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Our Mission

ActiveSGV's mission is to support a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley.

People dancing in the street at an eventActiveSGV employees work a booth at an eventA boy plays a game during an eventDancers perform in a Dia de los Muertos parade
Our Vision

ActiveSGV envisions a San Gabriel Valley where:

• People of all ages, incomes, abilities, and backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive
• Decision-making accounts for the needs of current and future generations
• Local and regional investments help address our most pressing challenges, including climate change, housing affordability, and inequity
• Elected leadership reflects and accurately represents one of the United States’ most diverse regions
• Communities pilot best practices in public policy, health, sustainability, and governance

A Brief History...

Early days

Started as a simple Facebook page devoted to cycling in the San Gabriel Valley by Monterey Park resident Vincent Chang (at the time an MPK Environmental Commissioner and President of the local Chamber of Commerce), ActiveSGV was launched by a group of concerned community members who shared a vision of a cohesive network of people-friendly streets in the San Gabriel Valley.

Making real progress

Since 2010 ActiveSGV’s team of staff organizers, board members, volunteers and supporters have dedicated thousands of hours to fostering civic engagement in communities across the San Gabriel Valley to effect policy, program and environmental change. Working in cities that suffer from some of California’s highest rates of childhood obesity - including Baldwin Park (28.7%), South El Monte (34.5%) and El Monte (28.3%) - ActiveSGV has made significant strides in accelerating the development of safer, more people-friendly streets.

A few highlights

Facilitating the development of a dozen local communities, including the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, El Monte, South El Monte, San Gabriel, Glendora, Irwindale, La Puente, Montebello, Monrovia, and South Pasadena

Coordination of three 626 Golden Streets ciclovias, including the historic, 8-community, 18.5-mile event in 2017 to celebrate the Foothill Gold Line Azusa extension

Launch of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Greenway Network vision, a long-term project to create a 100+ mile regional greenway network along existing flood control channels which has been formally endorsed by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) and other community partners

Development of the San Gabriel Valley’s first Bicycle Education Center, community Bike Park, and Traffic Garden at the Jeff Seymour Family Center in El Monte
• Implementation of one of the first E-Bike Rebate programs in the United States (2016-18)

Launch of one of California’s first ‘Traffic Diversion’ programs in 2017, following passage of AB 902, to provide people cited while riding bicycles an opportunity to go to ‘traffic school’ for the first time, in lieu of paying fines of $150 to $800 or more.

Our home base

Active San Gabriel Valley (ActiveSGV) is headquartered in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley at the Jeff Seymour Family Center in the City of El Monte. In 2016, ActiveSGV worked with El Monte City School District to develop the SGV’s first “bicycle campus” as part of the redesign of the decommissioned Mulhall Elementary School campus. The ambitious project converted two former classrooms into a youth-focused bicycle cooperative providing low/no cost recycled and access to professional tools and expertise; constructed the SGV’s first bicycle skills park; and integrated a “traffic garden” for teaching safe cycling skills into an urban forestry grant led by partner Amigos de los Rios.

Our values

Underpinning ActiveSGV’s work are core values that include a strong commitment to build local capacity to effect long-term, sustainable change by: 1) providing culturally-sensitive programming; 2) investing time and resources in youth/young adult development; and 3) graduating passionate local volunteers into part- and full-time positions with transit, sustainability, conservation and other related public agencies and community-based organizations. Specific examples of the latter include Metro Los Angeles, Foothill Transit, Nature for All, and the office of District 1 County Supervisor Hilda Solis.

ActiveSGV team photo

Diversity, equity & inclusion plan

Our Mission is to support a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. ActiveSGV believes a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is essential to achieve this mission.

ActiveSGV is committed to the communities we serve, particularly low-income communities of color in the San Gabriel Valley disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices (ie: air pollution, unsafe streets) and health disparities (ie: high rates of childhood obesity and diabetes). The San Gabriel Valley consists of 47 unique neighborhoods (source: LA Times) and it is the largest majority Latinx and Asian American region in the U.S., approximately 45% Latinx, and 28% Asian, as of 2010 (source: Tropics of Meta).

People of color share similar barriers with other historically marginalized groups such as people with low incomes, people with disabilities, LGBTQ communities, womyn, older adults and young people.

People of color tend to experience social, economic, and health barriers more deeply due to institutional racism. By addressing the barriers experienced by people of color, we will also identify solutions and remove barriers for other disadvantaged groups.​

ActiveSGV recognizes the intersectionality of marginalized identities and to achieve social justice, issues must be addressed holistically.

The San Gabriel Valley is stronger through the creation of quality jobs, living wages, employment mobility, a strong economy, clean water and air, accessible parks, stable and affordable housing, safe and efficient transportation, and a healthy built environment that supports sustainability. In pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion, ActiveSGV aims to eliminate barriers so our communities can lead happier, healthier lives.

ActiveSGV strives to make this commitment evident across all levels: in our organizational structure, policies, advisory board, staff, volunteers, donors, goals, and vision. We welcome people of all backgrounds and aim to maintain a culture of respect, openness, learning, integrity, honesty, and a sense of fun. 

  • Attract, hire, train and promote employees and volunteers of diverse backgrounds, particularly those who live and/or have lived in the San Gabriel Valley.
  • Maintain an honest and transparent communication system among employees and volunteers.
  • Improve employee and volunteer satisfaction, engagement, and culture of trust, support, respect, and inclusion.
  • Increase employee and volunteer engagement and recognition.
  • Provide promotional pathways and leadership development opportunities for employees and volunteers.
  • Ensure opportunities exist for everyone in the organization to participate in inclusiveness efforts.
ActiveSGV staff members at an event
  • Work with stakeholders and partners to promote an equity approach that creates institutional and structural change.
  • Increase partnerships that represent and serve our historically underserved San Gabriel Valley communities of color or historically underserved communities of color in general.
  • Develop a diverse donor constituency and portfolio of funders/donors.
  • Engage with historically underserved San Gabriel Valley communities of color in inclusive, meaningful ways.
  • Create safe, welcoming and accessible events, services, and programs.
  • Prioritize addressing the disparities that people of color face to generate solutions to address other vulnerable groups.​
A booth giving away free items at an event

Our Services

To support our mission and programming, ActiveSGV's multi-cultural and multi-ethnic team, fluent in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, offers a number of professional services to cities, agencies, businesses, organizations, and community-based groups, including:
01

Multi-cultural Community Outreach, Engagement, and Material Design (including Spanish- and Chinese-language)

02

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Youth-Based Participatory Research (YBPR)

03

Active Transportation Proposal Writing

04

Community Ride Planning and Organization

05

Data Collection (Bike/Ped counts, Bike Parking Audits, Community Street Audits, Mapping)

06

Bicycle Safety and Education Classes (Learn-to-Bike, City Cycling, Bicycle Repair and Maintenance)

07

Bicycle Valet

08

Community Event Support

Noche de las luminarias

Noche de las Luminarias is a celebration of community leaders and advocates and the progress we're making toward more sustainable, safe, and vibrant neighborhoods in the San Gabriel Valley.

We invite you to attend our annual awards ceremony on September 12th, 2024, from 6 PM to 9 PM at the enchanting Grapevine Arbor in San Gabriel, CA.

Get your tickets today! Event proceeds support ActiveSGV's ongoing efforts to realize greener, safer, more sustainable communities in the San Gabriel Valley.

Noche HOnorees

Outstanding Volunteers

  • 2013 - Katherine Ramirez & Henry Coronado
  • 2016 - Diane Velez
  • 2017 - Danielle Zamora & Otto Sayes
  • 2018 - Gabriel Olvera, Wen Lee & Chris Stratton
  • 2019 - Velez Family​​
  • 2020-2021 - Peter Porras
  • 2022 - Ernie Gonzalez
  • 2023 - Theresa Velasco Baray

Outstanding SGV Cities

  • 2013- City of Temple City
  • 2016 - City of El Monte
  • 2017 - City of South El Monte
  • 2017 - City of South Pasadena
  • 2018 - City of San Gabriel
  • 2019 - City of Baldwin Park
  • 2021 - City of Glendora
  • 2022 - City of Pasadena

Outstanding Local Advocates

  • 2016 - John Lloyd
  • 2017 - Doug Strange
  • 2020 - Cheryl Auger and Anita Ghazarian
  • 2021 - Rene Jimenez
  • 2022 - Joy Walters​​
  • 2023 - Sam & Elena Brown

Outstanding Community Organization

  • 2015 - Day One
  • 2016 - Amigos de los Rios
  • 2017 - Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition
  • 2018 - Jeff Seymour Family Center
  • 2019 - Water Foundation
  • 2020 - Asian Pacific Island Forward Movement (APIFM)
  • 2021 - Eco Urban Gardens
  • 2022 - Council for Watershed Health
  • 2023 - Our Savior Center of El Monte

Outstanding City / Government Staff

  • 2016 - Marisa Creter, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
  • 2017 - Margaret Lin, Principal Management Analyst, City of South Pasadena
  • 2017 - Samuel Zneimer, City of South Pasadena
  • 2017 - Justine Garcia, Transportation Programs Analyst, City of Glendora
  • 2018 - Cesar Monsalve, City of Duarte
  • 2019 - Vincent Hon, City of Alhambra
  • 2019 - Michael Macias, City of Alhambra
  • 2020 - Rene Salas, Public Works Director, City of South El Monte
  • 2021 - Christina Davila, El Monte City School District
  • 2022 - Yuriko Ruiz Esparza, City of Baldwin Park
  • 2023 - Alan Melgoza-Calderon

Outstanding Elected Officials

  • 2013 - Joseph Gonzales, Mayor, City of South El Monte
  • 2016 - Michael Cacciotti, AQMD Board Member and South Pasadena Council Member
  • 2017 - Vicky Martinez, Council Member, City of El Monte
  • 2018 - John Fasana, Council Member, City of Duarte
  • 2019 - Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor, District 1
  • 2021 - Sasha Rene Perez, Council Member, City of Alhambra
  • 2022 - Victor Preciado, Council Member, City of Pomona
  • 2023 - Adele Andrade-Stadler, City of Alhambra

Outstanding SGV Business

  • 2013 - Performance Bikes (Pasadena)
  • 2019 - Cyber Yogurt (El Monte)
  • 2020 - Around the Cycle (Pasadena)
  • 2021 - The Cub House (San Marino)
  • 2022 - Remainders (Pasadena)
  • 2023 - Compost Culture (South Pasadena)

Former/current Partners

David Diaz poses with an award from the County of Los Angeles

Select Awards

2024 - California Nonprofit of the Year by Assembly Member Mike Fong, District 49
2022 - LALCV Smith Weiss Environmental Champion Awards - Nonprofit Organization
2019 - Streetsblog LA - Advocacy Group Award
2019 - Streetsblog LA "Streetsie" - Livable Streets Advocacy Group Award
2016 - Community Partners - Albert R. Rodriguez "Civic Legacy Honor"
2015 - American Planning Association - Los Angeles - Transportation Planning Award for SGV Regional Bicycle Master Plan
2014 - South Coast Air Auality Management District - "Clean Air Award" for Promotion of Good Environmental Stewardship
2014 - San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments - "Jack Phillips Award" for innovation in the planning, design, or delivery of a project or program that benefits the San Gabriel Valley