Long Beach Sustainability Winter Newsletter, January 2020
LB Sustainability Quarterly Newsletter
Dear Friend,

Each quarter we create a newsletter with updates on sustainable programs, projects, and events from our office and others in the City of Long Beach. Below is the digital version of the newsletter, you can also download the print version here:
Long Beach continued making progress towards a more environmentally friendly and resilient city in 2019. Here are some highlights from the Office of Sustainability for 2019:

  • Certified 28 businesses through the Green Business Program.
  • Co-hosted the 2nd Annual Ranchos Walk, a 9.5 mile walk from Rancho los Alamitos to Rancho los Cerritos for the 400 participants.
  • 170 street trees and 68 fruit trees were planted through the Street Tree Program and Fruit Trees in Front Yards Program.
  • Approximately 420 tons of mulch diverted from landfill with 311 tons delivered free of charge to Long Beach residents.
  • Gave EV chargers to 40 residents through the EV Charger Giveaway Program.
  • Hosted 64 free workshops for Long Beach Residents including 56 Edible Garden Workshops and 8 Native Plant Workshops.

Earth Day 2020 will mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day celebrations! To mark this occasion, LB Sustainability is working with City and community partners to plan a city-wide event to commemorate the occasion. Save the date, Saturday April 25th we will be at Recreation Park from 10am to 4pm. Join us to celebrate, volunteer, and learn more about how we can create a sustainable city.

Earth Day began in 1970 after a decade of rising awareness of the dangers posed by environmental degradation. Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” and a fire on the Cuyahoga River in 1969 brought attention to chemical pollution. Senator Gaylord Nelson was inspired by teach-ins students conducted on campuses around the U.S. and envisioned Earth Day as a day of education and political demonstration for the environment. 

On April 22nd, 1970, rallies were held in major cities across the country, kicking off the modern environmental movement and leading to environmental legislation in the 1970s including the Clean Air Act, the Water Quality Improvement Act, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Earth Day went global in 1990 with 200 million participants in over 140 countries around the world. The global campaign grew in 2000 with the internet supporting worldwide connections with 5,000 environmental groups in 184 countries. 

Earth Day 2020 promises to be the largest celebration yet to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day’s founding and bring attention to pressing environmental issues. Long Beach joins thousands of Earth Day partners around the world to host events for action, education, and awareness of the challenges posed by climate change.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @LBSustainability or go to www.longbeach.gov/earthday for updates on the Earth Day Festival including vendors, resource booths, activities, workshops, and performances planned throughout the day.
Long Beach Unified School District held its first ever Green Summit in November to launch a district-wide recycling program and long-term sustainability plan that will engage staff, parents, and students. The new district-wide recycling program includes a Waste Reduction Stewardship Award Program where schools can receive recognition and funding for participating in four levels of sustainability initiatives. The four levels encourage initiatives from recycling and food donation to creating Green Teams and implementing additional school-wide policies. 

A group of concerned students that attended the LBUSD board meeting on March 27 expressed their concern about sustainability on campus. Over the summer the program was created, and the Green Summit was planned. The event was held on Saturday morning, November 16, at Hughes Middle School. Staff, parents and students learned about recycling and sustainability initiatives, and participated in a resource fair to learn about local nonprofits and city resources.

Sustainability Workshops
Join us at Willow Springs Park for Native Plant Workshops! View the schedule of upcoming workshops and RSVP online at:

Workshops will be held every second Saturday from 9:00 – 10:30 am with an opportunity to volunteer on site from 10:30 – 12:00 pm. Please bring water and wear closed-toed shoes.
Don’t miss the upcoming Edible Garden Workshops! View the calendar of upcoming classes online at:

Classes are held at various libraries throughout the City. Contact us to have the schedule sent to your email each month: 
As part of the California Green Business Network (CAGBN), Long Beach certifies and recognizes green businesses for their efforts to protect the environment. Below are the businesses that were certified in Q4 2019. 
Join us at the Green Business New Year's Mixer to meet the green business community and learn more about the benefits of certification and how to get your business certified!

Thursday, January 16th, 6-7:30pm
Environ Architecture, 100 Oceangate, Suite P-200

Find more green businesses and get your business certified at www.longbeach.gov/greenbusiness.
Meet our Team
Meet the Communications Specialist for the Office of Sustainability:

Courtney Chatterson manages all communications for the Office and is the Green Business Program Coordinator. Before coming to the City, Courtney worked as the Digital Marketing Associate for a startup sustainable investment business promoting the work of small and medium sized environmental entrepreneurs.

Courtney has a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies, with a Communications emphasis, and a minor in Nonprofit Management. She spent some time living in Haiti and Mexico before getting her Master’s in International Development from the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland. She is passionate about sustainable development and contributing to a healthy, prosperous, and environmentally friendly community in Long Beach.
Come to the next Sustainable City Commission meeting: 
Thursday January 23rd at 4pm in City Council Chambers.
Presentations: Resolution to restrict offshore oil drilling from Oceana,
Oil Field Retirement Planning from Energy Resources, and
Breakwater Ecosystem Study Update from Public Works

Join us at the next Longview Litter Patrol
The first Friday of each month the Office of Sustainability teams up with volunteers to take care of Longview Point at Willow Springs Park. Join us for the next event:
February 7th 3-4pm at 2755 Orange Avenue.
 
Find more sustainable events in Long Beach on our
LB Sustainability | 562-570-6396 | Sustainability@longbeach.gov | www.LBSustainability.com