Climate Action Palooza 2025

2^nd Annual Climate Action Palooza

focused on reclaiming our tomorrow

West LA College is the new, green epicenter for environmental education and innovation. The 2nd Annual Climate Action Palooza is scheduled to start on the International Day of Climate Action and will host of mix of students, industry and thought leaders. The fun-filled event, hosted by the state’s only California Center for Climate Change Education at West, promises to merge three extraordinary days of action and advocacy with resources to help prepare students for the green and blue economy. West boasts the – first and only – degree and certificate programs in Climate Change & Environmental Studies among the 116 California community colleges.

Day 1, Thu. Oct 24, 10 am - 2 pm:

Reclaiming our Tomorrow, High School & Community College Student Conference. Students exhibit displays that show what their neighborhoods would look like if they had unlimited resources and power to transform their communities. Panel with Youth Climate Commissioners and leaders.

Open to WLAC students and faculty only (please email caclimatecenter@wlac.edu to reserve seats for Day 1).
400 attendees total Locations: Wildcat Walkway and FA Auditorium

• 9:45am – 10:00am High School Buses arrive, Grab n’ Go breakfast
• 10:00am Event begins – Student exhibits on display w/ DJ playing
• (350 high school students expected – including Hamilton High, Amino Venice)
• Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
• 11:00am Convocation to FA Auditorium
• 11:15 am - 12:15 pm Youth Leaders Panel Discussion
• 12:20 pm – 1:45pm Lunch (Outside on Wildcat Walkway), Live DJ Plays
• 1:45 pm Closing remarks
• 2:00 pm Students back to busses. Event Closes

Day 2, Fri. Oct 25, 9 am - 4 pm:

Professional Conference on Climate Innovation. Talks, panels, and workshops focused on AI and other technologies that are affecting the climate crisis, as well as innovative ways to use traditional knowledge to advance climate solutions and justice. Complimentary breakfast and lunch.

Free and open to all. See program and RSVP at https://climateinnovation.eventbrite.com
250 attendees total locations: FA Auditorium and MS classrooms

• About our speakers
• 8:30 am - 9:00 am Registration & Complimentary Breakfast (FA Gallery)
• 9:00 am - 9: 30 am Welcoming Remarks (President Limbaugh and VP Stokes each speak for about 5 min. Center Director, Jo Tavares speaks for 5 min; Dignitaries speak for 5-10 min)
• 9:30 am - 10:30 am Keynote Speakers: Prof. Marcela Oliva, PhD and Brantly Fulton, PhD
• 10:30 am - 11:00 am Coffee Break
• 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Panel: Innovative Approaches in Climate Action and Education
• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Complimentary Lunch and Networking
• 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Climate Innovation Workshops (MS & GC Classrooms)

Day 3, Sat. Oct 26, 10 am - 3 pm:

Circular Communities Fair. Music, dance, games, art exhibitions, booths, hard-to-recycle items collection, T-shirt upcycling with live screen printing. Bring your T-shirts. Free vegan food for the first 100 people to arrive. Bring your costumes for a Halloween Costumes Swap.

All our events are FREE and open to all, but please RSVP so that we plan accordingly. RSVP at https://circularcommunities.Eventbrite.com

• 200-300 attendees total Location: Graduation Lawn
• 10:00 Welcoming remarks by Jo Tavares (Center Director)
• 10:30 am- 11:30 pm
• Land Acknowledgement
• Opening Remarks: with President Limbaugh
• 11:30 am - 12:45 pm: Drum Circle - Roberto “Konga Kid” Gutierrez
• 1:00 pm Lunch
• 1:30 pm Por Amor a Guatemala Dance Performance
• 3:00 pm - Close

About West

West Los Angeles College is an ACCJC accredited California Community College that offers career certificates and Associate degrees as well as paths to transfer to competitive universities as a Junior. Students can enroll full-time or part-time, in-person or in the college’s award-winning online program. Recently, West was awarded the prestigious Aspen Prize for being one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation. For more information, visit WLAC.edu. 

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