Amigos de los Rios

Before the Eaton Fire, Altadena was known as a diverse community with biodiversity and extensive tree canopy; we propose to heal the community as we collaborate to heal the nature that characterized it. We will convene peers to assess and protect trees and vegetation for equitable tree canopy recovery, our goal to provide a mutual aid agency for community members to integrate nature into affordable home rebuilding. We will prototype sustainable local materials to use in fire-hardened structures including lumber from trees lost to fire.

Since 2003, Amigos has advocated for creating a Los Angeles Basin-wide Emerald Necklace “Mountains to Sea” Natural Infrastructure Network of river greenways connecting community open space resources including nature-based parks, green streets, and “Watershed Discovery” public schools to protect nature. We will host a series of volunteer habitat restoration events along the multi-objective Emerald Necklace San Gabriel and Rio Hondo River Greenway Trails, enhancing public open spaces to benefit public health, recreation, and the environment.

Amigos de los Rios seeks to bring Emerald Necklace multi-benefit urban greening to Title 1 schools across L.A. to connect students to the greater Los Angeles Watersheds. Our goal is to transform public schools from their penitentiary-like design to nurturing park-like settings to provide mental health, academic performance, and physical fitness benefits to students. We remove asphalt and bring natural infrastructure elements to schools to introduce biodiversity, address heat islands, capture stormwater, and turn classrooms inside out.

Amigos de los Rios requests LA2050 support for the Emerald Necklace Watershed Stewardship Program to plant and care for the Emerald Necklace San Gabriel and Rio Hondo River Greenways, schools, and parks across urban eastern Los Angeles County with community participants. We will host 50 hands-on weekend greening events at priority sites throughout our Emerald Necklace natural infrastructure network to empower youth to respond to climate challenges, protecting environmental and public health by restoring nature to blighted urban spaces.