Stories from the Community
This webpage provides a series of stories from residents, business owners, workers, and others, who have shaped — or been shaped by — the implementation of the Transformative Climate Communities Program (TCC). Their purpose is to be illustrative, but not exhaustive, of the ways in which TCC has touched the lives of community stakeholders.
Documenting these stories are part of UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation’s evaluation of groundbreaking progress in six TCC communities: Fresno, Ontario, Stockton, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Northeast San Fernando Valley, South Los Angeles and Watts.
Green Together (Pacoima, Northeast San Fernando Valley)
Ontario Together
Business incubator program provides community and inspiration
Free transit passes improve the curb appeal of taking the bus
Grassroots engagement model empowers residents to serve as local leaders
Health initiative inspires residents to get well and give back
Solar installations unlock cost savings for low-income homeowners
TCC builds capacity of local health activists to take on climate change
Vista Verde welcomes its first residents
Workforce development specialist helps residents re-imagine their futures
South Los Angeles
We recently partnered with the South LA Eco-Lab and stories from their community will be coming soon…
Transform Fresno
Team:
- Principal investigators: Jason Karpman, Megan Mullin
- Researchers: Elena Hernandez, Samantha Astudillo, Randy Rodriguez Jr.
- Graduate student collaborators: Emma French, Linda Mitchell
- Strategy and communications: Colleen Callahan, Lauren Dunlap, Mara Elana Burstein
Funding Acknowledgments
TCC is funded through California’s cap-and-trade program and administered by the California Strategic Growth Council.
Photo above: Youth painting at the Prende el Sol Community Event hosted by the Green Together Collaborative in October 2022. Courtesy of the Green Together Collaborative
News & Media Mentions
This State Program In Underserved Communities Is Becoming A Nationwide Model For Climate Action (LAist, NPR affiliate May 31, 2023)
Investments in Local Climate Action Empower People on the Ground (LCI May 31, 2023)
Climate Solutions from the Ground Up: The Importance of Place-Based Approaches (New Security Beat August 16, 2022)
Watts Leads on Local Solutions to the Climate Crisis (Streets Blog Cal June 17, 2022)
California Is Making Big, Hyperlocal Investments to Fight Climate Change — and It’s Working (LCI June 15, 2022)
Transformative Climate Communities Build Resilience During Pandemic (LCI May 26, 2021)
UCLA Helps Launch California’s Transformative Climate Communities Program (LCI April 1, 2020)
Our Latest Progress Reports
Green Together – 2023 Progress Report
Ontario Together – 2023 Progress Report
Stockton Rising – 2023 Progress Report
Transform Fresno – 2023 Progress Report
Watts Rising – 2023 Progress Report