Sam Chavez

Sam's stories

Announcing Our First Statewide School Survey

What is your experience with environmental-based learning? Does your school have a garden where your students can feel the touch of the dirt and watch the life cycle of living things in real-time? Have you organized school trips that shifted how students view the world around them? Is your school using sustainable resources to electrify … READ MORE

November 9, 2023 Newsletter

The good news? A  growing number of school districts across California are developing environmental literacy plans to ensure that every student has access.  Even better news! Leaders in many districts are moving toward a whole systems approach by including a wider range of partners and perspectives in the transformation process. This month, we share reflections … READ MORE

Awards, Meet-Ups & Solidarity for CAELI’s District Innovation Hub

There is good news! A  growing number of school districts from every corner and context in California are developing environmental literacy and sustainability plans to ensure that every student has access to high-quality environment-based learning and climate-ready school campuses.  Even better news, leaders in many districts are moving toward a whole systems approach by including … READ MORE

October 12, 2023 Newsletter

Nestled in the southernmost region of California, Imperial County holds a place of honor in the history of environmental justice as the site where legendary leader Cesar Chavez rallied the local community against injustice, leaving an indelible mark on the region’s social fabric. Yet today, Imperial County continues to be a center of adversity as … READ MORE

Justice and Education Converge in Imperial County: Comite Civico Del Valle Takes the Lead Toward Change

People living in Imperial County have some of the highest rates of asthma in the country, and airborne pollutants from the nearby Salton Sea are a big part of the problem. The majority-Hispanic agricultural community, which already contends with low-paid farm labor, low adult education levels, and high unemployment, also must deal with the externalities … READ MORE