Coastal Crossroads: Exploring Santa Monica's Cultural & Ecological Heritage

K-12 STEAM education

West LA County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Santa Monica was once a hub for Black home ownership. Thus, many notable Black Americans contributed to the City’s economy and social fabric, yet faced persistent discrimination and displacement. Black Americans were often blocked from clubs and beach areas, so we hope to highlight historic recreational sites relevant to the Black community, such as Bay Street Beach. Even today, many children of color living in poor communities often experience an “adventure gap”. Despite living near the beach, youth have limited access to the beach due to socioeconomic stressors or a lack of safe transportation.
Furthermore, when considering threats to our coastal ecology, we must understand the environment within larger social systems. Climate change often disproportionately impacts Black communities and other communities of color. So it is incredibly important to involve future generations of Black Americans and other communities of color in cultural and ecological preservation efforts.

"Coastal Crossroads: Exploring Santa Monica's Cultural & Ecological Heritage" will be a multi-site, docent-led tour designed to educate young residents and visitors about the city's rich coastal history, cultural landmarks, and environmental landscape; and expose them to diverse career paths and pathways for future study. Participants will explore locations such as historic beach sites significant to Santa Monica's Black history; the Santa Monica Pier and Muscle Beach, significant to Santa Monica’s Beach Culture; and natural coastal areas, highlighting ecological preservation efforts. The program will include historical storytelling, environmental education, and interactive discussions. We anticipate having more than 150 attendees over a series of monthly tours.
Through this initiative, we aim to highlight the historical contributions of underrepresented communities in Santa Monica's coastal history. We’ll celebrate Santa Monica’s beach culture and our region’s role in the histories of surfing, skateboarding, lifeguarding, and sports such as beach volleyball and paddleboarding, including the women and people of color who have made significant contributions. And finally, we’ll educate participants on coastal ecology, sustainability, and conservation efforts. This program offers an engaging, accessible experience that connects Santa Monica's past to its present and future.

The program will engage future generations in pertinent topics of sustainability, adaptive reuse, and cultural heritage conservation. This educational, multi-site tour will connect youth to young professionals and diverse experts who can expose youth to various careers and opportunities to engage in local politics, architectural conservation, and cultural heritage conservation.
The program will be offered free or at low cost to eliminate financial barriers. By offering site-specific experiences, we ensure that Santa Monica residents, Los Angeles County residents, and visitors of all backgrounds can engage with our cultural and environmental history in a meaningful way. We will work with local service and educational organizations to expand our reach. Potential partners include Santa Monica College, Samohi, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Boys & Girls Club, as well as young professionals through the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and the Conservancy's Preservation Next affinity group.