCarthy Construction

Adel Hagekhalil Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Sharon Lawrence

Camela Ott None

Richard Katz Richard Katz Consulting, inc.

Venu Kolli Stantec Consulting

Greg Morena The Albright

Adam Galia The Boeing Company

Kari Boiler The Boiler Family Trust

Arie Harel The Walsh Group

Amy Liu Tower 28

Toyota Santa Monica

Bob Kane World Surf League

Katy Fox Donation BOA

Madelyn Glickfeld

Brian O’Malley

David Weil Harvard-Westlake School

Hampik Dekermenjian Hazen and Sawyer

Chris Minton Larry Walker Associates

Maribeth Tan Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts

Caitlin Ishigooka Southern California Edison

Luciana Brafman Time to Act Entertainment

Nichol Shuart Wells Fargo Capital Finance

SEE THE GALA JOURNAL

2023 GALA PHOTO ALBUM

JOIN THE 2024 GALA GUESTLIST

 



Nick Gabaldón Day will take place on Saturday, June 3, 2023, from 9AM – 4:30PM. Sign up for FREE Surf Lessons or REGISTER to Volunteer

Celebrating Nick Gabaldón

Nick Gabaldón (1927-1951) was a pioneering surfer of Mexican and African American descent. He was the first documented surfer of color in the Santa Monica Bay. Gabaldón’s passion, athleticism, discipline, love and respect for the ocean live on as the quintessential qualities of the California surfer.

In 2013, with the help of African American historian Alison Rose Jefferson, Heal the Bay joined forces with the Black Surfers Collective to amplify and expand their prior Nick Gabaldón efforts. Nick Gabaldón Day is now in its 11th year, and will be held on June 3, 2023, as a collaboration of organizations gather together to honor this great legacy that left ripples throughout many communities. ​The Surf Bus Foundation is another essential organization to the structure and safety of Nick Gabaldón Day 2023, empowering people to have a healing connection to the sea by engaging in ocean sports like surfing.

This innovative and collaborative celebration provides an amazing opportunity for broadening outreach, action, and education to connect Angelenos with their cultural, historical, and natural heritage.

Sign up for FREE Surf Lessons or REGISTER to Volunteer

 We are excited this year to welcome LA28.  The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games will celebrate our community’s diversity and creativity to collectively design a Games we all want to be a part of.  The Games are organized by an independent, non-profit, private organization that partners with private and public entities to deliver the Games. Participants will have an opportunity to meet and hear inspirational stories from Olympic athletes.  

Once Upon a Beach, in the Face of Adversity

The shoreline and waters at Bay Street in Santa Monica were an active hub of African American beach life during the Jim Crow era. This beach was popular from the 1900s to early 1960s among African American people, who sought to avoid hostile and racial discrimination they might experience at other southland beaches. Racial discrimination and restrictive covenants prevented African Americans from buying property throughout the Los Angeles region, but their community’s presence and agency sustained their oceanfront usage in Santa Monica.

In 2008, the City of Santa Monica officially recognized the “Inkwell” and Nick Gabaldón with a landmark monument at Bay Street and the Oceanfront Walk. In 2019, this same beach was listed as the Bay Street Beach Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in the African American experience and American history.

A Beach Day For All: June 3, 2023

Nick Gabaldón Day introduces young and old from inland communities to the magic of the coast through free surf and ocean safety lessons, beach ecology exploration, and a history lesson about a man who followed his passion and a community who challenged anti-Black discrimination to enjoy the beach.

Sign Up For Free Surf Lessons

Register to Volunteer

The Black Surfers Collective, Heal the Bay, Surf Bus Foundation, and the Santa Monica Conservancy collaborate for Nick Gabaldón Day to reach families in resource-challenged communities and to connect them with meaningful educational programming. Together, we are helping build personal experiences with cultural, historical, natural heritage, and civic engagement that make up the foundation of stewardship, and the development of the next generation of heritage conservation and environmental leaders.

Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier will be free for all visitors in honor of Nick on Saturday, June 3, 2023 thanks to a generous sponsorship. A celebrity guest reader will pop in for story time and special art activities will be offered, as well as screenings of documentaries exploring issues of race, coastal access, and following your passion against all odds (12 Miles North: The Nick Gabaldón Story” [2012] and  “La Maestra (The Teacher)” [2014]).

Tentative Agenda: June 3, 2023

  • 9 am Welcome Ceremony and Memorial Paddle Out for Nick at Bay Street Beach
  • 10 am – 1 pm Free surf lessons, beach and local history exploration, and cleanup at Bay Street Beach. MUST REGISTER TO ACCESS FREE SURF LESSONS.
  • 1 pm – 4 pm Celebration continues at Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier; admission to the Aquarium is free today in honor of Nick.
    • 1 pm Documentary screening
    • 2 pm Children’s story time with guest reader
    • 3 pm Documentary screening

Nick Gabaldón Day 2023 Presented By
Black Surfers Collective
Heal the Bay
Surf Bus Foundation
Santa Monica Conservancy

 Partners
Swim Up Hill
Color the Water
LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games
SoFly Surf School

Participating Youth Groups
Outward Bound Adventures
The Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena

Sponsors
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Funding for this project was provided (in part) by the Refugio Beach Oil Spill South Coast Shoreline Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grants Program overseen by the Refugio Beach Oil Spill Trustee Council.

For more information about partnership and sponsorship opportunities please contact: Jeff Williams, Black Surfers Collective, ghettosurfn@gmail.com or Meredith McCarthy, Heal the Bay 310.451.1500 ext. 116 or mmccarthy@healthebay.org.

Bios 

Alison Rose Jefferson M.H.C. Ph.D.

Alison Rose Jefferson M.H.C. Ph.D. is a historian and heritage conservation consultant who has contributed to the organization of the Nick Gabaldón Day celebration since 2013. Currently, Jefferson’s work is public facing as consultant on Los Angeles history projects. Her book Living the California Dreams: African American Leisure Sites during the in the Jim Crow Era, rethinks the significance of the struggle for leisure and public space for all within the long freedom rights struggle and civil rights movement. Her book was honored with the 2020 Miriam Matthews Ethnic History Award by the Los Angeles City Historical Society for its exceptional contributions to the greater understanding and awareness of regional history. Dr. Jefferson’s work has garnered attention in the L.A. Times and other media outlets. For more information about her activities visit her website, www.alisonrosejefferson.com. 

Surf Bus Foundation 

​The Surf Bus Foundation’s mission is to empower people to have a healing connection to the sea. They do this by engaging in ocean sports like surfing, swimming and beach games while exploring the wonder and beauty of the sea. Our teaching and mentoring provides understanding that encourages a lifelong commitment to share and protect our oceans for all to enjoy. 

Jamal Hill 

Jamal Hill is a Los Angeles based educator and community leader with over 10 years of experience in aquatics that include teaching inner-city youth swim lessons, serving as an LA County lifeguard, and representing Team USA as a member of the Paralympic Swimming team. Dismantling the barriers to industry entry such as previous aquatic related trauma, lack of access to calm water environments, unestablished learning curves, and non-affordable pricing, Jamal helps to create restorative justice through swimming for underserved communities with little access to this life saving essentials. 



Earth Month is here!  Heal the Bay is excited to celebrate this April from #Summit2Sea.  Our waterways are precious and care for them is an essential part of keeping the Earth healthy.  This April, make time to honor and care for them, from the San Fernando Valley to Mulholland all the way to the sands of Santa Monica Bay.  Greater Los Angeles offers opportunities to learn ways to conserve, go outside to do some good, and celebrate our precious blue planet with Heal the Bay all month long.

Individuals, households, schools, businesses, and community organizations are all invited to attend Heal the Bay’s Earth Month events. Our inspiring and fun activities all contribute to our dedication to protect Southern California coastal waters, rivers, creeks, and beloved beaches from Summit to Sea.   Join us and bring your family and friends to help Heal the Bay.


Heal the Bay Earth Month 2023 Calendar of Special Events

Scroll down for our full #Summit2Sea list of Earth Month events and activities waiting for you to get involved.  Don’t forget to stop by our partner events listed below, as well.

Beach Captain’s Training- Virtual & In Person

Tuesday, April 11, 6 PM – 7 PM PST

Our monthly Nothin’ But Sand cleanups are public events open for all to join and we couldn’t run these awesome cleanups without the help of our amazing captains & Speakers! Our Beach Captains lead our cleanup volunteers, educate the public on Heal the Bay’s work and mission, help with registration, hand out supplies, fill out community service forms, and represent the organization on the sand. Beach Captain Volunteer Training is a two-step process. First, attend a virtual Beach Captains Volunteer Training, then attend our in-person cleanup to finalize your traininig.

Training Dates:

Hundreds of pounds of trash are removed from the beaches of Los Angeles at each Nothin’ But Sand Cleanup, helping to promote safe, clean coastlines for wildlife and people alike. We could not achieve this without amazing volunteer Beach Captains. Ready to dive in?

 Register for Beach Captain Training


Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup – In-Person

Saturday, April 15, 10 AM – 1 PM PST

April is Earth Month, so we are amping up our regularly scheduled Nothin’ But Sand cleanup. Come for the great feeling you get when you volunteer, then stay to win prizes at our sponsored raffle.   While you’re there, check out our on-the-sand art installation Marina the Mermaid (Artist Andrea Martina Isenschmid), and celebrate your good work with a silent disco party. 

Dance your way to a cleaner beach to support Heal the Bay!  We are thrilled to partner with World of Sound Productions by offering our cleanup volunteers a unique silent disco dance party experience. DJs will be spinning family-friendly music through your rented headphones for ALL AGES including: EDM, house music, nu-disco, hip hop, Latin, pop and remixes from the 70’s to current day. Headphones will be available for rent on the sand, but you can prebook yours today after you register to reserve your bucket. A percentage of profits will be donated to Heal the Bay to further support our marine and coastal watershed protection work! Reserve your headphones with World of Sound.

A Big Wave of thanks to Golden Road Brewing, Ocean Conservancy, and Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors for sponsoring this very special cleanup!

 Register for Nothin’ But Sand

 Reserve Headphones


Celebrate Earth Month at Heal the Bay Aquarium-

In-Person

Saturday, April 15, 11 AM – 4 PM PST

The award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium located at the Santa Monica Pier has planned an afternoon filled with fun Earth Month activities.  Featuring exciting exhibits and demonstrations, it’s a great way for the entire family to experience the Santa Monica Bay and observe the local animals that call it home.

Heal the Bay Aquarium’s Earth Month Celebration schedule includes:

Aquarium Opens (11 AM): Check out our award-winning animal exhibits, visit with sharks and sea stars in the touch tanks.

Wildlife Observation Station (12:00 PM to 3:00PM): Visitors who walk to the west end of the Pier will find our wildlife station, staffed and stocked with binoculars and bird identification guides.

Sea Star Feeding (1:00 & 3:00 PM): Help Heal the Bay Aquarium staff feed our sea stars their favorite lunch in our Tide Pool Touch Tanks.

Story Time (2:00 PM): Join the Heal the Bay team for a whale of a tale at our Earth Month Themed Story time.

Mini Dance Party (12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (hourly): At the top of each hour, join Heal the Bay in our Dorothy Green Room for a Mini Dance Party to celebrate all things Earth Month.

All Afternoon: Enjoy an eco-themed crafts station, short films, and hands-on pollution displays including our 6-foot-tall Marina the Mermaid art installation (artists Artist Andrea Martina Isenschmid).

Visit Heal the Bay Aquarium


Stussy x Heal the Bay Collaboration Launch – Virtual & In-Person

Saturday, April 22, 11 AM – 4 PM PST

Stüssy and Heal The Bay have collaborated on a capsule collection consisting of two
ecocycle blank co-branded t-shirts, and a mesh hat. 100% of the proceeds from this collaboration will be donated to Heal the Bay to further support our marine and coastal watershed protection work!

Stüssy and Heal The Bay is available at Stussy.com and LA Chapter only on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Check out the Collaboration


Earth Day 2023 Celebration at Heal the Bay Aquarium -In Person

Saturday, April 22, 12 PM to 4 PM PST

Did you miss out on the Earth Month fun last Saturday? Enjoy the encore of exciting exhibits and activities as Heal the Bay Aquarium celebrates Earth Day on April 22. Come celebrate the wonder of our Earth’s oceans with touch tanks, sea star feeding sessions, story time, an eco-themed crafts station, short films, an on the pier Wildlife Observation Station, photoshoots with our 6-foot-tall Marina the Mermaid art installation, and mini dance parties at the top of each hour.

Earth Day at Heal the Bay Aquarium


Gardena Willow Wetlands Earth Day Celebration & Blue Table Talk- Virtual & In-Person

Saturday, April 22, 11 AM – 11:30 AM

Start the Morning with a wetlands cleanup at Johnson Park from 8 AM -10 AM, then look for the shimmering Heal the Bay Blue Table at the Gardena Willow Wetlands Earth Day Celebration from 10 AM-1 PM where there will be informational booths, food, music, a scavenger hunt, games, and arts and crafts!

Join us for the Blue Table Talk at 11 AM, and take a seat at the table to chat about some of Los Angeles’ most pertinent water topics. Sit down with our watershed experts from Heal the Bay, the Natural History Museum, and TreePeople to ask us anything about water, and its connection to our local habitats. This pop-up roundtable is FREE and open to the public. 

Can’t make it to the Blue Table in Person? Follow @cityofgardenaca to join us at the table on Facebook LIVE and then check out @healthebay for the replay!

Watch the Blue Table Talk LIVE


SURFScape -A Consumer-First Experiential Event -In Person

Saturday April 29, 9AM – 5PM & Sunday 30, 9AM – 3PM PST

Enjoy an immersive consumer experience featuring the best brands in surf and the outdoors, produced by the Surf Industry Members Association, supporters of the Nowcast Beach Report Card. The event is free to attend and family friendly. Stop by the Heal the Bay Beach Report Card table as you check out tons of outdoor gear demos, listen to inspirational conversations around environmentalism and sustainability, enjoy food, and watch local surfers catch waves.

 SURFScape


Earth Month April eDNA Community Science Event with MPA Watch -In Person

Saturday, April 29, 10 AM -1 PM

Interested in meeting volunteers and participating in cutting-edge science? We are excited to reintroduce a fun and social Heal the Bay event that will occur monthly in the Malibu Marine Protected Area transects! Heal the Bay is partnering with UCLA again to collect sea water samples in Malibu for an environmental DNA scientific testing program with PhD candidate, Moriah Byrd. All marine life leaves traces of DNA in their environment. eDNA water testing analyzes the quantification of biodiversity in a standardized way within a marine ecosystem, making it an incredible tool to monitor Marine Protected Areas.

Register ASAP as spots are limited.

 REGISTER for eDNA Training


BioBlitz in the Marsh- In-Person

Saturday April 29, 10 AM – 11:30 AM

Heal the Bay’s Safe Clean Water Program team is adventuring out to Madrona Marsh in Torrance, CA on 4/29 at 10am for an Earth Month BioBlitz. Heal the Bay staff will instruct guests on how to safely observe and document wildlife while discovering more about local marsh ecosystems. Come walk in nature to collect data as part of the 2023 LA City Nature Challenge, sponsored by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences.

Registration on Eventbrite in advance is required.

Register ASAP as spots are limited.

 Register for BioBliz


 Heal the Bay Earth Month 2023 Tabling Calendar 

Check out our list of Earth Month events hosted by some of our favorite social, environmental, and partner organizations across Los Angeles. Stop by Heal the Bay’s Outreach table while you’re enjoying Earth Month fun around Los Angeles County this April.

LA Galaxy Easter Egg Hunt and Earth Month Celebration, Dignity Health Sports Park: Track and Field Stadium, April 7, 12 PM

FOLAR Earth With Us Great LA River Cleanup, Golden Shore Marine Biological Reserve, 201 Golden Shore Long Beach, CA 90802, April 22, 8 AM

LASAN Earth Day LA Expo, Hyperion, 12505 Vista Del Mar, Playa del Rey, April 22, 10 AM

Earth Day at Gardena Willow Wetlands, 10 AM

20th Annual Earth Day Celebration at the Beverly Hills Farmers Market, April 23, 9 AM

The City of Alhambra Utilities Department 2023 Eco Fair, 100 S Second Street Alhambra, CA 91801, April 23, 8 AM -1 PM

Earth Day Celebration 2023 at Wilderness Park, Wilderness Park 1102 Camino Real, Redondo Beach, CA, 90277, April 22, 2 PM & April 23, 3 PM

Kids Beach Cleanup Event (Plus Traveling Tidepool, Arts & Crafts, & More), Dockweiler Youth Center, Playa del Rey, CA, April 29, 9 AM- 12 PM


All Earth-Month-Long at Heal the Bay 

Take the Pledge: Start your Commitment to Conservation 

All Month Long

Take Heal the Bay and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s ONE Water pledge for a step by step guide on saving water indoors and outdoors during the drought. The Dashboard.Earth app connects Angelenos to the climate solutions that matter most in their neighborhoods and makes it easy and rewarding to take action. Together, we can brighten Los Angeles’ water future.

Capture the QR code above to begin the ONE Water Pledge. Already on a mobile device? Download the App.

ACTION LINK(S)

TAKE THE PLEDGE


FREE Beach Wheelchair Rentals & Beach Exploration with Heal the Bay Aquarium – In person

All Month Long 9:30 AM – 11 AM PST

Need a Beach Wheelchair to enjoy some fun in the sun? Everyone should be able to enjoy a day at the beach, so come to Heal the Bay Aquarium to access our manual, beach wheelchairs, available for FREE public rentals.

Pick Up Location Details

Heal the Bay’s Beach Wheelchair rental program helps provide accessibility to one of nature’s most inspiring and critically important resources, and was made possible thanks to funding from The Coastal Conservancy. Learn more about our Beach Wheelchair Rental Program: https://healthebay.org/beach-wheelchairs-santa-monica-pier/


Gear Up for Earth Day with Heal the Bay 

All Month Long

Nothing says Earth Day like swag from Heal the Bay. Use promo code EARTHLOVE for 15% off everything in the Heal the Bay online store from April 1 – April 30, 2023.

Shop the Bay 


Make waves for a sustainable future in Greater Los Angeles, by making your Earth Month donation to Heal the Bay.

  • Inspire Local Youth: Your $25 gift can provide 1 student with a marine science education experience.
  • Tackle Toxic Plastics: Your $50 gift can train 2 volunteers to fight plastic pollution with strong advocacy.
  • Restore Our Rivers: Your $100 gift can underwrite 1 week of water quality monitoring in local freshwater spots
  • Protect Clean Water: Your $500 gift can fund campaigns to hold polluters accountable for pollutants in the Bay

DONATE 



Heal the Bay thrives because of our amazing volunteers. We are only able to celebrate those achievements because of the time, dedication, and support that our volunteers so graciously donate. 

Each and every volunteer is instrumental to the success of our organization whether educating the public, reaching out to communities, aiding in aquarium care, or picking up plastic at the beach.  Volunteer passion for the environment through selfless dedication is the ture heart and soul of Heal the Bay and drive our accomplishments toward achieving the mission to protect coastal waters and watersheds of Southern California. On March 23, 2023, we took time to celebrate our volunteers at Heal the Bay’s 33rd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Party and Award Ceremony.  

Sharing our 2022 Volunteer Success: 

  • Aquarium volunteers contributed 4,005 hours to the Heal the Bay Aquarium, supported field trips, assisted in caring for our animals, and guided visitors through the experience of our touch tanks.
  • MPA Watch volunteers conducted 489 surveys in 2022 to monitor human activity in the Palos Verdes and Malibu Marine Protected Area sites.
  • Thousands of volunteers picked up trash from the greater L.A.’s shorelines and neighborhoods last year. On Coastal Cleanup Day, 4,583 volunteers removed more than 11,298 lbs. of trash and 313 lbs. of recyclables from our waterways and neighborhoods.

Our Key Stone Award Winners 

The Jean Howell Award and the Bob Hertz Award are Heal the Bay’s lifetime achievement awards. This years  award winners, like any keystone, have become central to the success of many Heal the Bay programs. A special thank you to our 2023 awardees.  

Tim Cheung – Jean Howell Award 

Tim began volunteering with Heal the Bay in 2017. Through the years, Tim has been instrumental to the Beach Captains team for Nothin’ But Sand and Heal the Bay public cleanup programs. In the past, Tim represented Heal the Bay at tabling events in the community and helped spread our virtual Knowledge Drop education series at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tim brings a strong sense of community to each cleanup and ensuring all team members feel informed and involved along the way, commanding the attention of our cleanup volunteers at Nothin’ But Sand every month, ensuring a safe cleanup. At the end of the cleanup, Tim leads the charge, weighing the trash and transporting large items to the dumpster, often by himself. There is no task Tim isn’t willing to do. 

John Wells – Jean Howell Award 

Since joining Heal the Bay’s MPA Watch Program in February 2020, John has conducted more than 385 MPA Watch surveys. His surveys alone account for more than 25% of the submitted surveys on behalf of Heal the Bay’s MPA Watch program.  John’s increased resolution in our data came during an exceptional need to record unprecedented changes in human recreational and consumptive behavior in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. John was awarded the MPA Watch Super Healer award in 2020 and his dedication to Heal the Bay has only grown stronger, serving as an active volunteer, a Beach Captain at monthly NBS beach clean-ups, Suits on the Sand events, and at Heal the Bay’s Coastal Cleanup Day in 2022. John’s contributions are invaluable 

John Reyes – Bob Hertz Award 

John Reyes attends every Heal the Bay volunteer opportunity. There isn’t a cleanup program or Heal the Bay event that John is not involved. Since 2018,  John has captained Coastal Cleanup Day sites in Dockweiler State Beach and even organized his own Adopt-A-Beach team, “the Beach Reacher’s”, to clean up would-be marine debris from L.A.’s inland watershed. John is always one of the first volunteers to sign up to support special Heal the Bay events such as the Trash Bowl and Golf Open. Even during the rainy seasons John joins our Storm Response cleanup efforts. His leadership at Nothin But Sand Cleanups are instrumental and he has volunteered at over 100 Suits on the Sand cleanups. The current Beach Programs team wishes to express the greatest gratitude for John’s dedication and outstanding support. 

Celebrating our Super Healers 

All Heal the Bay volunteers are wavemakers, but some go above and beyond. We are especially proud to recognize the following outstanding individuals with the 2022 Super Healer Awards: 

Sharon Lawrence – Development Super Healer 

Actress, philanthropist, and leader Sharon Lawrence is known to most as the multiple Primetime Emmy-nominated and SAG Award-winning actress from hit shows like NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy, Monk, Law and Order: SVU, Rizzoli & Isles, and Curb Your Enthusiasm (among many others). She has also been a change-maker at Heal the Bay for more than a decade, working tirelessly wherever she is needed, serving most recently as Chair of the Heal the Bay Board of Directors. Always the advocate for Heal the Bay, Sharon uses her voice and passionate influence to raise unquantifiable amounts of support and donations that have helped fund some of our most important science, policy, and outreach programs. A wavemaker like Sharon is truly one in a million. 

 Amalfi Estates (Anthony Marguleas) – Corporate Super Healer 

Anthony Marguleas of Amalfi Estates often notes: “we are a philanthropic company that excels at selling real estate. Alongside our commitment to our clients stands our commitment to our community.” Every year the Amalfi team donates 10% of their commissions to Heal the Bay among six L.A. charities. Their mighty team of 10 works enthusiastically to support local nonprofits donating more than $2 million since 2015.In just the past two years, nearly $35,000 has benefited Heal the Bay. When it comes to corporate responsibility, Amalfi Estates leads by example, setting the standard for what organizational-wide philanthropy can look like in the 21st century. 

Andrea Martina Isenchmid – Communications Super Healer 

Andrea is an actress, filmmaker, and artist, but we all know and love her as one of our most dedicated Beach Captains and Speakers. She has been a Heal the Bay volunteer for many years, inspiring countless attendees at our Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanups with her energizing educational safety talks. Rain or shine Andrea is always ready to help setup at the beach and a reliable amplifier promoting Heal the Bay’s messaging and advocacy through social media often serving as  impromptu social media photographer for the Communications team.  This year, Andrea furthered  her passion for Heal the Bay’s mission   with the completion on  “Marina the Mermaid”. the single-use plastic recycle. This 6-foot-tall recycled mannequin is adorned with pounds of items collected during Nothin’ But Sand Cleanups and her own self-cleanups. Her artwork will be on display during the entirety of Earth Month this April at the Heal the Bay Aquarium to raise environmental awareness. 

 Celina Banuelos – Public Programs Super Healer 

Celina is a real Ocean Hero, dedicating extensive time and effort to interpreting marine life for the public at the Heal the Bay Aquarium. She has helped countless visitors interact with ocean creatures for the first time at the Aquarium while exercising unwavering advocacy for the animals that live in Santa Monica Bay. Celina inspires people to connect with the ocean. We are so grateful to you, Celina, for all that you have done! 

Hannah Benharash – Public Programs Super Healer 

Hannah is a Heal the Bay regular and is always open to new experiences. Whether breaking down birthday parties or interpreting at the touch tanks on busy weekends, Hannah has made our aquarium programs unforgettable. Hannah is not only enthusiastic and dedicated but also extremely well-known for their unmatched button-making skills! We are grateful to Hannah for always coming to our rescue at the Heal the Bay Aquarium when it is needed the most.   

 Sophia Sorady – Public Programs Super Healer 

Sophia is a Wave Maker who has inspired her peers to take action in support of environmentalism. An amazing advocacy teacher for all our new public programs volunteers, Sophia dedicated time to the Aquarium by ensuring guests responsibly interacting with our animals. . Sophia is a kindhearted leader with compassion for the ocean, and we are proud to have her on our team. 

Ren Capati – Public Programs Super Healer 

Ren is a stellar Public Programs volunteer. Extremely knowledgeable, dependable, and always curious, Ron has been volunteering with the Public Programs team for more years than some senior staff members!  We love talking with Ren about discoveries in marine science, and are grateful for Ren’s infectious passion as part of the Heal the Bay team! 

 Jim Mckenzie – Aquarist Super Healer 

Jim has been volunteering with the Aquarium Operations department for the past two years and is an invaluable member of our team. Jim’s curiosity and dedication to protecting our environment shines through in all the work he does with Heal the Bay. From helping keep exhibits squeaky clean to spending time out on the sand supporting a beach cleanup, Jim has done it all. He is easily our best and most reliable first mate on Dorothy for kelp collections and overall incredible support to have at the Heal the Bay Aquarium. We’re so honored to have Jim be part of our team! 

 Russell Blakely – Super Healer 

Russell first volunteered with Heal the Bay in 2021, as a Beach Captain to help clean coastal areas. Russell is a tireless hero of our Nothin’ But Sand cleanups; always working and giving his all. Recently, Russell has developed into one of our leading Corporate Outreach volunteers, helping at Suits on the Sand cleanups, and on more than one occasion assisting at TWO cleanups in ONE day. Russell is our Suits on the Sand superstar.  

 Brant Kim – Super Healer 

Brant started as a Beach Captain in 2022 and has exhibited multitalented capabilities of leading any station. Exceptionally helpful with uplifting all our new digital initiatives at our cleanups, such as the electronic check-in, waiver check, and DEI survey, Brant’s commitment to community outreach  streamlines Heal the Bay’s Beach Program initiatives. 

Alice Pak – Super Healer 

Alice began volunteering with Heal the Bay in 2022 and has been an excellent addition to the Beach Captains team.  Alice hit the sand running, quickly optimizing our Nothin’ But Sand event procedures, most importantly, our registration booth protocols. With  Alice at the registration desk the Beach Programs volunteer teams are able to check-in 300 attendees in an hour or less.  In addition to serving as  a teacher on the sand for other volunteers, Alice is one of our most dependable Beach Captains. 

David Eddy -Super Healer & Keystone Starfish 

David started volunteering his data analysis skills to Heal the Bay in 2020. In the past, he helped our water quality scientists assess dissolved oxygen levels in the Channel Islands Harbor, painting an impressive overview of the data through visuals and a results overview video. This year, David has started volunteering his time and expertise to help the Beach Programs team revive the marine debris database, integrating our historic data with current datasets, and helping Heal the Bay bring our historic marine debris database into a modern, accessible format. Thank you for making that dream a reality!  

 Tasha Kolokotrones – Science Super Healer 

Tasha Kolokotrones has been an MPA Watch volunteer with Heal the Bay since 2021. Inspired by a  love of the outdoors, Tasha has conducted more than  50 MPA watch surveys earning honorable mention as one our most active MPA Watch volunteers. In 2022, Tasha submitted more surveys than 90% of our other program volunteers. Thanks to Tasha, our Marine Protected Area in Palos Verdes had consistent MPA Watch monitoring in 2022, an accomplishment all on its own!   

Special thanks to Golden Road Brewing for supplying refreshments and cheer! 



(From left) Jeff Williams, Andrea Kabwasa, and Rick Blocker attend Nick Gabaldón Day at Bay Street Beach — June 18, 2022.

CELEBRATING OUR 10TH YEAR in partnership with Black Surfers Collective (BSC) and The Surf Bus Foundation, we only have to thank Rick Blocker. For over 50 years Rick has been a powerful advocate for diversity and inclusion in surfing. Rick is an original member of the Black Surfing Association.

Fifteen years ago Heal the Bay had a table next to BSC at community resource fair at the Crenshaw Mall. I had the privilege of meeting him then. We got to talking about beach access and how to diversify the beach. He told me about what the Collective had started with Nick Gabaldón Day. I told him, Heal the Bay has an Aquarium, bus money, and a lot to learn. He said, “your hired”.

He arranged a meeting with African American historian Alison Rose Jefferson as well as Jeff Williams and Greg Rachal from the Black Surfers Collective, and the rest is a joyous history. I am eternally grateful and humbled to stand with this group.

Check out more photos and stories from Nick Gabaldón Day 2022.

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Nick Gabaldón Day celebrates the incredible life and legacy of the first documented surfer of color in the Santa Monica Bay. Gabaldón (1927-1951) was a pioneering surfer of African American and Mexican American descent whose passion, athleticism, discipline, love, and respect for the ocean live on as the quintessential qualities of the California surfer.  This year, Black Surfers Collective, Heal the Bay, Surf Bus Foundation, Santa Monica Conservancy, Color the Water, and devoted community members gathered at the Historic Bay Street Beach to honor these tenets followed by a screening of Wade in the Water and story time at Heal the Bay Aquarium.

Join us in sending a big wave of thanks to our 2022 sponsors:

Thanks to the Tuesday Night Ultimate Frisbee Group affiliated with LA Throwback Foundation, folks that are interested promoting civic engagement and history through sports, for funding support of Nick Gabaldón Day.


Written By Meredith McCarthy. Heal the Bay’s long time Programs Director has recently shifted to the Director of Operations. Meredith now oversees the organizational health and wellbeing of all programs and staff. As an avid scuba diver she has seen firsthand what putting too much in, taking too much out and ignoring the edge of the ocean has done to our coastal systems.



Nick Gabaldón Day will take place on Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 9AM – 4:30PM.

Nick Gabaldón (1927-1951) was a pioneering surfer of African American and Mexican American descent. He was the first documented surfer of color in the Santa Monica Bay. Gabaldón’s passion, athleticism, discipline, love, and respect for the ocean live on as the quintessential qualities of the California surfer.

In 2013, with the help of African American historian Alison Rose Jefferson, Heal the Bay joined forces with the Black Surfers Collective to amplify and expand their prior Nick Gabaldón efforts. Nick Gabaldón Day, in its current form, is now in its 10th year and will be held on June 18, 2022. This innovative celebration provides an amazing opportunity for broadening outreach, action, and education to connect Angelenos with their cultural, historical, and natural heritage.

The shoreline and waters at Bay Street in Santa Monica were an active hub of African American beach life during the Jim Crow era. This beach was popular from the 1900s to early 1960s among African American people, who sought to avoid hostile and racial discrimination they might experience at other southland beaches. Racial discrimination and restrictive covenants prevented African Americans from buying property throughout the Los Angeles region, but their community’s presence and agency sustained their oceanfront usage in Santa Monica.

In 2008, the City of Santa Monica officially recognized the “Inkwell” and Nick Gabaldón with a landmark monument at Bay Street and the Oceanfront Walk. In 2019, this same beach was listed as the Bay Street Beach Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in the African American experience and American history.

Nick Gabaldón Day introduces young and old from inland communities to the magic of the coast through free surf and ocean safety lessons, beach ecology exploration, and a history lesson about a man who followed his passion and a community who challenged anti-Black discrimination to enjoy the beach.

The Black Surfers Collective, Heal the Bay, Surf Bus Foundation, and the Santa Monica Conservancy collaborate for Nick Gabaldón Day to reach families in resource-challenged communities and connect them to meaningful educational programming. Together, we are helping build personal experiences with cultural, historical, natural heritage, and civic engagement that make up the foundation of stewardship, and the development of the next generation of heritage conservation and environmental leaders.

Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier will be free for all visitors in honor of Nick on Saturday, June 18 thanks to a grant from Northrop Grumman. A celebrity guest reader will pop in for story time and special art activities will be offered, as well as screenings of documentaries exploring issues of race, coastal access, and following your passion against all odds.

Tentative Agenda: June 18, 2022

  • 9 am Welcome Ceremony and Memorial Paddle Out for Nick at Bay Street Beach
  • 10 am – 1 pm Free surf lessons (we’ve reached max. capacity for surf lessons!), beach and local history exploration, and cleanup at Bay Street Beach.
  • 1 pm – 4 pm Celebration continues at Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier; admission to the Aquarium is free today in honor of Nick.
    • 1 pm Documentary screening
    • 2 pm Children’s story time with guest reader
    • 3 pm Documentary screening

Nick Gabaldón Day 2022 Partners
Black Surfers Collective
Heal the Bay
Surf Bus Foundation
Santa Monica Conservancy
Color the Water

Sponsors
Stüssy
Northrop Grumman
Thanks to the Tuesday Night Ultimate Frisbee Group affiliated with LA Throwback Foundation, folks that are interested promoting civic engagement and history through sports, for funding support of Nick Gabaldón Day.

For more information about partnership and sponsorship opportunities please contact: Jeff Williams, Black Surfers Collective, ghettosurfn@gmail.com or Meredith McCarthy, Heal the Bay 310.451.1500 ext. 116 or mmccarthy@healthebay.org.

 



Earth Month is here and Heal the Bay is excited to celebrate all April long with in-person volunteer activities and hands-on training events, plus live virtual discussions and educational opportunities. Let’s learn and grow, go outside to do some good, and celebrate our amazing blue planet together because every day is Earth Day.

Individuals, households, schools, businesses, and community organizations are all invited to attend Heal the Bay’s Earth Month events. No special training or experience is required for any of our activities. Heal the Bay’s goal is to create that spark of inspiration so we can Spring Into Action for our coastal waters, rivers, creeks, and beaches in Los Angeles County. 

Spring into the Climate Challenge – Virtual

ALL MONTH LONG Action

Take a deep dive into the climate impacts on our local coastal and marine ecosystems in our Spring Into Climate Action blog. We’ll discuss the coastal impacts of the climate crisis, the main sources of the pollution that is accelerating climate change, and what you can do about it. We are not powerless in this climate crisis. Small changes at home do add up, and individual action can also take the form of supporting the systemic changes we need. Together, our actions can make huge waves!

Act Now


Scroll down for our full calendar and event details on how to get involved.

Heal the Bay Earth Month 2022 Calendar of Special Events

Anti-Plastic Advocacy Happy Hour – Virtual

Thursday, April 7, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM PST

Heal the Bay’s Plastics Initiative team is hosting an advocacy event to provide information about current state bills and local policies that address the enormous plastic pollution issue. Attendees can participate in reducing plastic pollution in LA County and California by completing specific actions! Registration in advance is required.

RSVP For Happy Hour


Volunteer Orientation Meetup – Virtual

Monday, April 11, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM PST 

Get an introduction to Heal the Bay, our current issues, and how you can take part in our exciting volunteer programs. Founded on the principle that one person can make a difference, Heal the Bay has empowered thousands of volunteers to improve their environment, and now you can make a difference too. Our Orientation is ideal for those who want to learn more about how to take part in our beach, community science, and Aquarium programs. Registration in advance is required.

Register for Orientation


BioBlitz the Bay – In-person

Saturday, April 16, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM PST

Heal the Bay’s MPA Watch team is adventuring out to a Marine Protected Area for an early morning tidepool tour and bioblitz. Experts will instruct guests on how to safely observe and document wildlife while discovering more about local marine ecosystems. This event is an introduction to one of Heal the Bay’s most popular community science programs where volunteers take long walks on the beach to collect data and protect precious marine habitats. Registration in advance is required.

 Register for the Bioblitz


Earth Month Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup – In-person

Saturday, April 16, 10 AM – Noon PST

Our big Earth Month cleanup helps to ensure safe, clean, and healthy local beaches. This Nothin’ But Sand beach cleanup is a meaningful opportunity for volunteers to directly improve the condition of our beaches while enjoying the outdoors. Cleanup supplies are provided and speakers will share ocean pollution facts and safety talks for people of all ages. 

This is our first Earth Month cleanup since 2019 – at that time, 1,072 volunteers picked up 271 pounds of trash and debris that would have otherwise entered our ocean. This year we are restricting capacity due to health and safety concerns from the pandemic. Please note: April’s cleanup location will be provided in a CONFIRMATION EMAIL after you complete the registration at Eventbrite.

If the event says it is SOLD OUT, you can still come! Please bring your own gloves and buckets to participate in the cleanup. For those of you who can’t register because it is sold out, we will announce the location on the Eventbrite page a few days before the cleanup, so check back then to find out where we will be.

Special perks for volunteers: Stay energized at our Earth Month Nothin’ But Sand cleanup in April with FREE coffee provided by Don Francisco’s coffee truck. Just by participating in the cleanup, 3 lucky volunteers will win free coffee for a year from Don Francisco.

Sign Up for Nothin’ But Sand

A BIG thank you to our April Nothin’ But Sand Sponsors 

Don Francisos 

Amalfi Estates 

Interactive Brokers

ARES Management

EarthDay.org


FREE Beach Wheelchair Rentals & Beach Exploration with Heal the Bay Aquarium – In-person

Saturday, April 16, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM PST 

Need a Beach Wheelchair to enjoy some fun in the sun? Everyone should be able to enjoy a day at the beach, so come to Heal the Bay Aquarium to access our manual, beach wheelchairs, available for FREE public rentals.

Once you’re on the shore, take part in the Earth Month Nothin’ But Sand Cleanup or join Heal the Bay Aquarium staff for a guided beach exploration to learn more about the California coast and the thriving ecosystems we strive to protect.

Pick Up Location Details

Heal the Bay’s Beach Wheelchair rental program helps provide accessibility to one of nature’s most inspiring and critically important resources, and was made possible thanks to funding from The Coastal Conservancy. Learn more about our Beach Wheelchair Rental Program: https://healthebay.org/beach-wheelchairs-santa-monica-pier/


Heal the Bay Aquarium Earth Month Celebration – In-person 

Saturday, April 16, Noon – 4 PM PST 

The award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium located at the Santa Monica Pier has programmed an afternoon filled with fun Earth Month activities. Featuring exciting exhibits and demonstrations, it’s a great way for the entire family to experience the Santa Monica Bay and observe the local animals that call it home.

Our Aquarium’s Earth Day schedule includes:

  • “Who Pollutes?” Dorothy Green Room Special Presentation –  12:30 PM and 2:30 PM
  • Saturday Sea Star Feedings –  1:00 PM and 3:00 PM
  • Earth Day Story Time – 2:00 PM

Crafts, pollution displays, and short films will round out our afternoon of activities. 

Visit Heal the Bay Aquarium


Heal the Bay Stream Team Live on Instagram – Virtual

Wednesday, April 20, 3:30 PM – 4 PM PST

Immerse yourself in the science of water quality without getting your feet wet. Dive into a live discussion on @healthebay Instagram with Heal the Bay’s Stream Team and learn about how to start your impactful journey into the world of environmental careers.

Follow HTB on Instagram


Heal the Bay Aquarium Live on Instagram – Virtual

Friday, April 22, at 1 PM PST

Sunshine shining through underwater kelp forest in Channel Islands California

On Earth Day, Heal the Bay Aquarium will host an Instagram Live featuring our Under the Pier Exhibit. Virtual visitors can learn all about local animal species that live in the Santa Monica Bay, including the critically endangered giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas), and view live feeding demonstrations. Swim by @healthebayaquarium on Friday, April 22 at 1:00 PM PST, and “shell-ebrate” Earth Day with us.

Follow AQ on Instagram


Earth Day Beach Cleanup with Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi

Saturday, April 23, at 9 AM – 10:30 AM PST

Join Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi at Miramar Park for a Cleanup of Torrance Beach. Community members will have the chance to discuss environmental policy with the Assemblymember as well as meet with our local partners. Please check the weather in advance and dress appropriately. This event is supported by local partners including Heal the Bay, Grades of Green and the Sierra Club Palos Verdes-South Bay.

Get More Information


Community Educational Resource Fair at MacArthur Park Lakeside

Saturday, April 23, at 9 AM – 10:30 AM PST

LA Sanitation and partners are hosting an educational feria, or fair, full of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy while learning about the MacArthur Park’s upcoming improvements. Join in on Saturday, April 23rd for the latest updates on the MacArthur Lake Stormwater Capture Project and learn how this awesome initiative will benefit both the community and the environment. You’ll also have an opportunity to share your input regarding the in-progress project’s above-ground features. No registration is required for this public event on the park’s West side.

Learn More about the Project


Place, Power & Justice: Land Rematriation Now Panel – Virtual

Wednesday, April 27, 6:30pm – 7:30 pm PST

Jointly hosted and co-moderated by Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples and Heal the Bay in honor of Earth Month, the panel includes experts and activists in the Land/Water Back and Rematriation Movement. The panel will be held via Zoom and streamed to Facebook Live.  And, follow us on Facebook for the latest updates. Registration for the Zoom is required in advance.

Attend the Panel 

Follow Us on Facebook 


Gear Up for Earth Day with Heal the Bay 

All Month Long

Nothing says Earth Day like swag from Heal the Bay. Use promo code EARTHLOVE for 10% off everything in the Heal the Bay online store from April 1 – April 30, 2022.

Shop the Bay 


Make waves for a sustainable future in Greater Los Angeles, by making your Earth Month donation to Heal the Bay.

  • Inspire Local Youth: Your $25 gift can provide 1 student with a marine science education experience.
  • Tackle Toxic Plastics: Your $50 gift can train 2 volunteers to fight plastic pollution with strong advocacy.
  • Restore Our Rivers: Your $100 gift can underwrite 1 week of water quality monitoring in local freshwater spots
  • Protect Clean Water: Your $500 gift can fund campaigns to hold polluters accountable for pollutants in the Bay

DONATE 



On December 3, 2021 our local water agency leaders gathered together to discuss the major water challenges impacting Greater Los Angeles and how to solve them at Heal the Bay’s first-ever ONE Water Day event.

ONE Water Day at Will Rogers State Beach

The sun was shining, the DJ was playing the hits, and our Heal the Bay team was setting up for a cleanup (while dancing in the sand) as we welcomed over 200 attendees to a first-of-its-kind networking opportunity at Will Rogers State Beach. ONE Water Day  brought together many prominent heads of local government agencies and engineering companies to meet and discuss the future of water in Los Angeles. There were more than 26 different organizations represented at this networking event, sparking countless partnerships, and raising over $120,000 for Heal the Bay.

The Cleanup

ONE Water Day attendees participated in a scavenger hunt to clean the beach and experience what trash and debris ends up at our beaches from all over our local watersheds.

After guests had time to mix and mingle, the day started off with a land acknowledgement to recognize the Tongva and Chumash tribal ancestral lands where the event was being held. Then attendees were invited to participate in a Heal the Bay scavenger hunt for trash. This hands-on and team-oriented beach cleanup was an opportunity for individuals from different organizations to collaborate and observe first-hand the realities of pollution.

In just 30 minutes, 19 teams collected 200 buckets of trash along two miles of the Pacific Palisades coastline. Amongst an eclectic array of waste, more than 600 cigarette butts were collected, with Team 12 taking home first place prizes for the most items captured.

After the cleanup, a panini lunch was served by the fantastic team of Critic’s Choice Catering, giving attendees a chance to recharge and enjoy the many event exhibitors and perfect beach weather on a winter day.

The Panel

ONE Water Day Panel, guest speakers from left to right; Martin Adams, Robert Ferrante, Adel Hagekhalil, Dr. Shelley Luce (host), Mark Pestrella, Barbara Romero, Dave Pedersen.

Next on the agenda was a panel conversation hosted by Dr. Shelley Luce, Heal the Bay CEO and President. The panel guest speakers included six influential leaders speaking on the topic of Los Angeles water. All were eager to discuss systemic water quality issues, the impacts of climate change, and the cooperative solutions they envision for Los Angeles.

Speakers included: Adel Hagekhalil, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Barbara Romero, Director and General Manager, LA Sanitation and EnvironmentRobert Ferrante, Chief Engineer and General Manager, Los Angeles County Sanitation DistrictsDave Pedersen, General Manager, Las Virgenes Municipal Water DistrictMartin Adams, General Manager and Chief Engineer, LA Department of Water and Power; Mark Pestrella, Director of LA County Public Works.

Energy was high and the feeling was hopeful as the ONE Water Day panel shared their visions for the future. Guest speakers from left to right; Adel Hagekhalil, Dr. Shelley Luce (host), Mark Pestrella, Barbara Romero.

Takeaways from the ONE Water Panel from Dr. Shelly Luce

ONE Water Day was a unique event. The panel was a rare honor and opportunity to question each of the guest speakers on their plans for building a sustainable water supply for Los Angeles in this time of extreme drought and climate change.

 We learned so much from our panel speakers at the event. The Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation and the Department of Water and Power are collaborating to recycle treated wastewater for drinking water. The LA County Sanitation Districts and the Las Virgenes Metropolitan Water District are doing the same in their respective areas, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. And, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is collaborating with cities throughout the region to capture and treat urban runoff, aka stormwater, so it can be infiltrated into groundwater or reused for irrigation.

 This massive shift to conserving and recycling our water has taken place incrementally over decades. It requires a level of collaboration among agencies that has never occurred before.

 Adel Hagekhalil, the General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District, stated it perfectly:

We take water for granted, and we forget that water is essential to firefighting, to drinking, to our health and our safety; hospitals don’t run without water. Fire cannot be fought without water. Businesses cannot run without water Schools cannot be schools without water. Homelessness cannot be addressed without water. So, water is life,” Hagekhalil said. “Sometimes we’re willing to pay $200 for our cell phone, but are we willing to pay that money for the future of our water?”

 To demonstrate this commitment, Hagekhalil asked everyone at the event to stand and pledge to work every day toward the ONE Water goals. All did so, willingly and enthusiastically. It was a great moment for all of us who care deeply about our sustainable water future to affirm our commitment.

Thank You

A huge thank you to the amazing ONE Water Day Sponsors, our proud partners of Heal the Bay, and organizations that are leading the way in their commitment to environmental sustainability:

AECOM, WSP, Metropolitan Water District, LA Sanitation and Environment

 

Thank you to all the guests in attendance. Your initiative and dedication are vital toward building a bright and equitable future for water in Los Angeles.

See Event Pictures

 

 

Los Angeles has major water challenges to solve, and Heal the Bay sees events like this as an opportunity to upload the value of collaboration and accountability, to continue conversations that lead to solutions, and to create opportunities for partnerships like never before. This Heal the Bay event is the first of its kind for our organization, but is certainly not the last.

 

Want to support our ongoing efforts for for One Water?      Donate Here



Get in the spirit of the season and celebrate Fishy Fest at Heal the Bay Aquarium on October 30 and 31 from Noon – 4pm. Heal the Bay Aquarium, located beach level at the Santa Monica Pier, has a fun and family-friendly event planned both days, including activities that honor the unique holidays of Halloween and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

For Halloween, visit our Dorothy Green Room for a deep-sea experience, tip-toe (if you dare!) through our “Ocean’s End Cemetery”, and learn about ocean pollution in our Mad Scientist Laboratory. All ghosts and goblins are also invited to take part in a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt.

For Día de los Muertos, add a memento of your loved ones to our Día de los Muertos Ofrenda, create colorful Día de los Muertos crafts, and much more!

What is Día de los Muertos?

“Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a time to honor and revere our deceased family members and ancestors. This tradition is rooted in the native Mexican belief that life on earth is a preparation for the next world, and of the importance of maintaining a strong relationship to the dead.

It is a time for families to gather and welcome the souls of the dead on their annual visit home. Cempasúchil (marigold) flowers, burning copal incense, fresh pan de muertos bread, candles, sugar skulls, photographs and mementos of the departed adorn special altars. In Mexico, Day of the Dead is celebrated over an entire week with the preparation of altars, foods, dance, music, and special offerings for people who have died.” – Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture without Borders

Schedule of events:

Join our Fishy Fest celebration, taking place on both Saturday and Sunday from Noon – 4pm, at Heal the Bay Aquarium for a fun-filled weekend.

Saturday, Oct. 30

1:00pm – Saturday Sea Star Feeding

2:00pm – Spooktacular Story Time

3:00pm – Saturday Sea Star Feeding

Sunday, Oct. 31

1:00pm – Sunday Shark Feeding Presentation

3:00pm – Sunday Shark Feeding Presentation



Come learn more about the future Inell Woods Park. We’re co-hosting an Open House there with the City of Los Angeles on Saturday, October 16 at 11 am to 1 pm. You are invited (see flyer below for details)!

Heal the Bay is committed to improving water quality in Los Angeles County’s watersheds through the creation of more green space. In addition to providing recreation areas and wildlife habitat, green spaces can function as essential multi-benefit stormwater solutions too. They improve local water quality, increase water reuse and supply, reduce carbon, and mitigate heat island effect. 

This is why we are so excited to tell you about Inell Woods Park, Heal the Bay’s innovative stormwater park project near the intersection of McKinley Avenue and E 87th Place in South LA. Our work to build the park is being done in collaboration with LA City Councilmember Curren Price, North East Trees, California State Parks, and many local community members.

Inell Woods Park is a good example of how the Safe Clean Water Program aims to increase local water supply, improve water quality, and protect public health by focusing efforts on multi-benefit projects in communities that have been identified as severely disadvantaged with regards to access to green space and other socioeconomic factors. Multi-benefit projects are the most efficient and effective use of our taxpayer dollars because they are cost-conscious solutions that serve both community and environmental needs.

Inell Woods Park Stormwater Benefits

Inell Woods Park Green Space Features

  • Greenways
  • Walking track
  • Tot lot
  • Native plant gardens
  • Exercise equipment
  • Sitting areas