It's a new decade, but we can't forget to reflect on River LA's busy and productive year in 2019. Here are the biggest highlights and most exciting updates from our year together.
9th Annual Urban Garden Party
This year's Urban Garden Party celebrated the tech innovations spurring engagement in communities along the LA River by creating a series of immersive art activations. We can't help but think back on the awesome evening celebrating the LA River, our new Executive Director Ed Reyes, and the musical talent, art experiences and delicious cuisine from all over our city. Congratulations again to our Honorees, Outward Bound Adventures and City of South Gate!
Although this year's Urban Garden Party is over, it's never too late to help us bring people together along the 51 miles of river. Your contributions will allow us to continue our mission of reimagining the LA River in 2020. Thank you for your support.
Former LACouncilmember Ed Reyes Named Next Executive Director of River LA
In November, the River LA Board of Directors voted to name Ed Reyes the next Executive Director of River LA. As a former Los Angeles Councilmember and long-standing advocate for the revitalization of the LA River, Reyes will bring nearly 20 years of momentum knitting together community members, government, and other non-profits in support of the Los Angeles River. Reyes joins River LA following a national search, which surfaced dozens of qualified candidates, to find an executive who could accelerate the ongoing plans to transform the Los Angeles River and take River LA to new heights.
Resilient Rio 51 Program
The Resilient Rio 51 Program had another great year. At STEAM Legacy High School on October 25, the second Resilient Rio 51 field trip began! Three amazing instructors from Outward Bound Adventures arrived to pick up 6 students and take them to base camp at LA State Historic Park. Their unique campsite is located along the Los Angeles River with a magnificent view of Downtown Los Angeles. The group was also joined by two students from John Muir High School. For many students, this was their first experience camping!
River LA is proud to have partnered with Boeing Foundation, National Recreation Foundation, Outward Bound Adventures, and STEAM Legacy High School to make this trip a HUGE success! A special thank you to Las Fotos for documenting this amazing program! We’re committed to providing positive experiences to learn about and enjoy the Los Angeles River for local youth and can’t wait to begin planning the next trip!
Outstanding In The Field 2019
On Tuesday, May 28, River LA staff and board members were joined by over 250 people for the LA Times Food Bowl event, produced by Outstanding in the Field, on the Sepulveda Dam. This sold-out event was a spectacular opportunity to share our organization’s mission and hopes for the LA River’s future with people from all over California coming together to share a meal.
River LA and Studio O+A Kick Off River City Wayfinding Program
River LA and Studio O+A’s Food For Thought Truck joined forces in March to kick off the River City wayfinding program. This project was designed to help orient Angelenos towards the Los Angeles River by giving businesses, organizations, and residents yard signs, window stickers, posters, and in some cases plaques with their distances from the Los Angeles River.
Click here to download your own River City sign!
Introducing The Bedrock Society
It is with great pleasure that we launched the Bedrock Society, River LA’s giving society that recognizes donors who make a recurring gift of at least $5 gift per month. We acknowledge the significance of ongoing commitment to our organization and to the Los Angeles River, and we want to celebrate steadfast support and loyalty.
Monthly gifts from our members provide immediate funds that make River LA’s work possible. It allows us to continue facilitating partnerships with organizations such as Outward Bound Adventures, to and create programs such as the Resilient Rio 51 program.
2020 membership will include discounts on River LA merchandise (exciting collaborations to come!), discounted tickets to our annual Urban Garden Party, formal recognition in our annual impact report and website, as well as exclusive member updates and invites to private events and tours.