SEI Update


October, 2024

Welcome to the Fall Speaker Series

WE LIVE HERE

The focus is on our understanding, awareness and responsibilities to the region where we live, work and play


Join us for our Fall seminar with Matthew Teutimez, Tribal Biologist

“Flora and Fauna of the Los Angeles Basin"

Through the Eyes of the K’izh

October 17, 12:00-1:00pm.

Flyer Announcing Tribal Biologist Matthew Tuetimez Oct 19 at noon

To attend

Direct zoom address https://laccd.zoom.us/j/81583996227

or for

FLEX CREDIT

Register with the VRC HERE


Each seminar is followed by a 1 hour "community of practice" meeting - 1 hour.

Event recording will be available here

https://www.seilaccd.net/copy-of-teaching-resources

Thursday, October 17: Matthew Teutimez of the K’izh Nation will talk about the flora and fauna of the Los Angeles Basin. Matthew’s plant knowledge and sense of history and place will help us all more fully appreciate the richness, significance, and importance of indigenous knowledge systems. Matthew Teutimez has extensive experience sharing his knowledge with young people as well as botanical experts. Our Home page at www.seilaccd.net highlights resources made available by Mr Teutimez. In addition our Teaching Resources page lists articles and other materials useful to faculty enhancing their course content to better reflect the local aspects of ecology and change. 

Fall Semester Seminars and

Community of Practice


Our Fall WE LIVE HERE Series continues next month as we welcome Lazaro Arvizu, November 21st, 12:00-1:00 pm (zoom)

with a Community of Practice to follow from 1:00-2:00



Join us for our Community of Practice if you are in the process of embedding environmental equity into your curriculum in any discipline. We will be discussing strategies and best practices (or worse) for integrating concepts gained from the seminars and other resources into our classes. Stay after each seminar this semester to participate.


For More Info Visit our Website

Updates on SEI's Demo Project


We have been super busy with the The LACCD Environmental Equity Education Demonstration Project kick off. This all-district project has an Environmental Equity Liaisons (EELs) from each of the 9 district campuses, as well as an additional 50 faculty that have joined ranks as the first Global Environmental Equity Education Cohort (GEEECo) These faculty represent a wide variety of subject disciplines. And are rapidly moving us toward our goal of integrating environmental equity education across multiple disciplines. 

Environmental Equity Curriculum Resources

Looking for ways to integrate sustainability, environmental equity or climate literacy into your curriculum? Follow this link to a compilation of resources  Environmental Equity Education Resources

Native American Month and the global struggle of indigenous people for the environment and protection of Mother Earth.

As we celebrate “Indigenous Peoples Day” on October 14, we need to reflect on the long term stewardship that native people the worldover have exercised to protect Nature and the plants and animals that have sustained their way of life for millennia.


As part of a first-in-the-nation effort to address historical wrongs committed against California Native American tribes, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state has awarded more than $100 million for 33 tribal land projects. Additionally, the state is awarding grants to tribes for nature based solutions. Locally, southern California tribes have succeeded in recovering access to botanical wealth, land and water. UCLA signed an agreement with Gabrieleño Tongva to have access to the Mildred Mathias Botanical Garden where plants used as weaving material will be cultivated. Other UCLA-based projects have worked with Fernandeño Tataviam and Gabrieleño Tataviam through digital storytelling and mapping


In Alaska, native peoples fight the mining industry to protect the watershed of the Chilkat Valley in the village “that has always been”. They are being supported by the Audubon Society. The Heiltsuk of British Columbia are using a mix of traditional principles and modern implementation to protect salmon and bears in their territory. In Northern California,the Hoopa Valley Tribe announced today the acquisition of 10,395 acres of land bordering the western boundary of the Tribe’s Reservation. The return of the Hupa Mountain property brings the Tribe’s landholdings to a total of over 102,000 acres.


One of the more acute points of conflict in the world is the struggle of the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania to resist eviction from their lands for the creation of a “nature preserve” in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. The “park” is actually being created for Persian Gulf wealthy hunters to have exclusive access to hunt the storied animals of the Serengeti and grasslands of the region. 


William Housty is a cultural leader in the Heiltsuk Nation and the director of the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department (HIRMD). (Image credit: Tavish Campbell) 

Climate-related weather events in the Northern hemisphere’s hottest summer recorded

This last August was the hottest on record for the northern hemisphere in the hottest year on record for the earth as a whole. Months ago scientists warned that failure to act was going to drive average temperature increases above the 1.5ºC mark previously set as an upper limit for living with global warming. Climate scientists are terrified.  


In ten years China’s output of the two most potent methane greenhouse gasses has increased by 78%. Canada’s forest fires in a single year, 2023, have outpaced the GHG emissions of most countries. In the US, NASA reports methane emissions continue to climb as over half come from agriculture (the dairy industry), waste, and fossil fuels (fracking for natural gas). The latter has made the US the largest supplier of natural gas in the world. The Earth had its hottest year in 175 years according to NOAA. How hot will the Earth get?  

Climate Palooza 2024 at

West LA College


The California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College (WLAC) is thrilled to announce its Second Annual Climate Palooza, happening October 24 - 26 of this year, at WLAC in Culver City, CA. No registration required.


This dynamic 3-day event is designed to inspire the next generation of climate leaders and will offer engaging activities and educational experiences for all ages. Attendees will enjoy hands-on experiences and community-focused discussions on the importance of climate action. Catch a glimpse of last year’s highlights here.

Day 1: Reclaiming Our Tomorrow Student Conference (By Invitation Only) Thursday, October 24th-10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Day 2: Climate Innovation Professional Conference (RSVP here) Friday, October 25th-9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Day 3: Circular Communities Fair (RSVP here) Saturday, October 26th-10:00 AM - 3:00 PM



Tues, Oct 15: 10am - 5pm PDT: California Greenworks, Organizer hosts the 2024 Climate Justice Conference: “Harnessing Technology for Climate Justice: A Pathway to Equity and Sustainability” UCLA and CSUDH 1000 East Victoria Street Carson, CA 90747, Reserve in the link


Through Feb 15 Pacific Standard Time; Art and Science Collide 800+ artists. 70+ institutions.Link here for more information

Thurs Oct 17- 12:00pm-1:00pm SEI seminar: Matthew Teutimez, K'izh Nation: Tribal biologist, “Flora and Fauna of the Los Angeles Basin though the eyes of the K’izh”. online.

Saturday Oct 19, 10-12 Join Heal the Bay at our Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup. Register here REDONDO BEACH @ Ainsworth Tower!

 

Tues, Oct 22, 2024 at 7:30 PM Public Programs Department of the UCLA Hammer Museum, Beyond the Tip of the Iceberg. You can learn more about the program on the Hammer’s website here.

Thurs Oct 24- Sun, Oct 27, 5th Annual FoodJustice Online Film Festival, Center for Biological Diversity, watch award-winning documentaries and special interviews with filmmakers and activists. Register here


Thurs Oct 24-Sat Oct 27: Climate Palooza at WLAC. See link here for events and registration.

Saturday Oct 26th 8:00 am - 11:00 am Friends of the Los Angeles River Habitat Restoration Day Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve. Link here for more information

Now through 2025: Autry Museum in Griffith Park, Stirs Up the Dust, Wendy Red Star is known for photographing herself within elaborately constructed scenes, engaging the viewer directly and foregrounding her presence within narratives of her own design. Details here.

Sunday Oct 27: 2pm: Ron Findley and Glenn Kaino, Conversations at the Hammer Museum, Part of the series Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice: Programs & Performances. This free event is located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90024

Sunday, Nov. 3: Explore the Coast/Explora La Costa - Bilingual Educational Sail: Join us to Explore the Coast, our Bilingual, STEM-focused Educational and Exploration Sail for adults and children 10 or older. By Los Angeles Maritime Institute. West 6th Street & Harbor Boulevard, 10USD, register here, space is limited.

from the editors…

As always we invite your submissions to this newsletter. Write about environmental issues that are important to you. Let us know what projects you or your students are working on. Tell us what is happening on your campus or in your community,
Email the SEI staff with your proposed article or news brief, or calendar event.
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