In honor of Earth Day, Civiltec team members David Song, Atenas Reynaga, and Atlanta St. Martin participated in a Great Los Angeles River Clean-up event with the Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR). The team joined around 500 volunteers at the Frog Spot in the Elysian Valley, which is more commonly referred to as “Frog Town.” Nestled between Highland Park, Atwater Village, and Silverlake, the Frog Spot is FoLAR’s summer gateway to the LA River. The area serves as a community gathering space, a launch pad for River tours and trips, and a performance venue.
David, Atenas, and Atlanta were joined by Deputy Mayor and Public Works Commissioner Barbara Romero, City Council Member Mitch O’Farrell, and California Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin De León. As part of America’s largest urban river clean-up, the volunteers worked with FoLAR to pick up and throw away litter and other refuse from the LA River. Some memorable items found include a bike tire, shopping cart, and a mattress.
“Today is Earth Day,” said Senate President Pro-Tem Kevin De León. “That means that we celebrate scientists while we celebrate our earth. Science informs our decision-making when we move our policies. We move our policies to improve the human condition of all individuals. Everyone deserves access to Mother Nature. It doesn’t make a difference who you are.”
Civiltec joined the volunteer efforts after Atlanta encountered the Frog Spot during a Frog Town art walk and learned about FoLAR. The Civiltec team plans to continue helping FoLAR in future events that benefit and engage the community.
Click/tap below to see some pictures from the clean-up!
