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This annual grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations working to advance clean energy initiatives, green jobs, environmental education and stewardship, and energy equity and diversity in the communities that CPA serves.
The annual Community Benefits Grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations advancing clean energy initiatives in the communities CPA serves.
Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition – Funds supported the launch of the ChargerHelp workforce training program. ChargerHelp is an industry-leading workforce development initiative, offering one of the most comprehensive electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) technician training programs available. The program includes a three-week, in-person course held in Ventura County, where participants will gain hands-on experience with actual chargers and receive specialized training aimed at preparing them for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) EVSE certification exam.
Central Coast Minority Enterprise Resource Affiliates – Funds supported the Black Business, Green Sustainment initiative, which connects entrepreneurs in underserved communities and empowers them with the knowledge and resources needed to embrace a sustainable future. The initiative will offer hands-on training and demonstrations to promote the practical application of sustainable concepts. CCMERA has partnered with the Zero Emission Consortium, which will provide technical expertise in developing the science-based education delivered during the training and demonstration activities.
Community Nature Connection – Funds supported the Title I primary school program, Sensing Nature. The Sensing Nature program is an environmental education series designed for fourth through sixth-grade students, featuring various themes that emphasize nature, resilience, and wellness practices for youth. Through curiosity-driven activities, play, tactile experiences, and wellness practices, the program engages students with the natural world around them. This initiative focuses on elementary schools within the greater Los Angeles area.
Film2Future – Funds supported the Animation for a Clean Energy Future program, in which 16 to 20 students collaborated in teams to create short films promoting sustainable practices and clean energy. The program aimed to engage young and diverse communities with a new focus on clean energy advocacy. The films were produced over a 12-week period, featuring approximately 30 hours of structured programming, along with additional office hours to support the student filmmakers.
Food Exploration and Discovery (Food ED) – Funds were used to expand climate change and sustainability outreach within existing Title I middle and high school programs in Arcadia, Monrovia, and Temple City by introducing an Eco-Entrepreneur component. Food ED’s programs reimagine how communities can adopt practices such as gardening, native drought-tolerant landscaping, composting, and tree planting and care in innovative ways. Additionally, Food ED hired recent graduates and participants of AmeriCorps and Climate Change Action Corps programs, providing them with entry-level work experiences to apply their knowledge to educate and inspire the next generation.
Nyeland Promise – Funds supported the ongoing development of a multilingual educational outreach initiative in English, Spanish, and Mixteco. The project aims to promote energy equity and diversity by delivering messaging that is both linguistically and culturally relevant. A primary goal was to educate residents about the benefits and importance of reducing energy consumption during peak hours. Nyeland Promise’s volunteer corps lead outreach efforts tailored to the unique linguistic and cultural needs of Nyeland Acres residents, with a special focus on engaging families.
ONEgeneration – Funding supported the expansion of long-term safety net services to include the implementation of various energy and water conservation programs. These programs will provide residents with direct access to easy and affordable solutions for home electrification, water conservation, energy savings, and applying for energy efficiency rebates and utility assistance programs. Through its safety net services, ONEgeneration supports over 10,000 individuals annually and leverages these trusted relationships to connect residents with resources that empower them to adopt a more sustainable and efficient lifestyle.
People for Mobility Justice – Funding supported the operation of long-term electric bike lending programs in South LA and East LA. These e-bike libraries have established a model for providing clean energy active transportation options in Environmental Justice communities. Additionally, funds will be used to integrate a culturally relevant bike safety curriculum into the e-bike programs serving the LA County communities of East LA, Florence-Firestone, Willowbrook, and Rancho Dominguez. PMJ organized a series of bike safety education classes, conducted bike and pedestrian audits, distributed helmets and bike lights, and host community bike rides and walks with a focus on mobility justice.
Reel Guppy Outdoors – Funding supported the acquisition of a 20-foot, 12-passenger Duffy Electric Boat. The vessel has been used to educate participants about clean energy, including its relationship to climate change, its effects on ecosystems and the environment, the production and mechanics of electric-powered vehicles, and the principles of energy sustainability and resiliency. Additionally, the program will explore the economic and social impacts of clean energy. The vessel will also facilitate more intensive and interactive collaboration with community stakeholders.
Tree People – Funding supported the deployment of a composting program aimed at enhancing community climate resiliency. The organization implemented nature-based, on-site school tours focused on reducing food waste. This lowered greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change and encourage at-home adoption of conservation practices. The project helped underserved communities in the San Fernando Valley, South and Southeast Los Angeles, the South Bay, Gateway Cities, and the San Gabriel Valley.
Urban Teens Exploring Technology – Funding supported core programs such as the Summer Coding Leadership Academy (SCLA), which teaches young men of color valuable tech skills like coding, app development, and project management, along with soft skills such as leadership, public service, and discipline. Funding also supported the Hustle N’ Code Hackathon, an annual event that empowers students of all ages and genders from public housing developments to use technology to tackle pressing community issues. The hackathon brought well-known tech companies into historically marginalized tech deserts. Hundreds of volunteers from Silicon Valley, Silicon Beach, and participating academic institutions will dedicate their time to assist program participants.
Vision Y Compromiso – Funding supported the Promotoras Local Climate Stewards Project, a pilot initiative aimed at increasing environmental and social justice awareness regarding extreme heat and the health and economic impacts of climate change on low-wage workers. This includes farm workers, construction workers, warehouse workers, frontline workers, low-income individuals and families, and immigrant communities in Ventura County. Promotoras are primarily Latina women who serve as trusted leaders in low-income, immigrant, and communities of color. With decades of experience engaging vulnerable residents, they deliver personalized, culturally responsive information that connects community members to healthcare, education, and social services.
Wishtoyo Foundation – Funding supported the Environmental Stewards Internship program, a grassroots initiative designed to train, mentor, and empower Indigenous and politically or economically marginalized youth. The program aims to prepare participants for careers in environmental science, conservation, or grassroots advocacy, while providing tools to seek environmental justice in their communities. The Environmental Stewards Internship recruited college-aged youth from Indigenous or low-income communities in Ventura County for a year-long internship. Interns will work closely with Watershed Monitoring Scientists, participating in watershed monitoring, endangered species monitoring, and laboratory analysis. Funding also supported intern salaries and covered material needs, such as boots, packs, and field and monitoring equipment.
Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas ($25,000) – Funds went toward workforce development to increase career exploration and community awareness of green industry opportunities. Alongside local trade unions, the organization utilized virtual reality (VR) to provide an introduction to offshore wind production and turbine maintenance.
Columbia Memorial Space Center ($20,000) – Funds supported City of STEM, the largest program promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in Los Angeles. The program is committed to opening equitable access to STEM learning, especially to those members of the public from marginalized communities, as well as under-resourced neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles.
Friends of the Los Angeles River ($25,000) – Funds were used to support The LA River & Me Education Program and general operations. The LA River & Me Program provides an opportunity to connect 140 classes from 70 Title 1 schools to the natural world. The program brings students to the LA River on a field trip, where they participated in three interactive educational stations. The LA River watershed covers more than 800 square miles of the most densely populated, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse region in the United States. The program covers 21 of CPA’s member communities.
Grid Alternatives LA ($20,000) – Funds were used to provide homeowners within the gateway cities with service panel upgrades, and any other necessary professional services to access no-cost solar energy systems.
LA Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability (LARC) ($20,000) – Funds were used to create a Clean Energy Education Campaign to educate the public in the greater Los Angeles region about the benefits of clean energy and promote more sustainable energy usage. LARC will form a Community Advisory Group (CAG) to guide the campaign and will enlist two UCLA College Corps Fellows in the campaign.
Merito Foundation ($30,000) – Funds were used toward advancing energy literacy and green workforce development opportunities for Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) students. The project empowered about 1,200 multicultural and economically unprivileged VUSD students from grades 7-12 to innovate solutions that reduce the carbon footprint of their school campuses through six months of in-class energy literacy, culminating in a STEM competition.
Oxnard Performing Arts Center ($23,900) – Funds were used to incorporate solar energy art activities and education into a year-long initiative. The program goal was to reach 20,000 individuals, including teens, youth, and families within Ventura County. Activities included Solar Summer Camp, Family Art Night, and the launch of a solar art cart used at various events.
Pando Populus ($20,000) – Funding went toward Pando Days, a project-centered learning program for colleges and universities focused on implementing Los Angeles County’s sustainability goals. This year’s program supported 20 universities and community colleges throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Santa Monica Mountains Foundation ($25,000) – Funds supported the development of the Los Angeles region’s first native seed production farm. This project increased resiliency to climate change, mitigating the threat of extreme wildfires, offered employment opportunities and environmental education for diverse youth, and enhanced wildlife habitat and ecosystems.
Tree People ($25,000) – Funds supported the Tree People Eco Tours, where trained leaders lead K-6 students and teachers on guided trail hikes to experience the outdoors while learning about the concepts of climate change. This funding helped expand education to disadvantaged youth from both Los Angeles and Ventura counties, to experience STEM and ensure inclusive environmental education.Tre
U.S. Green Business Council (USGBC) ($30,000) – Funds were used to develop a certification for construction professionals to learn and adopt best practices around improvements and materials for buildings and landscapes to reduce the long-term extreme heat-related impacts of climate change. This training built upon the successful model developed and implemented by USGBC-LA to provide wildfire defense training and certifications for construction and landscaping professionals.
Ventura County Community Foundation ($25,000) – Funds were used for operational support to increase coordination and capacity building around the foundation’s environmental literacy programming, workforce development in green jobs, and resiliency for outdoor workers faced with extreme heat.
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