Los Angeles City College held an Earth Day event on Friday that focused on climate change and sustainability. The event included a tree planting by Ron Finley, also known as the “Gangsta Gardener,” information on environmental issues and food bites — all made from produce from the campus garden by the college’s dietetic students.
Dignitaries from the college included Mary Gallagher, PhD, LACC president; Lisa Nashua, executive director, LACC Foundation; Sean Phommasaysy, LACC biology professor; and Gayle Stafsky, LACC Dietetics Program director.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles co-sponsored the event. Dignitaries from CHLA included Rolando Gomez, administrator of government and community affairs; Lara Khouri, executive vice president, chief strategy and transportation officer; and Ellen Zaman, executive director of external affairs.
The first Earth Day was observed on April 2, 1970 as an environmental “teach-in” in the United States. Conservationist and U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, of Wisconsin, gets credit for proposing a special day to increase awareness and seriousness of pollution and to find legislative and personal ways to protect and care for the environment.
Information on gardener Ron Finley, ronfinley.com
Information on Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, www.chla.org/
Information on Los Angeles City College, www.lacitycollege.edu/