Registration

Event Description

Where and how we live has an incredible impact on both the environment and economy. For too long, California’s land use and housing has depended on cheap fossil fuel, in the form of gas burning stoves and urban sprawl dependent on driving. With historic amounts of public funding now in available to decarbonize our economy and develop climate-resilient infrastructure in California, a just transition towards building decarbonization is now possible. 

In 2021, the City of Los Angeles launched a LA100 Initiative, “a comprehensive and inclusive community-driven effort to achieve a just and equitable 100% carbon-free future for all communities in Los Angeles.” This builds upon the 100% Renewable Energy Study, multiple opportunities exist to transition to healthy homes, which in the process would generate multiple green jobs, including solar, EV charging, energy efficiency and reductions of fossil fuel use. In addition, California’s Air Resources Board recently released it’s 2022 Scoping Plan, “the most ambitious climate action of any jurisdiction in the world, taking unprecedented steps to drastically slash pollution and accelerate the transition to clean energy.” The plan includes a focus on Building Decarbonization as a key strategy. These plans, combined with the billions are beginning to flow to California through the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure and Jobs Act, Justice 40, and California’s historic climate budget could provide the needed catalyst to make the vision in these plans a reality.  

Ensuring the implementation of these plans and public funding with robust community engagement will not be easy. A coordinated and collaborative approach will be needed, and philanthropy will have a crucial role. At this upcoming convening, we’ll discuss how community-driven advocacy and engagement can help land public policies and funding in a way that supports green healthy homes and jobs in communities across California. We’ll learn from a set of local stakeholders working across sectors on making the vision for the decarbonization of communities a reality.

The SCG Environmental Funders Group meets quarterly to educate prospective and current environmental funders about environmental challenges and opportunities in Southern California and foster collaboration, and share successes and challenges. Please contact Jacqueline Carrillo at jacqueline@socalgrantmakers.org for more information or visit the group's page on the Southern California Grantmakers' website.

This program is part of SCG's 2023 recurring programs. To register for all upcoming dates, please click the "Register for Recurring Dates" button. This feature is only open to members; please contact us if you are a non-member and wish to register for the series at programsrsvp@socalgrantmakers.org or (213) 680-8866.

Recurring Dates: 

Speakers

Profile photo of Blanca E. de La Cruz

Blanca E. de La Cruz

Sustainable Housing Program Director, California Housing Partnership

Blanca E. de la Cruz joined the California Housing Partnership in 2014. As Sustainable Housing Program Director, she develops and runs programs to increase our Southern California partners’ access to energy efficiency and other resources contributing to the long-tern sustainability and preservation of housing affordable to low-income people. She leads advocacy work involving energy efficiency and renewable programs in the Los Angeles region. She also assists with the Partnership’s Green Rental homes Energy Efficiency Network (GREEN) membership and GREEN Newsletter. Blanca recently led an On-Bill Payment (OBR) Financing test pilot in Southern California that incorporated utility incentive programs. In addition, Blanca provides support in implementing the Low Income Weatherization Program for large multifamily buildings statewide as well as the Partnership’s ongoing advocacy efforts in sustainable housing. Prior to joining the Partnership, Blanca worked at the Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles (CDC) for five years where she managed the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing. She also coordinated CDC’s sustainable development initiatives. Prior to joining CDC, Blanca was a Project Manager at East LA Community Corporation.

Blanca has more than 10 years of experience in the field of affordable housing. Blanca received an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA and a B.A. in International Development Studies and Latin American Literature from UC Berkeley.
Ted is smiling

Ted Lamm

Senior Research Fellow, Center for Law, Energy & the Environment

Ted Lamm is Senior Research Fellow in the Climate Program at CLEE. Ted’s work focuses on the development of state and local climate policies, transportation and building electrification, and climate-related risks. His recent projects have included a revenue and implementation proposal for San Francisco’s climate action plan; analysis of innovative programs to reduce vehicle miles traveled; an implementation guide for climate risk scenario analysis in the insurance sector; and development of electric vehicle equity strategies for California local governments.

Prior to joining CLEE, Ted practiced both environmental law and corporate law in New York City. At New York University School of Law, where Ted received his J.D., he was the symposium editor of the Environmental Law Journal. Ted received his A.B. in English and Economics from Brown University. He has been admitted to the California, New York, D.C. Circuit, and Supreme Court bars.
Profile photo of Sierra Martinez

Sierra Martinez

Program Director, Energy Foundation

I work to electrify and optimize energy use across the utility, industrial, and buildings sectors, which will reduce carbon emissions, cut energy bills, and provide healthier, more comfortable spaces.
Audrey has long blond brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt and is smiling.

Audrey Peterson

Director of Housing Development, Holos Communities

As the Director of Housing Development at Holos Communities, Audrey oversees all aspects of the site development process from acquisition to lease-up. She evaluates each project within its physical, social, economic, and political environment and uses that as her foundation for the project’s vision and scoping. Audrey initiates joint ventures with other developers, service providers, general contractors, and architectural firms best suited for each development and its surrounding community.

During her time at CBH, she has overseen the development of hundreds of apartments Los Angelenos now call home. Her team has another 310 units currently under construction and nearly 400 additional permanent supportive or affordable units in predevelopment.

Audrey is an active member of the Los Angeles Regional Open Space and Affordable Housing (LA ROSAH) and Infrastructure Justice Los Angeles (IJLA) collaboratives.
Director, Climate Emergency Mobilization Office, City of Los Angeles

Marta Segura SCG Member

Chief Heat Officer, Director of CEMO, City of Los Angeles

Segura serves a dual role as the City of Los Angeles’ founding Chief Heat Officer and Director of Climate Emergency Mobilization. Segura is one of seven Chief Heat Officers worldwide, and the only Latina in the Nation to serve in those respective roles. Segura is a thought leader and policy expert in environmental health, public health, and stakeholder engagement. She has held executive and leadership roles with public, philanthropic, private, institutional, and non-profit sectors to design, implement, and drive equitable climate policy that promotes healthier and more engaged communities.

Segura’s extensive track record in environmental health sciences, climate, and environmental justice policy makes her an excellent fit for the collaborative approach of her current roles in the City of Los Angeles.

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