About

Active SGV In A Nutshell...

Community events, open streets, transit improvements, green infrastructure, and advocacy for a more sustainable, equitable and livable San Gabriel Valley!

Mission

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

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...

San Gabriel River Trail

Started as a simple Facebook page devoted to cycling in the San Gabriel Valley by Monterey Park resident and City Clerk 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.

Over the past 10 years 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 which 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. Highlights include:

Development of a 5-city San Gabriel Valley Regional Bicycle Master Plan with the cities of Monterey Park, El Monte, South El Monte, Baldwin Park and San Gabriel with partner Day One and Alta Planning;
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; and
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.

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.

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.

Our Team

Celebrating our new logo - April 11, 2019

Amy J. Wong (she/her, LCI) - Program Specialist - Amy J. Wong is a San Gabriel Valley native with over six years of experience leading environmental and public health initiatives in the region. At ActiveSGV, she manages climate programs to advance environmental equity in historically underserved communities of color. She co-founded the Women on Wheels program, dedicated to empowering girls and women to lead healthy lifestyles through biking and wellness activities. Previously, she advocated for policies to further protect the San Gabriel Mountains, and implemented public health initiatives in El Monte and South El Monte. Amy also serves as a Planning Commissioner for her hometown of El Monte, an Environmental Justice Inter-Agency Task Force member for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and a member of the Los Angeles Young Leaders Council for the National Parks Conservation Association. Amy graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology.

Andrea Jaramillo (she/her) - Andrea has over eight years experience in digital communications and intercultural communications and has helped build brands from ideation to execution, both in the United States and internationally. She has a degree in International Affairs from University of Colorado Boulder and a post-graduate degree in Trend Research from the Instituto Europeo de Diseno in Barcelona. Her leadership experience in the private industry in branding and marketing has allowed her to successfully understand cultural shifts to better connect with consumers and stakeholders. She has worked on developing and building the ActiveSGV digital brand through social media outlets and online communications by effectively and helped coordinate communications efforts and events for projects such as 626 Golden Streets and the Bike Friendly Business District.

Andrew Fung Yip (he/him, LCI) - Program Specialist - Andrew Yip is a native of the San Gabriel Valley who served as one of three primary assistant instructors for ActiveSGV's execution of Need to Know courses in 2013. He was a volunteer for ActiveSGV from 2012-2014 before being hired as a Program Coordinator. He joined the United States Army in 2007 during high school in the split option training program until 2015 when he was Honorably Discharged. He's currently working on finishing his bachelor's degree in Sociology, Ethnic Studies, and a specialized minor in Mobility Justice at Azusa Pacific University (APU). While studying at APU, Andrew served as the President of the campus Asian Pacific American Student Organization for two years. During his tenure at the campus organization, he represented both his organization and ActiveSGV as a panelist at the Innovative Space for Asian American Christianity on environmental stewardship. He is also a member of the National Parks Conservation Association's Next Gen Advisory Council. Andrew was recently certified as a California Naturalist and continues to photograph interesting insects and animals for inclusion on the iNaturalist app.

Carly Curiel (she/her, LCI) - Community Engagement Specialist - Born and raised in South San Gabriel (SGV represent!), Carly Curiel grew up biking the Rio Hondo Bike Path and picnicking at Legg Lake with her family. For her 16th birthday, she got a metallic yellow beach cruiser that she still rides to this day, despite being a bit far from the beach. Carly pursued her passion for the outdoors and community building as a Recreation, Parks, and Tourism major at San Francisco State University. After graduating, she worked for the SF Recreation and Parks as an Outreach and Communications Coordinator, but eventually moved back to her roots in South San Gabriel with the hopes of using her knowledge and experience to make the SGV a more sustainable place to live. When not working at ActiveSGV, Carly teaches yoga at People’s Yoga East LA, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Anna Bing Arnold Children’s Center, Miraculous Medal Elementary School, and Yosemite Rec Center in Eagle Rock. She is the creator of Full Moon Yoga, a donation-based, outdoor yoga experience that meets in the backyard of different homes throughout L.A. every full moon. She enjoys travelling, eating at hole-in-the-walls, hiking the Hacienda Hills Trail (best kept secret; don’t tell anybody), live music, and playing with her nieces and nephews. She has a cat named Ja’mie (pronounced juh-may) and a dog named Joey.

Danielle Zamora (she/her, LCI) - Program Specialist - A resident of the North Whittier/Avocado Heights area, Danielle is an alumna of the University of La Verne with a double major in Studio Art and Psychology. In 2017, she completed her Master’s in Community Psychology at Marymount California University where she conducted a research study exploring the unique challenges and motivations for cycling perceived by women bicyclists in the SGV. Danielle began volunteering with ActiveSGV in 2016 collecting active transportation data and working with the Women on Wheels team. She is passionate about empowering girls and women to bike and reap the environmental, financial, and health benefits that bicycling brings. Along with biking, Danielle enjoys hiking, traveling, baking vegan goodies (which you can sometimes purchase during a monthly Bike Train), writing song lyrics, and singing with her band Rubbish House Goons. She also is a member of ActiveSGV's Climate Ride Team; you can support her by donating here!

David Diaz, (he/him, LCI) - Executive Director - Dedicated public servant and advocate with project management, coalition building experience who has successfully worked with youth, schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations and cities to advance environmental justice, equity and public health. David is also a member of the following committees: Metro San Gabriel Valley Service Council, Measure A Oversight Committee (Chair), Measure W USGR WASC, Measure W Scoring Committee, and an El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees Member. He holds a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Management and Policy and resides in the City of El Monte with his partner Anais Medina Diaz and son Maceo.

Diane Ojeda (she/her) - Outreach Associate - Born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, Diane holds a deep admiration for the landscapes, parks, people and cultures that make up the SGV. Growing up in an intergenerational home, parks became a place where she regularly found adventure with their siblings and cousins, often visiting Whittier Narrows and taking family trips to the Azusa Canyons. At a young age, Diane’s dad affirmed the value of community and caring for the land as a responsibility. Before joining ActiveSGV, Diane worked closely with families in the Southeast Los Angeles area and with parents in LAUSD through parent advocacy training programs and organizing charlas around health, transportation and education inequities in English and Spanish. Diane is committed to studying modalities that support intergenerational healing. She currently teaches family yoga at Amigo Park in Whittier and is a part of the El Sereno Community Garden where you can volunteer on Saturday mornings!

Diane Velez, MPH (she/her, LCI) - Healthy Communities Director - Diane began volunteering with the ActiveSGV in 2016 before joining as a staff member. Diane currently leads ActiveSGV's CalFresh Healthy Communities program. Other projects Diane has coordinated include the East Los Angeles Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Active Streets El Monte programs from 2017-2019. Over the past several years she has also supported the 626 Golden Streets team and Women-on-Wheels (WoW) project, which aims to empower more girls and women to engage in health and wellness practices. Additionally, she serves on the Metro San Gabriel Valley Service Council and holds a Master of Public Health. Diane is passionate about improving community health and sustainability in the San Gabriel Valley, with a strong commitment to social justice and equity.

Edward Duong (he/him, LCI) - Community Engagement Specialist - A native to the San Gabriel Valley, Edward Duong graduated from Cal State University of Long Beach with a bachelors degree in Communication Studies and minor in Religious Studies. While there, Edward got involved with a mixture of academic and extracurricular organizations on campus. He was the President of the Student Communication Association, an organization dedicated to helping students find jobs and internships with a degree in Communications. Edward participated with the CSULB Cycling and Triathlon team, competing at various schools and even had the opportunity to take part in the USA National Triathlon Championships at Arizona State University. After College, Edward decided to take his experience and efforts back into the SGV to try to improve his communities’ quality of life through more active transportation campaigns. As the Outreach Coordinator for Bike San Gabriel Valley, he hopes to spread his love for anything cycling and bring in new members and volunteers. On his free time, Edward enjoys meal prepping, riding the river trails and jump roping.

Emily Pham (she/her) - Outreach Associate - Emily began as a volunteer with ActiveSGV in 2020 before joining as a staff member. A San Gabriel Valley native, she is currently finishing up her bachelor’s degree with a double major in Psychobiology and Asian American Studies at UCLA. Emily is passionate about racial, environmental, and health justice, and as an Outreach Associate, she hopes to use her passion for equity, academic background, and student leadership experience to help enact a more sustainable vision for her home in the San Gabriel Valley that centers active and public transportation. After graduating, Emily hopes to pursue a Master of Public Health to learn how to develop public health programs, reduce health disparities, and foster a built environment that is equitable, livable, and empowering for all.

Francisco Ojeda (he/him) - Outreach Associate - Francisco is a San Gabriel resident who is a graduate of Cal Poly Pomona where he received a Bachelors of Science in Urban and Regional Planning. Francisco is passionate about active transportation and studied bicycle infrastructure and transportation in Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. He has been involved and worked with several organizations transferring vacant lots into public spaces, improving city streetscapes, and implementing active transportation practices. His passions include traveling, attending music festivals/concerts, road trips, and biking in DownTown Los Angeles. Although he introduces himself formally as Francisco all his friends and family members best know him as Paco. Currently one of his biggest goals in life is to bike the pan-americana trail beginning in Los Angeles and ending in Argentina.

Gabriel Olvera (he/him) - Education Associate - Baldwin Park resident and our youngest member on staff. He started off as a volunteer at the Bicycle Education Center and was honored as a super volunteer at our annual awards event. He currently works as a part time mechanic at the BEC.

Gabe (they) - Sasquatch, Mayor of the San Gabriel Mountains - Gabe comes from a family of Sasquatches that live in the San Gabriel Mountains. Gabe frequently travels down to the San Gabriel Valley for food, music, and events like 626 Golden Streets. Gabe is a 6'9", vegan, loves french fries and bikes.

Jose Jimenez (he/him, LCI) - Education Director - Jose Jimenez has been involved in the cycling industry for ten years as a manager of several bike shops, and currently the SGV Bicycle Education Center (BEC). After seeing the positive impact cycling has made on people that walk through his shop’s doors every day, Jose has used his cycling knowledge to reach out to many local bicycle coalitions, businesses, community members, and city officials in an effort to further promote cycling. Jose believes cycling is more than just a sport, but also a method of environmentally-friendly transportation, and a healthy activity that can bring friends, families and entire communities closer together. A Pasadena resident, he can often be found mountain biking in the San Gabriel Mountains or road biking throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

Marlene Buenrostro (she/her) - Outreach Associate - Marlene Buenrostro has been riding her bicycle since her early twenties to improve her health and commute to school. She studied at East Los Angeles College before transferring to California State University, Northridge where she completed a BA in History. For the past seven years Marlene has worked doing community engagement and outreach to help increase community participation and input on issues around education, and most recently street safety for cyclists and pedestrians. In Spring 2019 Marlene served as a project ambassador for Vision Zero outreach street team. In her spare time Marlene stays active by riding her bike, hiking, practicing yoga, and walking at local parks. Marlene hopes to pursue a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning to learn how to plan sustainable cities with safe and accessible transit options.

Nina Dinh (she/her) - Administrative Coordinator - Though she hails from Orange County, Nina is a proud new resident of San Gabriel Valley! Her time at UCLA after Golden West College was well spent working at the Transfer Student Center, where she embraced her identity as a first-generation, transfer student and helped others do the same. She strongly believes that the transfer route serves as an incredible opportunity for social mobility given that community college students make up a large population of students of color, first-generation, student parents, people with disabilities, and much more. Serving the community through Active SGV while seeing all the projects and events come to life brings her much joy. On her free time, you can find likely find her on a bike, catching up with friends and family at local eateries, or simultaneously doing both!

Seleny (Se-le-ni) Rodriguez (They/She) - Outreach Associate - Seleny was born in Mexicali, Mexico and migrated with their parents to Los Angeles, Ca at a young age. Seleny later became established in Pomona, CA which has been the community that inspired them to become vocal and adamant about systemic change against multiple forms of oppression. Growing up, Seleny firsthand understood the injustices that faced low-income and immigrant communities of color and how it impacted them on an external and internal level. For this reason, Seleny made it part of their mission to advocate for mental health resources such as facilitating community “healing circles” for immigrant youth, wellness workshops that focused on healthy and affordable cooking demonstrations, activities, and nutrition-based classes in Spanish for low-wage property service workers and their families. Seleny’s dream is to one day open up their own wellness practice in Acupuncture and Holistic medicine and provide low cost to free healthcare services to all regardless of immigrant status. Currently, Seleny volunteers with the Growing Roots community garden where their main role is to start growing a variety of medicinal plants that will support alternative healing modalities and create accessible and quality wellness services.

Sydney Cheung (she/her) - Outreach Associate - Sydney Cheung is a native of San Gabriel Valley and an environmental justice advocate. She graduated in 2020 from Chapman University with a B.S. degree in Environmental Science and Policy. She has worked in different environmental spaces focused on communications, outreach, and organizing to promote a more inclusive form of environmentalism that advocates for both people and and the planet. As an outreach associate, she hopes to build strong relations among the community and organize for a more sustainable and equitable space in the SGV.

Wesley Reutimann (he/him, LCI) - Special Programs Director - Pasadena resident Wesley Reutimann is an SGV native and graduate of Williams College (MA) and the University of Basel (Switzerland). Wesley co-founded ActiveSGV in 2010, and has fostered the group's gradual transition from an all-volunteer community coalition to a fully-staffed organization since then, serving as Executive Director from 2016-2018. Professionally Wesley has over a decade of experience in the non-profit, public health, and education sectors, with a specific focus on the built environment, sustainability, and healthy communities. In his limited free time he can be found running, hiking, and bicycling in the San Gabriel Mountains, volunteering with the Pasadena Environmental Advocates (PEAS) and the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, and spending time in his CA native plant garden.

Yasser Martinez (he/him, LCI) – Education Coordinator - Before joining ActiveSGV, Yasser Martinez has worked in the bicycle industry for many years. In addition to his work in the industry, he is also an avid life-long cyclist and mountain biker. His passion for traveling on two wheels started when he was a child and has continued throughout his life. He can attest to the positive impact that cycling has had on his life and is committed to sharing this with his community. Yasser also believes that cycling is an important component in the efforts to reduce pollution and improve the quality of life in our communities. In the last few years Yasser has added bike-packing to his activities and toured both on and off-road. His goal is to one day ride across the Americas and conclude his ride at the tip of South America.

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.

Students learning bike safety skills in El Monte, CA.

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.

BikeSGV staff, board members, and volunteers celebrating at the 2016 Luminarias Awards Night.

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.

Strategic Goals

Internal:

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.
1. Increase employee and volunteer engagement and recognition.
2. Provide promotional pathways and leadership development opportunities for employees and volunteers.
3. Ensure opportunities exist for everyone in the organization to participate in inclusiveness efforts.

External:

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.
1. Create safe, welcoming and accessible events, services, and programs.
2. Prioritize addressing the disparities that people of color face to generate solutions to address other vulnerable groups.

Board of Directors

Yvette Martinez is a strategic communications and policy advisor with over 20 years of experience managing campaigns, building diverse coalitions and directing community engagement programs. Yvette recently managed the coalition and campaign for Our Water LA/Measure W which passed in LA County in November 2018 with 69.45% of the vote. Measure W provides approximately $300 million in yearly funding for a safe and secure water future for Los Angeles County residents. Yvette served as U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer’s Deputy State Director and worked in communities throughout California representing Senator Boxer on key policy initiatives such as protecting the environment, enhancing public safety and transportation measures, and expanding access to healthcare for children and families. Over the course of her career, she has worked on campaigns at all levels of the ballot, from local school board races to national presidential campaigns. In 2001, Yvette served as Congresswoman Solis’ District Chief of Staff, where she helped raise awareness on environmental justice issues in the San Gabriel Valley. Yvette earned a B.A. in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara. She serves on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles and on the Board of Commission for First 5 LA’s. Yvette lives in Whittier with her high school-aged teenagers who she lovingly calls her, “twinsters.”

Rafael González serves as Director of Community Relations for First 5 LA. He is responsible for facilitating partnerships with civic/community organizations, municipalities and parent/caregiver leaders throughout the Los Angeles County in order to advance First 5 LA’s goals. Central to this work is building and maintaining relationships with the broader Los Angeles community to advocate for early childhood well-being and equity through policy and systems change. Rafael previously served as Director of Community Relations for the Los Angeles Dodgers; Chief Service Officer and Director of Neighborhood & Community Services for City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Executive Director of Collective SPACE; Founder and Executive Director of Public Allies – Los Angeles; Director of Civic Education & U.S. Citizenship Project Director at the National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund; Affirmative Action Campaign Coordinator at the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF); Campaign Field Director at Coalition LA & Senior Field Deputy for LA Council Member Mike Hernandez.

Rafael serves on the boards for the Community Coalition, Center for Nonprofit Management, El Monte National Little League and the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps. He is on the Advisory Council for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, on the Durfee School Site Council as a parent representative and a Commissioner on the City of El Monte’s Planning Commission. Rafael was born and raised in the downtown area of Los Angeles and resides in the City of El Monte. He graduated from Cal State University at Northridge with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chicano Studies and received his Master’s Degree from the USC Price School of Public Policy. He is married and has three sons.

Stephanie Ramirez is a Los Angeles native with extensive experience in public policy, community outreach and engagement, and government relations. As Associate State Director for AARP California, she is primarily responsible for developing and strengthening strategic relationships with policymakers, state and local government agencies, community stakeholders, and volunteers in the Greater Los Angeles area. Stephanie leads AARP California’s transportation-related efforts to address the mobility needs of older adults and persons with disabilities in support of an age-friendly Los Angeles. She serves on the community advisory committees for the Los Angeles Vision Zero Alliance, the City of Los Angeles Sidewalk Repair Program & Vision Zero Taskforce, and is on the Metro Los Angeles’ Policy Advisory Council.

Christopher Tran had lived in both New York City and San Francisco for almost a decade and experienced the benefits of active transportation. The passion for bicycling took him to many bike-friendly cities around the world, such as Strasbourg and Copenhagen, and to the Netherlands where he toured to 17 different cities for a month all on his folding bike. After returning to his hometown of the San Gabriel Valley to raise his son, Christopher felt a need to continue with his involvement in bike advocacy. He soon joined up with ActiveSGV and every day he rides his son to school in Pasadena on his cargo bike.When he is not biking, advocating for biking, or spending time with his family, he is working on developing a food hall in San Gabriel called Blossom Market Hall, with his wife and partner Nellie. They hope that the food hall will help revitalize the walkable and historic Mission District and serve as a local example of a successful pedestrian and bike-oriented district. Chris formerly was a research scientist working in top research institutes such as Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, the Oncology Department at UCLA, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies Pfizer and Genentech. Led by the lauded Principal Researcher, Charles Sawyers MD, Christopher and his team discovered and developed two FDA approved drugs that target advanced prostate cancer, improving patient life-expectancy.

Vincent Chang was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador to parents originally from China. He immigrated to the US at the age of 6 and has lived in Los Angeles County since. His favorite memory includes a second-hand bike his father brought home one day. It was a black Huffy with a tall “sissy” bar popular at the time. Although that bike had mismatched tires and only one speed, it was his ticket to freedom. Summer days were spent riding up and down the neighborhood near Dodger Stadium with friends. Like most people, life happened and time behind the handlebar was traded for time behind a desk. Eventually, upon doctors’ orders, he had to make a choice. Get out and get some exercise or get sick. Remembering the good times on two wheels, he decided to take up cycling again. Sadly, Vincent learned that it was not so easy. Riding on the streets of the SGV literally meant putting your life on the line. Unfortunately, his attempts to resolve the matter with local government officials weren’t of much help and the existing cycling advocacy organizations were busy concentrating their efforts elsewhere. Fortunately, he was not alone in his frustration. One day he met with several others who were just as frustrated, if not more so and BikeSGV was born. Vincent is a California licensed attorney. He is also serving his second term as elected City Clerk for the City of Monterey Park. Recently, he was appointed by Supervisor Hilda Solis (1st District) to serve on the both the Watershed Conservation Authority and River and Mountain Conservancy.

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:

Multi-cultural Community Outreach, Engagement, and Material Design (including Spanish- and Chinese-language)
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Youth-Based Participatory Research (YBPR)
Active Transportation Proposal Writing
Community Ride Planning and Organization
Data Collection (Bike/Ped counts, Bike Parking Audits, Community Street Audits, Mapping)
Bicycle Classes (Learn-to-Bike, City Cycling, Bicycle Repair and Maintenance)
Bicycle Valet
Community Event Support

Former/Current Clients

San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG)
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)
Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center
City of Arcadia
City of Baldwin Park
City of Duarte
City of El Monte
City of Glendora
City of Montebello
City of Monterey Park
City of San Gabriel
City of South El Monte

City of South Pasadena
City of Temple City

For more information regarding ActiveSGV's services, please contact David Diaz.

Awards

The following is a partial list of awards and recognitions the ActiveSGV team has received since 2012.

2019 - Streetsblog LA - Advocacy Group Award
2016 - 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 Quality 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.

YOUR CART