[The following final update was written by the organization and then sent to us for further sharing.]

Rooted in Resilience: A Year of Listening and Planting Seeds for Lasting Change

“Spirits of this land, spirits of this place; you who are unseen but felt, unnamed but present; you who were here long before us: we thank you for sharing this place with us.” – John Beckett

The story of South Los Angeles is a story that begins with the people who call it home, spanning generations of resilience, adaptation, and community pride. Known to true Angelenos as "South Central," this area—framed by the 10, 110, 405, and 105 freeways—carries layers of complex history. The 1940s brought a wave of Black families to South LA as manufacturing jobs blossomed, creating a thriving Black middle class. Just decades later, as deindustrialization, disinvestment, the crack cocaine epidemic, and heightened policing took hold, the community saw nearly 150,000 Black residents depart by the 1990s. During that same time, the neighborhood became a place of refuge for Latine immigrants from Central America and Mexico, pushed from their homes by civil unrest, economic hardship, and trade policies like NAFTA.

As these histories converged and evolved, so did the community’s vision for itself. North East Trees (NET) is privileged to stand with this community, reflecting on a transformative year of listening, engaging, and planting seeds for sustainable futures. With the invaluable support of the Goldhirsh Foundation's LA2050 Grants Challenge, we have deepened our roots in South LA, Northeast LA, and East LA. This journey would not have been possible without the funding that allowed us to expand our team and mission.

A significant milestone for NET was welcoming Luis Sierra Campos as our first Community Engagement Manager. With two decades of experience in community organizing, ecological education, and digital storytelling, Mr. Sierra Campos brought an empathetic and knowledgeable presence to NET’s community engagement efforts. Over the past year, he conducted more than 45 interviews with individuals from diverse backgrounds, fostering conversations in South LA and Watts about the power of green spaces and the needs of communities to thrive.

Community Reflections: Listening as a Catalyst for Change

The voices we heard speak to the profound connections between community well-being, environmental access, and individual and collective empowerment. Elizabeth Aguilar, a HACLA Green Ambassador for Nickerson Gardens and Imperial Courts, highlighted the connection between green spaces and mental health:

“I think it's extremely important not just for their [HACLA residents] physical health when they go outside, and they're able to breathe in the fresh air, but also for their mental health. When you see green, and you see trees, it makes you feel a lot better. I know there’s a correlation between people not getting dementia and seeing more wood and green, so I definitely think it does not just impact them physically but also mentally.”

For Watts resident Eunice Martinez, the presence of trees offers both comfort and a sense of joy:

“About the trees, and how they should be cared for, and what we need to do to take care of them so that they provide us with good shade and so that they offer us great benefits. For me, if I go out for a walk and there are trees, I head for the shade and walk comfortably, and if it's hot, it's very helpful. And for me, that is a benefit. And if there's a bench around, then one can sit down under a tree and just relax.”

These sentiments reveal a deep appreciation for the small, powerful ways that nature shapes everyday life. For many, trees are more than just flora; they are essential elements of comfort, security, and healing.

Honoring Ancestral Connections and Creating Safe Spaces

This journey of engagement has also led to poignant reflections on cultural heritage and environmental stewardship. Saul Figueroa, a Compton resident of Huichol descent, shared a moving story:

“When I was born, my dad, his responsibility was to get the placenta and the umbilical cord and bury it and plant a tree over it. And that was a lesson that showed the importance of that tree and grounded us and rooted us back and the connection back to our Mother Earth, that one day we would go back into that Mother Earth to continue the cycle of life.”

This reverence for trees as symbols of life and cultural continuity underscores the shared belief among South LA’s diverse communities: trees are pillars of connection—to ancestors, to future generations, and to the Earth.

Community Listening and Reflection Events: Creating Space for All Voices

Over the year, NET held 20 Community Listening and Reflection events across South and Northeast LA, designed as safe spaces for community members to express their environmental aspirations, concerns, and dreams. These gatherings—open to all ages and backgrounds—helped foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and shared vision. In each conversation, residents voiced their need for greener, safer neighborhoods where children can play, families can rest under shaded canopies, and elders can find peace. By creating spaces for dialogue and co-creating pathways forward with the community, NET has taken essential steps toward genuine collaborative decision-making, ensuring that our work reflects the real needs and desires of the people we serve.

A Commitment to Continued Growth and Impact

As we close this chapter, NET is deeply grateful to everyone who participated in this journey—those who shared their stories, attended our events, and helped shape our collective vision. Our work is far from over; in fact, we’re just beginning. The seeds of transformation have been planted, and we look forward to growing alongside South LA, striving to honor its rich histories while building organizational capacity for community engagement and distributing funds to the communities we serve.

Thank you to the Goldhirsh Foundation and every community member who has trusted us with their hopes, stories, and dreams. Together, we nurture a legacy of resilience, connection, and care for the land and each other.

Written By Luis Sierra Campos

Photos by Nathaniel Constan