June 2026

JOIN US FOR A MEETUP

Join us on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in person for coffee and conversation during next week's ambassador meetup!

Where: Steel Cup Cafe (2201 N Lakewood Blvd. Suite E, Long Beach, CA 90815)

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026

Time: 11 a.m. - noon

Wanting to connect in person with the CRA community? We're gathering to talk about our upcoming events and workshops, and to answer your questions. Bring your reusable mug and come enjoy some coffee or tea with fellow CRAs.

We'll see you there!

SUPERSTAR CRAs

Special Recognition

We want to recognize Lori Anttila (Spring '26) for sharing a few tips she learned from a smart gardening course:

When planting your garden, plant the thirstiest plants at the highest point on your property. Plant the more drought-tolerant plants at the lowest points so the water drains down to them.
The average family uses 500 gallons of water per day, with 30% of it going to landscaping. Planting drought-tolerant plants helps reduce overall water usage.
Watering your garden via drip system is the best method for water conservation. It is best to water your plants in the early morning.

Thank you, Lori, for sharing these insights!

INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED WITH LA28?

Have you been curious about getting involved with LA28? On June 3rd, we attended an informational session about how to volunteer for the 2028 Olympics in Long Beach!

During this session, City Leadership:

Shared an overview of LA28 and what it means for our city
Discussed the anticipated needs and roles for volunteers
Highlighted how CERT, MRC, and City volunteers will support operations and community engagement
Began building the coordination and connections that will help us successfully welcome the world to Long Beach

Preparing Long Beach for the 2028 Olympics will be a big project, but we are excited to involve all community members in the city! As details are announced, we will be sure to keep you informed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS

Talk to Us During Our Ambassador Meet Up Hour

Do you already volunteer with a local Long Beach organization? Have an idea for your neighborhood, or just need to troubleshoot a stubborn compost pile?

We are excited to announce a weekly Ambassador Meet-Up Hour! Stop by to ask your questions, share ideas, or simply catch up with fellow CRAs.

When: June 11 (in-person), 25; July 9, 23
Time: 11 a.m. - Noon
How: Via Zoom
Passcode: CRA

We'd love to see you there!

Link to Meet Up

When was the last time you logged into MyImpact? We would love to see how you're doing and celebrate all your amazing work. Your volunteer hours matter, and we appreciate your contribution to building a more sustainable Long Beach Community.

If you run into any issues, feel free to reach out to us at cra@longbeach.gov

You can also email us your hours if you would like us to log them for you.

Survey Link

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Here are the current volunteer opportunities, which are also listed on the CRA Portal. For a refresher on how to report your volunteer hours, click here to find the Volunteer Portal Guide.

Date	Opportunity	Sign-Up Link
Every 1st Saturday of the Month 10 am - 12 pm	Stewards El Dorado Nature Center Cleanup	Click here
Every 2nd Friday of the Month 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm	Restoration & Native Gardening 2025 Restoration Fridays	Click here
Every 3rd Saturday of the Month 9 - 10 am	Wetland Warrior Cleanup at Jack Dunster Reserve	Click here
Every 4th Saturday of the Month 9 - 10 am	Clean Up Day at El Dorado Regional Park Center	Click here
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday Times vary per day	LB Community Table Food Distribution	Click here
Every Wednesday 12 pm - 5 pm (you do not need to stay the whole time)	Grow2Zero Farm Food Distribution	Click here
Every Friday and Sunday Click link to view times	LB Community Compost	Click here
Saturday, July, 11, 2026 9:30 am - 12:30 pm 2 - 4:30 pm	July 2026 Fixit Clinic - Event Set Up & Breakdown	Click here
Saturday, July 11, 2026 11:30 am - 3:30 pm	July 2026 Fixit Clinic - Event Support Role	Click here

View Volunteer Opportunities

CONTINUING EDUCATION

You can complete a continuing education assignment for a 1- hour volunteer credit with a limit of 5 assignments. These are the continuing education assignments currently available. Please respond to this email if you have any questions.

Assignment	Link
LBRecycles Website Review	Click here
Ologies Podcast Review	Click here
How to Save a Planet Podcast Review	Click here
Write a Newsletter Article	Click here

View Assignments

FAQs

Q: Where can I access the CRA Portal?

A: The CRA Portal is linked here.

Q: Can I access My Impact Page to report hours without going through the CRA Portal?

A: Yes! Please visit MyImpactPage.com and log in to report your hours.

Q: What if I get asked a question that is not about waste reduction, recycling, or composting?

A: At events led by us there should always be a staff member available to answer questions. If someone is asking questions unrelated to the topics we have covered in class, let the community member know you are a volunteer and please ask a staff member to answer the question. If staff is not available, please give them a business card to contact us.

Q: What if the event that I want to volunteer at is not related to waste reduction, recycling, or composting, can I still count that towards my hours?

A: Only events related to waste reduction, recycling, or composting count toward volunteer hours. Please email the Program Coordinator to get a volunteer activity approved with an organization that is not on our list of current partnerships.

Q: What should I wear when volunteering?

A: Please wear your name tag and t-shirt so that community members can easily identify you as a CRA.

Q: Are there incentives for volunteering?

A: Yes! We appreciate your time spent volunteering. We will be entering folks for a chance to win a gift pack for each milestone of hours you've completed (5,10, and on). So, if you've completed 10 hours, you get two entries.

Do you have a question for us about waste reduction, recycling, composting, and/or volunteering? Ask us here!

@LBRecycles