 The Cub House occupies what was originally an auto service station on the corner of Mission St / Euclid Ave in San Marino The self-proclaimed #1 Bike and Plant Store in the United States, The Cub House is an eclectic neighborhood bike and catcus shop brought to life by SGV residents Sean Talkington and Carla Alcibar, and supported by a growing team including Store Manager Danny Heeley and Lead Mechanic Simon Kovara. Located in a former auto repair service station on a heavily trafficked bicycle route in the SGV on the border of South Pasadena and San Marino, the shop is the only bicycle store remaining in either community since 2019.  Cub House setting up a bike repair booth at 626 Golden Streets - Mission to Mission (2019) Over the past 18 months the team at the Cub House has successfully maintained operations during a pandemic, navigating global supply chain challenges and an intense increase in demand for bicycles. In doing so they provided critical bicycle repair support to riders of all types and backgrounds, as well as helped countless local residents pick up cycling as a COVID-19-friendly activity to stay active, support their mental health, or just get around town affordably.  ActiveSGV Holiday Ride participants pose for a group photo inside the former auto service station The shop, which carries bikes of all types as well as helmets, lights, locks, baskets, pumps, stickers and more, is also known as the physical headquarters for its owners’ international cycling apparel line, Team Dream Team. During non-pandemic times, the staff hosts somewhat regular ‘Lazy Sunday’ community rides (recently relaunched) and small events such as a popular bike swap. They even offer complimentary ping pong, bottle refills, and more bobcat stickers per square foot than any store in the SGV, if you need another reason to stop by. ActiveSGV's annual awards party, Noche de las Luminarias, honors people making strides to realize a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. On 10/21/21 we are excited to host the event in a beautiful, outdoor setting at the LA County Arboretum in the City of Arcadia. More information about the event and how to get tickets here
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 Eco Urban Gardens was established in 2015 to combat food insecurity through urban agriculture and regenerative living. Over the past seven years the organization has taught residents of high-need communities in the San Gabriel Valley how to grow food and care for the environment through principles of permaculture and agroecology to create healthy and sustainable communities. Led by Executive Director Marianne Zaugg whose 30 years of work experience includes establishing programs in the public sector of health and environment, the Eco Urban Gardens team also designs and installs drought-tolerant landscapes with California native plants, to build soil, attract pollinators, clean our air, and ultimately transform urban habitats into thriving ecosystems. Examples of this work include Farm to School and campus greening initiatives that connect environment, health and urban agriculture at Arroyo High School, Rosemead High School, and Mountain View High School. ActiveSGV's annual awards party, Noche de las Luminarias, honors people making strides to realize a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. On 10/21/21 we are excited to host the event in a beautiful, outdoor setting at the LA County Arboretum in the City of Arcadia. More information about the event and how to get tickets here
10/7/2021 0 Comments Noche 2021 Honoree - Outstanding Agency Staff - Christina Davila, El Monte City School District The formerly all-asphalt playground at the Jeff Seymour Family Center was transformed with over 100 CA native trees and plants. The Executive Administrator of the Jeff Seymour Family Center for the El Monte City School District, Christina Davila works to unite county and local organizations to meet the needs of families in the greater El Monte Region. Christina Davila was born in South East Los Angeles and raised by her mother, grandmother, and older siblings. She is a proud UCLA Bruin and focused her undergraduate studies on Chicana/o Studies and Education. Her passion for social justice solidified during her undergraduate career as a student activist. She advocated increasing access to higher education for marginalized communities, organized campaigns that changed admissions policies, and worked in multi-ethnic coalitions to support first-generation college students. After UCLA, Christina worked as the Director of MEChA Xinchtli, a college access project that provides academic support and mentorship services for high school and transitional-aged youth. In 2014, Christina’s work shifted from direct service to systems change. She was the Project Manager and first full-time employee for the El Monte Promise Foundation. Christina worked to build out the foundation’s infrastructure and programming, using her coalition-building skills to solidify the first collective impact initiative that included multiple school districts, cities, and community leaders focused on building a cradle-to-college pathway in the greater El Monte area. Although the scope of her work has expanded from education to include the broader health and wellness of families, her overarching goal of helping communities thrive remains the same. Christina has recently focused on ensuring the greater El Monte Community has equitable access to COVID-19 information, testing, and vaccines. When she’s not serving El Monte area families, Christina enjoys hiking, visiting national parks, and spending time with friends and family in her free time.  Youth tests out the 'Traffic Garden' at the Jeff Seymour Family Center ActiveSGV's annual awards party, Noche de las Luminarias, honors people making strides to realize a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. On 10/21/21 we are excited to host the event in a beautiful, outdoor setting at the LA County Arboretum in the City of Arcadia. More information about the event and how to get tickets here.
  Councilmember Pérez poses in front of Alhambra's first (temporary) bike lane Sasha Renée Pérez is a Councilmember for the City of Alhambra who has championed policies that create social, environmental, and economic justice for under-served communities. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sasha swiftly championed a local Hero Pay initiative to ensure grocery and pharmacy store workers were financially compensated for their essential service to the community. In 2021 Sasha worked with local residents, fellow Council Member Adele Andrade Stadler, City staff, and ActiveSGV staff to implement the City’s first dedicated bike lanes as part of the “Reimagine Poplar Blvd” demonstration traffic safety project. Earlier in the year Sasha successfully led an effort to pass a local utensils-upon-request ordinance during Earth Month (April). The first 'Skip-the-Stuff' ordinance in the San Gabriel Valley, the policy is designed to reduce the amount of non-recyclable, single-use, plastic waste in the community associated with takeout food orders. Thanks in part to the leadership of cities like Alhambra on the issue, the CA State Legislature made utensils upon request a statewide policy in September 2021 (AB 1276). The statewide law will go into effect January 1, 2022. Prior to her transition to Councilwoman, Sasha served as the Mayor of Alhambra, where she became the youngest Latina Mayor to lead a medium sized city in California and the first openly-bi Mayor in US history. When she is not serving her community as an elected official, Sasha works as a Senior Public Affairs Manager for the Campaign for College Opportunity, a non-profit broad-based research, policy, and advocacy organization focused on ensuring all Californians have an equal opportunity to attend and succeed in college. She leads the Campaign’s student engagement work, educating and informing students about the policy-making process, their rights, and pending education-related legislation. ActiveSGV's annual awards party, Noche de las Luminarias, honors people making strides to realize a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. On 10/21/21 we are excited to host the event in a beautiful, outdoor setting at the LA County Arboretum in the City of Arcadia. More information about the event and how to get tickets here.
 Over the past decade the City of Glendora has transformed its Transportation Division from a small Commuter Shuttle and Dial-A-Ride operation, to one that focuses upon all modes of transportation and is willing to pilot innovative approaches to street design. In addition to preparing for the return of rail transit service to the community -- the Metro L line Pomona extension is currently under construction in the City -- Glendora has advanced a wide array of transportation planning, design, and infrastructure projects in recent years. Within the realm of mobility planning the City developed and adopted local First-Last Mile Plan and Active Transportation Plans in 2019. On the design and build side it constructed the first phase of an ambitious Urban Trail and Greenway Network along one of several County flood channels that run through the City, the San Dimas Wash.  Concept Rendering - Ada Shared Street - 2019 Glendora First/Last Mile Plan Amidst a pandemic the City also proved itself among the most nimble in the region in making space for safer, outdoor business on Glendora Avenue within its historic business district. Over the past 18 months 7 outdoor dining ‘parklets’ popped up within the Glendora Village, as well as two demonstration pedestrian plazas on Meda Street. At first temporary in nature, these installations provided a lifeline to eateries during a very challenging period for small businesses. The expanded outdoor dining also proved so popular with the general public (and participating businesses which subsequently experienced their best year ever in terms of sales) that the City Council invested in upgrading the temporary parklets to safer, more accessible and colorful semi-permanent models made with steel and pine decking. The City also embarked on a five-month demonstration of first/last project concepts along Glendora Avenue. The demonstration project provided excellent feedback and engagement by reaching over 550 community members as well as a way to learn about real-world design issues. The City is looking to capitalize on this momentum with its ambitious People Movement Project, which is a proposed build-out of nine miles of active transportation infrastructure as well as links to the neighboring communities of Charter Oak and Covina. ActiveSGV's annual awards party, Noche de las Luminarias, honors people making strides to realize a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. On 10/21/21 we are excited to host the event in a beautiful, outdoor setting at the LA County Arboretum in the City of Arcadia. More information about the event and how to get tickets here.
 ActiveSGV is proud to be a part of the Bassett Avocado Heights Advanced Energy Community (BAAEC), a team of nonprofits, community organizations, and energy technology leaders helping to produce renewable energy locally. This work is made possible thanks to funding from an Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Challenge grant from the California Energy Commission. BAAEC’s mission is to create a renewable energy community in Avocado Heights and Bassett. We are engaging the community to help residents save money on energy bills and show how we can transition to a clean energy future. Community partners helping to bring the Bassett Avocado Heights Advanced Energy Community (BAAEC) to life include: Bassett Unified School District, Clean Power Alliance, Los Angeles County, The Energy Coalition, Aclima, California Center for Sustainable Communities, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Community Electricity, Day One, Green Commuter, Greenlots, GRID Alternatives, Pivot Energy, Sensor Comm Tech, sonnen, and SpaceAI.
Get Involved!If you are a resident of Bassett or Avocado Heights, sign up for our BAAEC program now by visiting our website: AdvancedEnergyCommunity.org. Residents can get further involved by participating in our Youth Advocacy and Leadership Academy programs. The Energy Leadership Academy is a free training program empowering residents in the Avocado Heights and Bassett community to become energy champions in their advanced energy community. Participants will learn about energy conservation, environmental justice, local advocacy, and more. Please contact Amy Wong, amy@activesgv.org, if you have any questions or comments. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for further updates: @HelloBAAEC. We also want to uplift that not only can these services help a household save energy, they are also clean solutions to prepare communities for potential emergencies and outages. As we see a rise in wildfires and extreme heat, electrical systems are being overwhelmed, disrupting vulnerable communities. If you are interested in learning more about wildfire safety measures, please visit sce.com/wildfire/wildfire-mitigation-efforts.
7/7/2021 0 Comments Southern California Association of Governments Selects ActiveSGV to Build Street Level Community Resiliency and Improve Traffic Safety in the San Gabriel Valley ActiveSGV staff installing a demonstration high-visibility crosswalk (Nov 2020), potential safety demonstration element for Reimagine Poplar in the City of Alhambra El Monte, CA, July 6, 2021 - From a competitive pool of applicants across Southern California, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has awarded funding to Active San Gabriel Valley (ActiveSGV) to implement two traffic safety projects in the San Gabriel Valley. The funding is part of the Go Human Community Streets Mini-Grants Program, which focuses on building street-level community resiliency and increasing the safety of people most harmed by traffic injuries and fatalities, including people with disabilities; frontline workers; and Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
The Reimagine Poplar project in the City of Alhambra is designed to identify and demonstrate potential measures to improve the safety of Poplar Blvd for all road users. The project will include a crash course for neighborhood residents on potential safety demonstration options, a physical installation of a short-term demonstration project, and a project evaluation including identification of next steps. The SGV Re-Cycle project will support those who experience transportation uncertainties at a greater rate. ActiveSGV will repair donated bicycles and distribute them to people and families in need of a low-cost mode of mobility. Working in partnership with local organizations that serve high-need populations such as a local food bank in El Monte, ActiveSGV will select community members for whom the cost of a bicycle is a barrier. Each program participant will have the bicycle adjusted to fit them properly and receive safety training on how to properly operate it. SCAG’s 2021 program focuses on supporting leadership and capacity-building strategies. The Mini-Grants Program centers resilient streets, a framework for using street space for community resiliency, recovery, and resource delivery that prioritizes disadvantaged communities and communities most harmed by traffic injuries and fatalities. This framework emphasizes community-driven co-creation, where community engagement is a key element in the project. “ActiveSGV looks forward to collaborating with residents of Poplar Boulevard to implement a demonstration project that showcases potential long-term safety improvements,” shared ActiveSGV Special Programs Director Wes Reutimann. “Our Bicycle Safety Team is also eager to support residents of the SGV in need of a bicycle as a form of affordable means of mobility with recycled bicycles in good condition.” Both programs will be implemented between June 14, 2021, and August 27, 2021. SCAG’s Go Human campaign and the Community Streets Mini-Grants Program is supported with funding by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information about the program, please contact ActiveSGV Education Director Jose Jimenez. About the Southern California Association of Governments SCAG is the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization, representing six counties, 191 cities and nearly 19 million residents. SCAG undertakes a variety of planning and policy initiatives to plan for a livable and sustainable Southern California now and in the future. For more information about SCAG’s regional efforts, please visit www.scag.ca.gov. This past year has been difficult for many, even more so for people who have lost loved ones, lost their jobs, due to the pandemic. ActiveSGV wants you to know there are many resources to help you and your family. ActiveSGV is committed to keeping you up to date on the most important news and information about the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. We will update our website and social media regularly with the latest news. As this virus continues to impact our community, vaccines are one of the most important tools to end the pandemic, to #GetToImmunity. LA County is working hard to continue making the vaccines available to everyone as soon as possible, so that every resident has the opportunity to be vaccinated.  COVID-19 Resources - Free and Confidential
Vaccination: Starting Thursday April 15, vaccines will become available to any resident in Los Angeles County who is 16 and older! Vaccines are FREE (regardless of citizenship or insurance status), effective, and safe. Sign up for an appointment at MyTurn.ca.gov or by calling toll-free (833) 422-4255. Operators speak English and Spanish, and can provide assistance in 254 languages! Testing: Find where to get a free COVID test online at COVID19.LACounty.Gov/Testing or call (833) 422-4255. Medi-Nurse Line: California has an advice line that can connect you with a nurse to talk about COVID-19 symptoms and help connect you with local resources. This service is available 24/7, even if you are uninsured. Call (877) 409-9052. Note: Vaccination and connecting with the advice line is free and private. All Californians are eligible for these services, including immigrants, and using these services will not subject you to the public charge rule. You can learn more about the vaccine by visiting VaccinateALL58.com. Meet our November Staff feature, Francisco 'Paco' Ojeda! You may recognize him from some of our outreach efforts at Active SGV or seen him around town canvassing or spreading the word about our many projects! When he's not out promoting the awesome work of Active, he's exploring national parks and riding his bike. Get to know the SGV native below:
1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV (/ in this field)? After coming from working with the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco at Camp Mendocino as a ropes specialist & camp counselor I decided that it was time to look for a more long-term stable job. Luckily, I was already following the Bike SGV Facebook page and saw that they were in search for an outreach specialist. I didn't hesitate to send over my cover letter, resume, and portfolio as instructed in the job application. A week after my interview I got a call from David saying that he would like to offer me the position and if it were possible for me to begin in December. However, I told him I would have to wait on the starting date because I was getting ready to take off on a trip to HAWAII!! Luckily David was cool about it and I began in January. At this time Bike SGV was beginning their rebranding process into Active SGV which was great because it meant that I would be working on more diverse projects where my urban planning education and work background were suited for. 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? I like that we have a great group of young professionals who are like minded and we all grew up in the SGV which holds a special place in all our hearts. I think as millennials we realize the importance of self-care and having a healthy and comfortable work environment. Which shows in our flexible work schedules and no dress code policy haha. I also love that we have people on staff that are not only great at their job, but they have other hobbies and skills which overlap with a lot of the work we do such as our awesome yoga instructors Carly and Diane. Our very own lead singer and band member Danielle. Our awesome nature stewards Amy and Andrew. Our spiritual leader Adriana. Our fashion and fine dining expert/chef Andrea. Our dad jokes enthusiast and fierce leader David. Our warm and kindhearted individuals Marlene and Jose. Our giver of fatherly advice, Wes. And my partner in crime who's down for anything Ed. **Note from the editor: SHOUT OUT ALERT!! Thanks Paco for all those kind words!! :D 3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience? My favorite Active SGV experience was Noches de las Luminarias 2019, and I'm not referring to the after party. When members of our community got up to speak and thanked us for all the work and effort, we put into making the SGV a better place to live, that was really special to me. Reason being is that our staff works so hard and I think a lot of the time we deal a lot with the bureaucracy and push back that comes with our line of work and sometimes it's all we're hearing for weeks on end. This can be really exhausting and bring down your good energy vibes. So, hearing all the positive feedback from our community made me really happy and reassured me that the work we do is impactful, and we are making a difference in our communities. That is what made that night so memorable to me. 4. If a friend from out of town were to visit, which place in the SGV would you take them to and why? I would take them to the Vineland drive-in. Because one thing I've noticed about out of town friends is that a lot ot them have never had a drive-in movie experience. Also, you can't beat their prices ($11 for 2 MOVIES!) and you can bring in as much food as you want without worrying about getting it confiscated. 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: So, I've been visiting my youthful teens a lot in terms of music. There has been a lot of usher, nelly, young Chris brown, t-pain, going on in my playlist along with some other classics such as weezer, sublime, red hot chili peppers, blink 182 and the strokes. In terms of reading I'm finishing up this book called The Golem and The Jinni which is really good and falls under fiction/fantasy genre. The next book I have ready to go is The Color of Law, something I'm also looking forward to reading. For watching my best friend recommended me to take a look at Avatar The Last Airbender which was great! Also, Netflix recently released the second series The Legend of Kora which I already binge watched, so if you have any recommendations let me know. What I’m digging right now is making short films for fun. I've been spending a lot of time learning video editing software and even bought a gimbal for my DSLR. If you want to keep up with my awesome but humble lifestyle follow me on Instagram @greencollarscholar. 10/2/2020 0 Comments Noche 2020 Honoree - Brian Velez Memorial Award - Outstanding Volunteer - Peter Porras Brian Velez Memorial Award - Outstanding Volunteer - Peter Porras Peter Porras has devoted hundreds of volunteer hours to transforming the pump tracks and bike park features at the Jeff Seymour Family Center into a beloved recreational facility for families and bicycling enthusiasts in the greater El Monte area. In October 2019 the space was officially re-dedicated as an El Monte city park facility, providing a foundation for greater public access and use in the coming years. However with City staff stretched thin and lacking expertise in bike park maintenance, expert riders like Peter have played a critical role in making the San Gabriel Valley’s first public bicycle park operational.  Peter regularly leads volunteer days to shape the park’s beginner and intermediate riding sections, coordinates with El Monte City School District and ActiveSGV staff, and shares updates on the park’s status on the official Jeff Seymour Family Center Bike Park Facebook group page. His all-volunteer commitment is particularly meaningful as COVID-19 has significantly limited the types of recreational activities youth and families can participate in over the past six months and for the foreseeable future. Bicycling remains one of the few activities people can do in a safe, socially-distant manner to maintain their physical and mental health, and the Bike Park provides a safe, car-free space for the community to ride bikes and improve their skills. We commend Peter’s effort to make the SGV a better place with his commitment to the park. ActiveSGV's awards bash, Noche de las Luminarias, honors people making strides to realize a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. On 10/10/20 a special virtual edition of the annual party will celebrate 10 years of ActiveSGV. Tickets available here
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ActiveSGV is a project of Community Partners, a non-profit public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.