CECsb
This year’s theme ‘Planet vs. Plastics’ urges community to confront & reduce plastic pollution
Community Environmental Council Honors Environmental Hero Alejandra
Warren, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Plastic Free Future
The Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is set to return to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 2024. Now in its 54th year, the community-organized festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country and is one of the largest Earth Day festivals on the West Coast. Presented by the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and co-produced with longtime festival partner, CarpEvents, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival continues to serve as a beacon for environmental advocacy and education.
“As we prepare for the 2024 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, we are reminded of Santa Barbara’s deep-rooted legacy as a pioneer in the environmental movement,” said Kathi King, CEC’s Director of Climate Education & Leadership and Festival Co-Director. “This is not only a point of pride for our community but a constant reminder of the responsibility we carry in leading environmental stewardship and advocacy. The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is honored to continue this tradition, engaging with our community and beyond to foster a deeper connection with our environment and drive meaningful action towards a sustainable future.”
This year, the festival is aligning with the Earth Day Network’s global theme of Planet vs. Plastics. This theme calls to advocate for widespread awareness on the health risks of plastics, rapidly phasing out single use plastics and pushing for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution by the end of 2024. To further amplify this critical initiative, CEC is pleased to announce Alejandra Warren as the recipient of its 2024 Santa Barbara Earth Day Environmental Hero Award. Warren is the co-founder and Executive Director of Plastic Free Future (PFF), a California-based nonprofit committed to the reduction and elimination of plastic pollution through promoting reusable alternatives, with a focus on outreach to underserved and systemically-excluded communities. Alejandra is also an NGO delegate to the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution.
Activists like Warren have dedicated their lives to making an impact on climate change and their work lights the way for communities everywhere. The Environmental Hero Award ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 28 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Main Stage in Alameda Park, and Warren will be on stage to accept the award. The Explore Ecology Environmental Stewardship awards will also be presented.
The 2024 festival – which is free to attend – anticipates all of the fun of past years. Highlights of this year’s event include the Green Car show featuring free “Ride & Drive” experiences, over 200 eco-friendly exhibitors, Beer & Wine Garden, Kids Zone, two full days of live music, plant-forward Food Court, and so much more.
“It’s truly inspiring to be part of the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, and knowing what a profound impact this event has had on our community and beyond,” said Michael Lazaro, CEO of CarpEvents and Festival Co-Director. “This festival is more than just a weekend of activities; it’s a catalyst for change, inspiring attendees to adopt more sustainable lifestyles and to think more deeply about their role in environmental stewardship. Our commitment is to produce an event that not only educates and entertains but also empowers every participant to make a positive difference in the world.”
Community members can stay updated on details of CEC’s Earth Day at www.SBEarthDay.org, and can get involved in many ways:
- Exhibit: Event registration for vendors is now open, for details visit SBEarthDay.org/exhibit.
- Sponsor: Over 60 eco-friendly businesses and organizations sponsor the festival each year. Learn how you can support the festival at SBEarthDay.org/sponsor.
- Nominate: Explore Ecology is looking for environmental heroes! Do you know someone who protects and preserves the environment and inspires others to do the same? The Explore Ecology Environmental Stewardship Awards honor teachers, students, and schools or school clubs who promote environmental stewardship through education and action. If you know someone who you think should be honored, make your nomination today! Winners will receive their awards onstage at the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival. Nomination Deadline: April 1. Visit this site to submit a nomination: https://exploreecology.org/explore-ecology-awards/.
- Follow on social media for updates: Like “Santa Barbara Earth Day” on Facebook.com/SBEarthDay, and Instagram @SB_EarthDay
Earth Day production partners, who contribute their time and expertise to produce the event, include (as of today): Arjun Sarkar, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition, Downtown Santa Barbara, Explore Ecology, Learningden Preschool, Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District, Santa Barbara Independent and TV Santa Barbara.
About Santa Barbara’s Earth Day
Widely acknowledged as the birthplace of Earth Day, Santa Barbara’s involvement began with the devastating 1969 oil spill off its coast. This led a local group of concerned citizens to begin discussing a different way of looking at environmental systems. During that time, Senator Gaylord Nelson visited Santa Barbara to view the oil spill damage. When he returned to Washington, D.C., he introduced a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the earth. Over the next few years, the environmental movement was born across the country – including the Community Environmental Council (CEC). Led by a group of forward-thinking youth and elders, CEC incorporated in the spring of 1970 and its first act as a new nonprofit was to hold an Earth Day celebration – a one block long teach-in between State St. and Chapala St. along Anapamu. Around the country, 20 million concerned citizens attended similar events. We recognize that “every day is earth day” and that special events like this are a way to bring diverse voices from our community together as a reminder to tread lightly on the planet.
About Alejandra Warren, 2024 Santa Barbara Earth Day Environmental Hero
Alejandra Warren is a sustainability consultant and intersectional environmentalist working on diverse Zero Waste, resource conservation and environmental justice projects across the Bay Area. She co-led efforts to pass the first single-use plastic ban in San Mateo County in 2018 and co-founded Plastic Free Future in 2020. Alejandra is also an NGO delegate to the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution. Alejandra currently works on bilingual outreach and technical assistance to restaurants adopting new foodware ordinances and compliance with SB1383. Her focus is to support businesses switching to reusable alternatives to single-use foodware prioritizing underserved and underrepresented communities. From soil to humans, Alejandra strongly believes in the interconnectedness of all organisms and that working to heal our relationship with the environment will lead to happier, healthier and more resilient communities.
About the Community Environmental Council (CEC)
CEC advances rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis – including ambitious zero carbon goals, drawdown of excess carbon, and protection against the impacts of climate change. CEC was recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and a City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero, and is led by CEO Sigrid Wright who was recently named 2022 Congressional Woman of the Year. CEC has worked since 1970 to incubate and innovate real life environmental solutions that directly affect the California Central Coast. Our programs lead to clean vehicles, solar energy, resilient food systems and reduction of single-use plastic. Learn more about the work of CEC and why it receives high ratings from both Charity Navigator and Guidestar at CECSB.org/impact.
Find CEC on the web at CECSB.org and on Facebook.com/CECSB, Instagram.com/CEC_SB, and Linkedin.com/company/cecsb/.
About CarpEvents
With over 30 years’ experience in event management, Mike Lazaro (Carpinterian of the Year), and the CarpEvents team have been producing seamless events from concept to completion across the country and right here in Santa Barbara County. Mike has been involved from the ground up on fundraisers, street festivals, concerts, large corporate conventions and televised sporting events. In addition, the team provides logistical and managerial support on major events such as Summer Solstice and Avocado Festival as well as co-founded the Alcazar Theatre in Carpinteria and the Rods and Roses Car show. Visit https://www.carpinteriaevents.com/
