On Monday, January 20, 2025, South Coast AQMD’s Working with Communities (WWC) volunteer program participated in Leadership Long Beach’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event. The event was held in partnership with California Volunteers and the Office of the Governor Gavin Newsome to bring together over 1,000 volunteers to honor Dr. King’s legacy through acts of service and community building.

Attendees met at Long Beach Community College for a pancake breakfast hosted by the Long Beach Fire Department, and listened to inspiring remarks from guest speakers, including Josh Fryday, Chief Service Officer for the State of California. During the celebration, South Coast AQMD hosted a resource booth that drew significant interest from participants. The team distributed informational materials on air quality and provided resources for those affected by the ongoing Los Angeles County fires.

After the morning event, approximately 25 South Coast AQMD volunteers gathered at Freeman Community Center in Long Beach to build a garden for youth and residents. The team constructed three garden beds to create a hands-on experience for neighborhood youth to learn about growing vegetables and fruit as well as environmental and health issues. Volunteer events like this foster a strong sense of community and pride while highlighting the power of collective action to address local needs. Looking ahead, the Working with Communities program in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Coachella Valley will host an upcoming Cesar Chavez Day of Remembrance event in Indio, California.

For more information about the program and upcoming events, please visit https://www.aqmd.gov/home/newsevents/community-events/working-withcommunities.