United Latinos Promoviendo Accion Civica Sacramento, CA
United Latinos Promoviendo Accion Civica is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Sacramento Valley Latinos through education advocacy and civic engagement. Since 2016, their Green Team has actively promoted environmental equity and encouraged Latino participation in ecological issues. Their 2024 Growing Green Communities project—United Latinos’ first grant-funded initiative involved 45 student trainees and volunteers transforming an unused green space at St. Rose Parish into a Community Composting Hub and Garden.
The United Latinos’ grant project focused on providing educational, hands-on training opportunities for students at Highland Community Charter School Juan Pablo Campus (Spanish-speaking adult technical school located on the parish campus) and Cosumnes River Community College students. Over multiple events throughout the spring, students and community volunteers helped clear the overgrown space, learned to trim young and mature trees, planted ten new trees, turned green waste on-site into mulch, built garden beds, repaired and installed irrigation systems, and constructed a 3-bin compost system hub using locally sourced redwood lumber. Trainings were hosted on regenerative agriculture, composting, tree establishment, and tree care.
United Latinos and their partners at California Alliance for Community Composting developed composting lessons that each incoming class will receive as they participate in helping the community maintain the hub. With the grant project complete, United Latinos is planning future events at the new community garden, including composting workshops.
Vince Valdez, United Latinos Organizer commented, “Thank you to California ReLeaf and PG&E for helping fund our project. The neglected playground site at the church was crying for someone to help transform it into what the community asked for and needed – a community garden and gathering space.”
To learn more about United Latinos Green Team visit their website: https://unitedlatinos.org/green-team/
About the 2024 Growing Green Communities Grant Program:
California ReLeaf’s Growing Green Communities Grant Program is generously sponsored by Pacific Gas & Electric Company. California ReLeaf also recognizes the ongoing support we receive from CAL FIRE and the USDA Forest Service who make these small grant programs possible.
