A Day of Reflection and Community | |
This past December we had our Annual Convening which brought our GLI partners together for a morning of reflection, storytelling, and connection. Partners explored the local impact of their individual projects and discussed the Initiative’s collective benefit across the region.
Later that day, the Day in the Park: Sustainability Community Fair welcomed community members for a family-friendly gathering in Guadalupe. The park was full of energy with kids playing and people enjoying the sunshine and free hot dogs. Organizations hosted booths where residents learned sustainability tips, received green giveaways, and shared input on several projects. The fair offered a welcoming space for people to learn about how GLI investments are supporting a healthier, more resilient community.
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One Year of Progress
Over the past year, the Guadalupe–Lompoc Initiative has made meaningful progress by turning community input into action. Our Initiative Highlights flyers showcases how hundreds of residents across Guadalupe and Lompoc have shaped climate priorities through surveys, workshops, and hands-on engagement - informing efforts that range from wildfire response and groundwater sustainability to climate action planning.
From establishing a thriving community garden that provided fresh produce to thousands of people, to training new community outreach leaders and engaging students through outdoor learning, these early investments are building local capacity, strengthening resilience, and laying the groundwork for long-term community benefit.
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Save the Date for the 2026 Central Coast Resilience Symposium!
The 2026 Central Coast Regional Climate Resilience Symposium, taking place Wednesday, December 9, 2026 in Santa Cruz, CA, will convene hundreds of climate resilience leaders, practitioners, and partners working across the 6-county Central Coast region. The symposium aims to welcome and support a diverse cross-section of leaders by:
- Providing opportunities to cultivate and deepen relationships with new and existing partners, collaborators, and allies
- Showcasing equitable, community-driven climate resilience solutions and strategies
- Highlighting insights and lessons learned from replicable planning and implementation projects
- Collaboratively surfacing shared regional climate resilience priorities, gaps, needs, and opportunities
- Inspiring bold, collaborative action and building mutual support for advancing climate resilience across the Central Coast
Help Shape the Symposium!
The Central Coast Climate Collaborative is designing this symposium for the Central Coast climate resilience community, and our program planning process starts with direct input from our region’s diverse and growing community – which includes you.
We hope you can take a few minutes to complete our planning survey to share your ideas on topics, speakers, and activities to feature at the symposium.
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Join a GLI Focus Group in the New Year!
As part of the Guadalupe-Lompoc Initiative (GLI), CEC will be hosting a total of eight focus groups (four in Guadalupe and four in Lompoc) to engage the community on environmental health topics. In November 2025, CEC held a focus group in Lompoc where the team spoke with 11 residents about air quality, pesticide exposure, extreme heat, and other community concerns.
Building on that, two additional focus groups are scheduled in early 2026 in Lompoc at Leonora Fillmore Elementary School. The first, bilingual (English and Spanish), will be held on January 27 at 8:30 AM, and the second, Spanish-only, will take place on February 11 at 9:00 AM.
Please contact Ana Rico (arico@cecmail.org) if you are interested in participating.
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Collective Cultures Creating Change's Garden fed 2,600 people in 2025!
Thanks to the collective efforts of our community, partners, and volunteers, we have distributed more than 600 pounds of fresh vegetables to local families—helping provide healthy food access for approximately 2,600 families. This milestone reflects the power of shared work and our commitment to nourishment, dignity, and care for one another.
In November, we hosted a visioning session where community members came together to help shape the next phase of the garden. The ideas and feedback shared during this time are guiding the layout and vision for what’s ahead.
Looking forward, we are excited to continue growing. Fruit tree planting is scheduled for January, marking an important step in creating a more sustainable, long-term food resource for our community. Thank you for being part of this journey and helping us cultivate health, connection, and resilience. Learn more: www.c4lompoc.org/
| | Resources & Opportunities | | |
Apply to be a Project Manager with Cachuma RCD!
The Cachuma Resource Conservation District (RCD) is seeking a new Project Manager who will carry out various administrative and outreach tasks, support the effective implementation and management of conservation programs and projects, and ensure projects align with the strategic plan, goals, policies, and procedures established by the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
The Project Manager should be civic-minded and enjoy interacting with diverse communities, work well with a dynamic and collaborative team, as well as independently, and have strong time management and prioritization skills to ensure effective project planning and implementations. Learn more about the Cachuma RCD here.
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Become a Resilience Hub and Help your Community Prepare for Disasters
The California Central Coast faces growing challenges from extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, and poor air quality. Community resilience hubs — trusted local spaces like schools, libraries, community centers, and churches — can provide aid and resources before, during, and after these events. CEC can help activate your site to:
- Provide clean air during smoke events
- Act as cooling locations during extreme heat
- Distribute food
- Serve as an emergency shelter or hub for emergency services
- Facilitate disaster preparedness training and neighborhood organizing
- Host off-grid charging during power outages or shutdowns
| | Guadalupe-Lompoc Initiative Partners | | |
Thank you,
Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative
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