Earth Day was more than a bright spot on the calendar at West Los Angeles College; it was the beginning of a whole new course of study. West Los Angeles College opened the California Center for Climate Change Education, a unique program that will focus on the science and the steps we need to address climate change.
On April 22, 2023, a modest crowd gathered to cheer the official opening day. Speakers included Assembly member Isaac Bryan, Former Culver City Mayor Jim Clarke; David F. McNeill of the Baldwin Hills Conservancy; David Vela, LACCD Board of Trustees President and Francisco C. Rodriguez, LACCD Chancellor. Dr. James Limbaugh, the President of West Los Angeles College, graciously accepted the “check” presented by Assembly member Isaac Bryan.
Bryant was there to offer official funds from the State of California for $5 million, acquired as part of AB 1913, a bill sponsored by Bryan, and the program will have an additional $1.3 million from the federal government thanks to then- Congressional Rep. Karen Bass (now the City of Los Angeles’ Mayor) and Sen. Alex Padilla. The federal funding was approved in the Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
Dr. Limbaugh offered that “Even our swag is 100% repurposed and recycled,” noting the succulents and other gifts offered to the attendees created no new waste.
What does this mean for students? The Center is a first-of-its-kind, forward-looking resource that will help prepare students for good-paying, fulfilling careers in the clean energy and climate technology industries.
While the Center will be accessible to students and staff from all nine LACCD campuses, Culver City will get an additional education advantage. Quoc Tran, the Superintendent of the Culver City Unified School District, stated that “Culver City High School students will be able to use the program, giving them the opportunity to graduate from high school with an Associate’s Degree in Climate Change.”
Photo – Asm. Isaac Bryan shakes hands with Dr. James Limbaugh
