GRO1000 Gardens and Green Spaces

2011 GRO1000 Dedication Event in Los Angeles@ Proyecto Pastoral Community Center

 

 

 ScottsMiracle-Gro is continuing their mission of creating 1000 gardens and green spaces by 2018 through it's GRO1000 Grassroots Grants.  The GRO1000 initiative encourages community involvement in the garden creation process.  Grants of up to $1500 will be awarded to fund these gardens throughout U.S., Canada and Europe.

Grant applications are now available for filing.  The last day to submit an application is Friday, February 24, 2012.  Organizations with 501(3)(c) status or have a fiscal agent with 501(3)(c) status are eligible to apply. 

For more information or to access the application, please click on GRO1000 Grassroots Grants.

Good luck!

Cherry Tree Giveaway

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Japan-US Cherry Blossom event, the Huntington Botanical Gardens, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles and the Japan-related Community is offering FREE bare root cherry trees to organizations in Southern California.  Since the trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis, interested organizations should immediately email their request to japanesegarden@huntington.org. 

Organizations will need to do the following:
1. Have space available at the end of January to plant the cherry trees.
2. Email your request and include the organization name, address, contact person and number, and preferences on cherry tree and distribution center.
3. Once your request is approved, pick up trees at the distribution center on specified date.

For more information and/or a list of distribution centers, please click here for the flyer.

Seeking Projects for 9th Annual Sharefest Workday

Sharefest is holding their 9th Annual Sharefest Workday on Saturday, April 28, 2012.  In preparation for this event, Sharefest is seeking beautification projects throughout South Bay and Harbor areas that need volunteer support.  To register your project for workday assistance, please sign up here and provide the following:

1. Register yourself.
2. Register your organization.
3. Create your project.
4. Outline your project with "Project Activities".

Project applications are due Friday, February 3, 2012.  For more info on the process, please click here.

Watch How WE Created a Woodland

WE (Westminster Elementary) posted this 1.5 minute video on youtube showing the transformation of an asphalted area into the "WE Woodlands!"  The video highlights the April 2nd tree planting event, "A Forest For Us", where dozens of volunteers came out and helped create this forest area at WE.

              (Video footage provided by Karoff Films)

LANI's 9th Annual Community Forum on May 19, 2011

Register now for the 2011 Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) 9th Annual Community Forum to learn how to revitalize your neighborhood from industry experts. The forum will be held on Thursday, May 19th, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m at the USC Davidson Conference Center, 3415 S. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089.  Wendy Greuel, City Controller, will start the event with a welcome address to be followed by the keynote speaker, Michael LoGrande, City's Planning Director.  

Also, Paul Racs, Director of the Office of Community Beautification (OCB), will be speaking at the event. He will discuss OCB's programs and how volunteers can be a part of the beautification effort that is occurring throughout Los Angeles.

Topics to be discussed at the forum include:

• ALL EYES ON THE BLOCK: Putting "Neighborhood Watch" to Work
• HOW DO I GET THERE?: Making the Multi-Modal System Work for You
• IF YOU PLANT IT, THEY WILL COME: Native Plants that Attract Wildlife
• TAKE OUT THE TRASH: Combating Illegal Dumping in Your Neighborhood
• BIKE ON!: The Next Cycle of the Bicycle Revolution
• MAKING IT WORK: Case Studies of Neighborhood Success
• SHOW ME!: An Interactive Neighborhood Design Workshop
• THE TOMATOES NEXT DOOR: Community Gardening in Your Neighborhood

More information to this FREE workshop is provided on the brochure.  Go to  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J63P6K2 to RSVP for this event.

Groundbreaking for WAYS Fitness Park

At the intersection of McKinley Ave and 87th St., 4000 square feet of City land lay asphalted and unused near Wisdom Academy for Young Scientists (WAYS) Charter School.  Realizing that the area needed to be beautified, Wisdom Academy applied and was awarded a Community Beautification Grant in 2009 to make their vision a reality...transforming an unused plot of land into a walking trail and sitting area to serve as an outdoor classroom and a gathering place for the local community.

WAYS held a great groundbreaking event for their project, "WAYS Reading and Fitness Park," on March 30, 2011.   In attendance were Kendra Okonkwo, Founder of WAYS, Alake Watson, Principal at WAYS, Councilwoman Jan Perry, Heal the Bay organizers, WAYS students and parents, and numerous stakeholders.  Excited to be part of this transformation, WAYS students worked on the installation of murals along the walking trail.

The grant funds was used to leverage a $1.3 million state grant to Heal the Bay for the creation of a mini-park at the site.  As pictured on the left, landscape architect, Steve Cancian, designed an innovative landscaping plan that incorporated Wisdom Academy's Reading & Fitness Park.  Once completed, this will be a place for the local community to come out and enjoy. 

The Home Depot: Making an Impact in the CommUnity

The Home Depot is accepting applications in the Community Impact Grants Program for projects that build and improve the community. Proposals will also be accepted for projects that improve the homes of veterans, seniors and the disabled who are facing economic difficulties. 

Organizations that are registered as 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public schools and tax-exempt service agencies can apply for the grant.

Eligible projects include:

• Repairs, refurbishments or modifications to low-income and/transitional housing or community facilities
• Weatherizing or improving the energy efficiency of low-income and/transitional housing or community facilities
• Tree planting, community gardens or landscaping community facilities
• Development or improvement of parks or green spaces

Applications will only be accepted online beginning April 4, 2011 through October 31, 2011.  Priority for funding will be first given to proposals that aid veterans, seniors and the disabled.  The grant will be awarded in the form of The Home Depot gift cards that can be used for the purchase tools, supplies or services.

Questions relating to the grant project should be emailed to The Home Depot Foundation at team_depot@homedepot.com.

Council District 13 Beautification Grant

Council President Eric Garcetti of Council District 13 (CD 13) is accepting grant applications for the "Clean & Connected Communities" Program.  The program will award matching grants of up to $2500 to fund beautification projects in CD 13.

Eligible projects must be located in a public space in Council District 13 and include a beautification element to make the community cleaner, greener and safer.  

The Council Office will review and narrow the list of potential projects and the community will vote for their favorite project to be funded in their neighborhood. Three projects will be awarded in each of the eight neighborhoods of CD 13 which includes Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Historic Filipotown, Elysian Valley, East Hollywood, Glassell Park and Atwater Village. 

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13th.  Please submit your applications by email or mail to: 

Email: marta.segura@lacity.org

Mail:  Clean and Connected CD13

          Office of L.A. City Council President

          5500 Hollywood Blvd, 4th Floor

          Los Angeles, CA  90028

Click on Clean & Connected Communities Program for more information or to obtain a copy of the application.

Good luck!