The USGBC California Annual Environmental Justice Project (EJP) bridges social justice and environmental resilience, addressing how climate change disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities. Historical inequalities like segregation and pollution placement have created disparities in California and beyond. Enhancing equity is key to building sustainable cities for all.

This project empowers local communities to lead initiatives that promote sustainability and social justice, driving real change. The Environmental Justice Project Committee selects the annual grant recipient, ensuring projects have strong community support, educational value, sustainability, and replicability. The Committee also provides guidance, volunteer support, and resources to help each project succeed.

Funding for the EJP is raised primarily through our fundraising events, which bring together community members, partners, and supporters to contribute directly to advancing environmental justice.

Congratulations to our 2026 project partners! These initiatives represent the power of community-driven solutions to advance environmental justice and resilience across California. With strong community support, we can amplify their impact, strengthen local leadership, and create a more sustainable and equitable future. Stay tuned for updates as these projects grow and transform communities throughout the year.

 

Bay Area: Food Sovereignty and Community Gardening at Alameda Point Collaborative

 

The Alameda Point Collaborative (APC) is the largest permanent supportive housing community in Alameda County, home to more than 500 formerly unhoused residents. This project revitalizes the community garden to support food sovereignty, climate-adaptive gardening, and ecological education.

Community Impact

• Improves physical and mental well-being through access to green space, gardening, and healthy food.

• Builds resilience by teaching composting, urban farming, and sustainable practices.

• Creates opportunities for income generation through workshops, products, and skills transfer.

 

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Orange County: Energy Audits and Outreach to Mobile Home Communities

 

This program provides outreach, education, and on-site audits to help low- and moderate-income residents—particularly those living in mobile home communities—access rebates, incentives, and resources for energy efficiency upgrades and solar adoption.

Community Impact

• Reduces utility costs and household expenses for vulnerable residents.

• Improves indoor air quality and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

• Supports environmental justice goals in Orange County’s Climate Action Plan.

• Provides resources in five languages and assists with navigating forms and vendor connections.

 

 

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Central California: The Healing SPoT – Pláticas Center and Shade Structure

 

Located on a long-neglected site shaped by freeway development, this project reclaims space for affordable housing, urban farming, and cultural resilience. The Healing SPoT (South Tower CLT & Black Zócalo collaboration) will serve as an educational urban farm and community hub, celebrating heritage while building sustainable futures.

Community Impact

• Expands access to healthy food in a Central Valley food desert.

• Provides classes on Indigenous land stewardship, composting, cooking, and urban farming.

• Elevates Black and Indigenous labor through cooperative economics and hemp-crete construction knowledge.

• Fosters cultural exchange and storytelling.

 

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San Diego: Euclid Corridor Community Stewards

 

This community-led project connects two urban green spaces along Euclid Avenue in Southeastern San Diego. Through tree planting, placemaking, and stewardship, residents of historically redlined neighborhoods will co-design and maintain sustainable, vibrant public spaces.

Community Impact

• Activates underinvested neighborhoods with green infrastructure and public art.

• Provides paid workforce development in environmental restoration and greenspace care.

• Improves climate resilience by addressing urban heat, unsafe streets, and fragmented green spaces.

• Builds community pride through direct engagement and storytelling.

 

The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2025 Environmental Justice Project is now closed. The next RFP cycle will open in June 2026.

This cycle accepted up to four proposals from the following regions: Orange County, San Diego, Bay Area, and Central California.

Eligible Projects Focused On:

• Strengthening community resilience against environmental and social stressors

• Improving building and occupant health by enhancing air quality, access to clean water, natural light, and green space

• Demonstrating innovation in the conservation of energy, water, waste, or carbon emissions

Award Package:

• $10,000 in funding

• Technical and strategic support from USGBC-CA’s professional network

• Increased visibility through USGBC-CA platforms

Applicants were also encouraged to seek additional funding through sponsorships or fundraising to expand impact.

2025 Timeline:

• RFP Issued: June 4, 2025

• Questions Due: June 27, 2025

• Responses Posted: July 7, 2025

• Proposal Due: August 4, 2025

• Finalists Notified: August 12, 2025

• Presentations & Judging: August 19, 2025

• Awardee Announced: Week of August 29

• MOU Signed: Week of September 1

• Onboarding: Week of September 8

• Project Kickoff: Week of October 13

• Project Completion & Ribbon Cutting: December 2026

2024

RootDown LA’s innovative KitchenPOD has been named the 2024 Environmental Justice Project by the U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC-CA). This sustainable, solar-powered mobile structure will address food insecurity in South Los Angeles by providing fresh, nutritious food and zero-waste culinary and horticultural programming. The groundbreaking event will take place on June 29, 2024, at George Washington Carver Middle School, with volunteer opportunities available to support the community garden and KitchenPOD construction.

The KitchenPOD serves as a cornerstone of RootDown LA’s Youth-driven Neighborhood Food Systems (YDNFS), increasing urban food production, bridging health disparities, and fostering workforce development in underserved communities. Recognized for its scalable, environmentally friendly design, the project aligns with USGBC-CA’s mission to advance environmental resilience and equity. Volunteer days and events will continue through October, culminating in a ribbon-cutting and harvest celebration.

2023

The Reverence Project’s Survivor’s Healing Garden was selected as the recipient of the 2023 Legacy Project award. This recognition highlights the enduring impact and significance of this transformative initiative, which will serve as a beacon of hope and healing for survivors of violent crime in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The Survivor’s Healing Garden, with its native landscape design, super adobe fire circle bench, bridge, and mosaic tiles art installation, embodies the essence of resilience and community support. It will provide a serene and supportive environment for survivors to find solace, strength, and connection as they navigate their healing journey.

As the 2023 Legacy Project, The Reverence Project’s Survivor’s Healing Garden will leave a lasting imprint on the community, symbolizing the power of collective action in promoting healing, resilience, and environmental justice. This project stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment to creating spaces of healing and empowerment for all members of the community.

2022

The 2022 Legacy Project was awarded to The Reverence Project’s Survivor’s Healing Garden, which will serve as a place of reflection and gathering for survivors of violent crime in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. Featuring native California vegetation, meditative trails, pergolas, and art installations, this green space will facilitate healing and restorative justice solutions among community members.

2021

The 2021 Legacy Project was awarded to the Boyle Heights Resiliency Center, part of the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, a well-loved and respected local cultural institution. With plans featuring solar energy, water storage, air quality monitoring, battery backup power, and urban agriculture, the Hub aims to provide emergency training, communication services, and resources at a conveniently accessible community location. (Press Release)

Partners for the 2021 Legacy Project:

• American Red Cross
• Climate Resolve
• LADWP
• The Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti
• Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN)

2020

The 2020 Legacy Project was awarded to The West Adams Resiliency Garden to support formerly incarcerated individuals with employment and healing through building and caring for a garden at McCarty Memorial Christian Church. Read our Press Release on The West Adams Resiliency Garden.

Partners for the 2020 Legacy Project:

• Angels City Urban Farms
• Everytable
• McCarty Memorial Christian Church

 

Watch this presentation on our 2020 Legacy Project held during our Municipal Green Building Conference and Expo: Resiliency and Reentry in the Garden: The Sunflower That Grew From Concrete

2019

The 2019 Legacy Project was awarded to the Regenerative Learning Garden (RLG) at Arroyo High School. This area is considered a food desert without access to farmers markets or farm fresh organic produce. The RLG will serve the local community through education and engagement opportunities by demonstrating a variety of techniques for drought conditions to provide the community an opportunity and space to learn the principles of climate change and how to support watershed and regenerative landscapes. 

Partners for the 2019 Legacy Project:

1. Arroyo High School
2. Eco Urban Gardens

2018

The 2018 Legacy Project was awarded to the Discovery Garden at the Simi Valley Public Library. This project was designed to bring a natural, native garden to the community of Simi Valley, with the opportunity for education on the importance of native landscaping to reduce water consumption and promote sustainability, encourage natural wildlife, and to help inspire the members of the community to do more to conserve natural resources citywide.

The Discovery Garden repurposed an underutilized and inefficient space in order to create the natuve plant garden equipped with low water use, ADA-inclusive learning spaces, and providing an area for children, families, caregivers, and educators. 

 

Partners for the 2018 Legacy Project:

1. 1. City of Simi Valley
   2. Theodore Payne Foundation

2017

The 2017 Legacy Project was awarded to Community Services Unlimited, Inc. to transform a school bus no longer in use into a classroom and plant nursery. The Veggie Bus serves communities in South Los Angeles through education and provides a tangible solution to urban agriculture and sustainability for the community. You can read our past press release here.

 

Partners for the 2017 Legacy Project:

1. 1. Community Services Unlimited, Inc.

2016

The 2016 Legacy Project was awarded to T4T.org (formerly Trash 4 Teaching, now Two Bit Circus) to help build out the Eco-Tech Maker Space which offered the Gardena community S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) curricula, hands-on learning, and environmental stewardship emanating from the reuse of discarded, safe manufacturing materials. This project, initiated in conjunction with USGBC California’s hosting of 2016 Greenbuild, initially serviced five area Title 1 LAUSD schools, prior to the general community. (Press Release)

Partners for the 2016 Legacy Project:

1. 1. 1. T4T (formerly Trash 4 Teaching, now Two Bit Circus)
      2. Wazoku

Join the Environmental Justice Project Committee as a Member!

Would you like to make a meaningful contribution to our cause? You’re invited to be a part of our community, which includes thought leaders, experts in various fields, and sustainability professionals. This community serves as a hub for climate activism within our local area, and you can get involved by becoming a member.

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