Community members gathered for the second annual East Palo Alto Resilience Fair for a day of food, music, workshops, and family-friendly fun while learning about resources to create a stronger and healthier future at local community center Bloomhouse on Saturday. The event was hosted by the East Palo Alto Climate Change Community Team to spread awareness about climate change and sustainable practices.
Local nonprofits and environmental organizations set up booths where they provided pamphlets and resources for community members to learn about climate action. Everyone in attendance had the opportunity to enter into a raffle to win bikes and air purifiers by visiting six booths and completing two informative workshops.
Volunteer Jacquekyne Vera managed the Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet booth, which showcased their four pillars of sustainability: electrification, advocacy, education, and food. The booth also provided participants with information about service opportunities and workshops.
“We even have a Student Ambassador program where you get to learn from climate experts with peers on climate solutions and work on a lot of really cool projects,” Vera said.
At the Canopy booth, people spun a wheel to answer questions about planting trees. The booth gave out pamphlets with volunteer opportunities and information about Canopy’s mission.
“Canopy is a community forestry nonprofit organization who is tasked with closing the green gap. We work in Santa Clara and San Mateo County,” representative Shadira Chester said. “It’s really important for me to give everyone a fair and equal opportunity to green space and just the benefits of trees.”
Hima Tammineni managed the Mid Peninsula Open Space District booth, where they aim to provide a chance for everyone to enjoy what nature has to offer. “Our organization predominantly focuses on preserving and protecting open space lands and opening them up for public access, for ecological sensitive forms of recreation for members of the community to participate in,” Tammineni said.
There were many fun activities throughout the day, including numerous rounds of loteria in which families and friends could compete to win sustainable prizes such as air purifiers and solar-powered chargers. In the afternoon, volunteers painted participants’ faces, taught them line dancing, and decorated their hands with henna. Small snacks and candies were offered throughout the event, as well as a food truck serving tacos, beans, rice, and many drink options, including horchata and jamaica.
“I came by to visit the different organizations that I’ve been doing work on, you know, under climate change, there are all kinds of things that can fit under that, and it’s good to see the community doing things,” Ruben Abrica, a member of the East Palo Alto City Council, said.
The goal of the event was to teach about climate change and environmental issues as well as show and offer resources to local residents and homeowners. “This event was created by the community themselves, leaders, and other organizations that serve East Palo Alto,” founder and executive director of Congress and Community, Violet Saena, said. “I think there are going to be more events moving forward, because it’s the only day where the community team and the residents can have access to the resources we are giving out.”
“There are a lot of people here, and I think it’s important to be here and try connecting with people and get opportunities for people to attend our events and hopefully get engaged in the future and push their own change for what they want for the community,” Representative for Nuestra Casa, Osolvado Macias, said.
“I’m here because I really want to know more about my community and what I can do to make it better. I was really looking forward to coming, and I’m learning a lot of stuff and resources today,” attendee Mary Goodwin said.
