Los Angeles

CivicSpark is partnering closely with LA County office of Sustainability to complete projects for the county, city, LARC, SCAG, and the city of Ventura.

The seven CivicSpark Members in the Los Angeles Region are working closely with LA County Departments and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to make a local impact. Erin Brewster, Maya Bruguera, and Matt Goldberg are housed in LA County departments, assisting in the implementation of the county’s climate action plan, identifying water and energy opportunities, and reporting on local building stock energy performances.

Elizabeth Moss, Lance Retuya, and Chelsea Manfredi, three of our newest team members, are assisting SCAG by researching sustainability projects recently completed by local governments in the region. The information will be used to develop and disseminate best practices.

Aaron Presberg has been conducting outreach and hosting trainings as part of his project in Ventura, supporting the Ventura Better Business Challenge of reducing energy usage in the City of Ventura Housing Authority buildings by 20% by 2020.

CivicSpark LA Region Projects

SCAG – Regional Sustainability Progress and “Last Mile” Station Development Catalog and disseminate an inventory of sustainability practices being undertaken by local governments in the region, and support regional “last mile” station development through inventory, engagement of public sector and outreach to community members. Beneficiary: Southern California Association of Governments, Metro LA

Ventura Climate Friendly Buildings and Transportation Initiatives Support the Ventura Better Business Challenge of reducing energy usage by 20% by the year 2020. Also support developing increased public and active transportation in the west side of the City of Ventura.Beneficiary: City of Ventura Housing Authority

CCAP – Advancing the LA County Climate Action Plan Gather research, analyze data, and identify model/draft zoning ordinances needed to implement the CCAP actions as appropriate for the County’s unincorporated communities. Beneficiary: Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning

Green Building, Mobility, Water/Energy Opportunities within LA County Support increased green building services, mobility options, and water/energy savings projects by developing project templates and implementing projects that align with the goals set forth in L.A. County’s Municipal Climate Action Plan. Beneficiary: Los Angeles County Internal Services – Environmental Initiatives Division

Local Building Stock Assessment Support data/IT efforts to gather, archive and report on local building stock energy performance. Beneficiary: Los Angeles County Internal Services – Environmental Initiatives Division

Climate Action Training for Local Governments Provide Climate Action Planning support to local governments and their Councils of Government. Beneficiary: Los Angeles County Internal Services – Environmental Initiatives Division

The Members have been great to work with and I am confident they have great careers ahead of them. The work they are doing for us and the cities of the region is invaluable.

– Greig Asher, Southern California Association of Governments

Meet our Team

Susan Munves, Regional Supervisor Susan Munves recently retired from the City of Santa Monica after 25 years. She managed various environmental programs for the community and municipal operations related to water conservation, energy efficiency, solar and other renewable energy, electric vehicles, and green building design and construction. Susan served as Convenor of the California Urban Water Conservation Council during its formative years and co-founded the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition on which she continues to serve.

Erin Brewster Erin has an eclectic educational and professional background in urban policy, sustainability, design, and the arts. She recently completed her M.A. in Sustainable Urban Governance at the U.N. University for Peace in Costa Rica, where she researched sustainable development, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and urban agriculture.

Maya Bruguera Maya recently graduated from UCLA, where she indulged her passions for scientific inquiry, problem solving, and environmentalism, in her beloved major of Environmental Science. Through her service in AmeriCorps’ CivicSpark, she hopes to help her own community of Los Angeles work toward becoming one of these healthy, livable, and sustainable urban areas.

Matthew Goldberg Matthew Goldberg is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and B.A. in History. The effects that climate change can have on a civilization became especially apparent to him after taking a field course in Belize where he studied the role that a prolonged drought played in the collapse of the Ancient Mayans.

Chelsea Manfredi Chelsea developed a passion for environmental conservation as a child volunteering for trail and beach cleanups. She spent a semester in Denmark studying the European Union and European environmental policy before earning her Bachelor of Arts at Whittier College in Political Science with minors in Philosophy and French.

Elizabeth Moss Elizabeth is currently working with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Sustainability Department, where she is focusing on researching sustainability indicators for various parts of the SCAG region. Prior to joining the program, Elizabeth worked as a project manager for a residential solar installation company. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Southern California.

Aaron Presberg Aaron Presberg is a passionate environmentalist and musician, with experience in waste management and reduction, environmental awareness and education, and energy reduction in residential buildings. He is a graduate from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BS in Social Sciences, minor in business, and a focus in environmental studies and sustainability.

Lance Retuya Lance joined the CivicSpark AmeriCorps program (Los Angeles Region) in January 2015. He graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography with an Emphasis in Urban and Regional Analysis. During his course work at SDSU, Lance briefly collaborated with National City officials and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) for various research projects.