About
The USGBC-LA Annual Legacy Project began with the goal of bridging the gap between social equity and environmental resiliency as we recognize the effects of climate change disproportionately impact our communities most in need.
Historical injustices, racial segregation, redlining, and siting hazardous pollution sources in disadvantaged communities have combined to create pollution and other resource disparities seen in Los Angeles and across the U.S. today. Improving equity is a critical component of building a more sustainable city for all residents. Legacy Projects aim to empower local individuals, communities, and organizations to implement programs that nurture sustainability and social equity within their neighborhoods to create real change.
The Legacy Project Committee (LPC) strives to ensure the selected project is community-supported, has an educational and sustainable focus, is replicable, and improves a variety of social-economic conditions. The LPC was created for the purpose of selecting the recipient of USGBC-LA’s annual Legacy Project Grant. Upon selecting each year’s project, the Committee assists with design, development, volunteer support, and resource referral to ensure the recipient team has the capacity to serve its target community effectively.
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Program Video
Past Projects
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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-LA’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:
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