SACRAMENTO
CAL FIRE announces $27 million in historic Green Schoolyard Grant funding
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Urban and Community Forestry Program announces the award of $27,047,419 in grants through the 2023 Green Schoolyards Grant initiative. This funding, which supports 20 projects across 41 nonprofit child care facilities, marks a significant step in enhancing green spaces for California’s youngest residents.
“Children better learn, socialize, pay attention, and actively play under the shade of trees and surrounded by nature. That interaction with nature at an early age can form lifelong values for the future stewards of California” said Walter Passmore, CAL FIRE State Urban Forester.
The purpose of the Green Schoolyards grant program is to protect the health, well-being, and educational opportunity of children most vulnerable to increasing temperatures and extreme heat across California.
Project activities include planting trees and other vegetation, converting pavement to green spaces, and other efforts at California nonprofit child care facilities to help alleviate extreme heat and improve the immediate environment for students. These activities also aim to enhance accessibility to nature and nature-based learning for the youngest population in the state.
The $27 Million for nonprofit and public child care facilities compliments the more than $121 million in Green Schoolyard Grant funding that was awarded by CAL FIRE in 2023. This funding will provide healthier environments for California’s children, who are disproportionately more impacted by extreme temperatures. By creating greener and cooler spaces for our youngest population, these grants will deliver a healthier environment that provide opportunities for nature-based, hands-on learning, improve environmental literacy and creativity, as well as social skills like collaboration, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for California.
The Green Schoolyards Grant program aligns with CAL FIRE’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving urban forest health, and enhancing the quality of life in urban areas.
You can find more about CAL FIRE and the Urban and Community Forestry Department online at https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/grants/urban-and-community-forestry-grants
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MIDDLETOWN
Aesthetic Ecstasy: A Participatory Introduction to the Art of Adi Da Samraj
The Middletown Art Center (MAC) is excited to invite the public to Aesthetic Ecstasy: A Participatory Introduction to the Art of Adi Da Samraj with Mei-Ling Israel, Ph.D. This engaging event will take place on Friday, August 23, at 7 p.m. in the MAC gallery. The current exhibit on view The Space Between features several works by Adi Da Samraj presenting a unique opportunity to delve deeply into the artist’s work with Dr. Israel as she shares her insights into the artist’s transformative works.
Adi Da Samraj’s work, known for its bold colors, powerful structure, and monumental scale, combines digital technology with photographic and hand-drawn elements. His pieces have been exhibited worldwide including the Venice Biennale in 2007 and have captivated audiences at numerous museums and galleries across the US and Europe.
The MAC exhibit represents the first time Adi Da’s artwork has been available to the public locally, offering a unique opportunity for the community to engage with his profound artistic vision. The exhibit is free and open to the public Thursday-Monday 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 7.
Mei-Ling Israel is the author of The World As Light: An Introduction to the Art of Adi Da Samraj. She holds a Ph.D. from Bard Graduate Center, NYC in Design History. Dr. Israel is an accomplished researcher and kiln-formed glass artist who brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation. With a background that includes a BA in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University, her research interests span material culture, ethnography, digital cultural heritage management, popular culture, and media studies.
Throughout her career, Dr. Israel has published widely on craft, immigrant culture, and contemporary art. She has presented her work at prestigious institutions such as the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery, the Paley Center for Media, and the Hagley Museum & Library. Her expertise makes her uniquely qualified to discuss the work of Adi Da Samraj’s, critically acclaimed work. To learn more about Adi Da Samraj’s work visit https://www.daplastique.com/
The event is by donation/free and open to all. For accessibility accommodations or English/Spanish translation please text/call 707-355-4465 or email info@middletownartcenter@gmail.com.
Middletown Art Center is a non-profit dedicated to engaging the public in art making, art education, and art appreciation and providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, striving to create an inclusive and accessible space for all.
The MAC is located at 21456 State Hwy 175 at the junction of Hwy 29 in Middletown. To find out more about MAC’s programs, events, and ways to support their efforts to weave the arts and culture into the fabric of life in Lake County, visit middletownartcenter.org.
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