Join us for a restorative evening of mindfulness, music, and reflection led by cellist and meditation instructor Ilan MacAdam-Somer. This 90-minute introductory workshop offers a practical, evidence-based approach to supporting mental and physical well-being through mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Join the Community Environmental Council for a 45-minute guided meditation accompanied by a live cello sound bath, creating an immersive and calming experience.

Join CEC at the Ventura Earth Day Festival to learn about electric vehicles, test drive the latest models, and be connected to current rebates and incentives.

Join CEC at the SLO EarthFest, hosted by the SLO Climate Coalition, to learn about electric vehicles, test drive the latest models, and be connected to current rebates and incentives.

Join CEC at Chumash Earth Day 2026 to celebrate community, culture, and sustainability while connecting with local organizations, discovering resources, and finding ways to take action for our planet.

Our Climate Stewards program is your chance to become a leader in the climate movement and turn concern for our planet into meaningful local action. Addressing the climate crisis takes many of us — non-profit leaders and staff, professionals, business owners, recent college graduates, retirees, high school students, and community members — to work together. Anyone can be a Climate Steward! Register to join a cohort of motivated changemakers, explore climate solutions through lessons and field trips, and design a personal Stewardship Project that makes a difference in your community.

Join CEC and the Center for Restorative Environmental Work (CREW) Lab of CLAIR for an eye-opening lecture with author and environmental historian Christopher F. Jones. In his latest book, The Invention of Infinite Growth, he explores how the relentless drive for economic growth is pushing ecological limits. Drawing on decades of research and compelling storytelling, Chris will share insights on the balance between human ambition and the health of our planet through a hopeful lens. We invite readers, environmental enthusiasts, and all curious minds to come and engage with key questions about sustainability, Earth’s future, and how the choices we make as a society affect our world.

Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club to learn about efforts to form a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Santa Barbara County. Azsha Hudson, the Environmental Defense Center's Marine Conservation Analyst and Program Manager, Bella Sullivan, The Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Next Wave Ocean Fellow, and Lennon Thomas, a UC Santa Barbara Project Researcher will highlight the critical role MPAs play in sustaining our ocean, assess the performance of California’s MPA network, and discuss how we can expand it. Come learn, connect with your community, and discover ways to take action for the future of our ocean!

Part of the Embodied Arts Workshop Series, this empowering dance experience invites you to move, release, and reconnect with your body in a safe and inclusive environment. Co-hosted by CEC and led by 5Rhythms teacher Kiaora Fox — who brings over 40 years of dance experience — this immersive workshop blends guided movement with intuitive exploration. The climate crisis can feel overwhelming, but dance is a tool to bring us back into the body — when we move in rhythm, we spark joy, build community, and remember we are a part of the Earth, not separate from it. Whether you’re new to dance or a seasoned mover, Kiaora’s grounded and compassionate facilitation creates space for everyone to explore at their own pace.

Join us for Repair Cafe Santa Barbara, a free, community-powered event where volunteers come together to fix broken treasures instead of tossing them away. Bring your worn-out clothes, appliances, toys, electronics, bikes, furniture, and more. The team of talented fixers will help you bring them back to life. This hands-on event is all about learning, sharing skills, and keeping items out of the landfill. This is not a drop-off service — we invite you to roll up your sleeves and take part in the repair process!

The PBS series Wild Hope spotlights changemakers around the world who are restoring our Earth and reimagining our relationship with nature. Through captivating storytelling, episodes explore bold solutions and collaborations, showcase nature’s resilience, and spark renewed hope for the future of our planet. We’ll screen Episode 44: City in Nature, which shows how Singapore is integrating urban living with biodiversity by carving out wildlife habitats amidst the built environment. CEC’s Bre Sliker will share her insights on regional biodiversity efforts, connecting the global conversation to Santa Barbara County. We’ll also watch Episode 38: Significant Otters, where the return of sea otters to Elkhorn Slough sparks a remarkable ecological recovery. The Nature Conservancy's Dr. Phoebe Racine will provide updates on local initiatives aimed at restoring our wetlands following the screening. We hope you'll join us for this evening of optimism and inspiration!

Students in grades six through 12 who are ready to take meaningful climate action are invited to a free, hands-on workshop at CEC’s Environmental Hub. Join CEC and Santa Barbara High School’s Environmental Advocacy Club to learn how you can help advance the proposed oil and gas production phase-out in Santa Barbara County. Sierra Club Santa Barbara–Ventura Chapter Chair and CEC Climate Stewards alum Maureen Ellenberger will share the latest updates on the proposed phase-out and practical ways students can get involved.

Participants will also take part in an interactive Climate Solutions Mapping activity to explore climate solutions, identify opportunities for impact, and collaborate with peers on strategies to strengthen climate resilience in their community. Along with free snacks and community service hours, students will leave with new connections, practical tools, and clear pathways to engage in the climate movement.

Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.

Join us for an evening of music, connection, and joyful expression at the Song Circle, part of the Embodied Arts Workshop Series. Co-hosted by CEC and guided by Santa Barbara-based community song leader Heather Stevenson, this workshop invites singers of all levels to come together, share their voices, and experience the power of music as a tool for connection and celebration. Heather has been leading Song Circles since 2019, cultivating inclusive spaces where participants can feel uplifted, inspired, and soothed through song. She teaches participants short, impactful songs, weaving music and camaraderie into a memorable experience that reminds us of our shared humanity.

Join CEC and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper for an evening with Captain Charles Moore, beginning with a short 2019 documentary by the Korean Broadcasting System exposing the alarming reality of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and concluding with an exclusive Q&A with Capt. Moore.

Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.

Taking bold measures to stop the climate crisis requires many of us — non-profit staff, professionals, recent college graduates, retirees, and community members — to work together. Anyone can be a Climate Steward! Register for our winter 2026 course to transform concern for our planet into meaningful local action. You’ll join a cohort of motivated climate advocates, explore solutions through lessons and field trips, and design a personal Stewardship Project that makes a difference in your community. 

Join us for Repair Cafe Santa Barbara, a free, community-powered event where volunteers come together to fix broken treasures instead of tossing them away. Bring your worn-out clothes, appliances, toys, electronics, bikes, furniture, and more. The team of talented fixers will help you bring them back to life. This hands-on event is all about learning, sharing skills, and keeping items out of the landfill. This is not a drop-off service — we invite you to roll up your sleeves and take part in the repair process!

The federal government released a new 5-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan on Thanksgiving, kicking off a 60-day comment period that ends on January 23rd, 2026. Since BOEM will not host formal hearings for the public to comment, groups up and down the coast of California are hosting People's Hearings, a grassroots alternative. Join Environmental Defense Center (EDC), Sierra Club Santa Barbara -Ventura, Society of Fearless Grandmothers, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, UCSB Student Affairs Environmental Affairs Board, and Resources Legacy Fund at 4:30 p.m. for pizza, soft drinks, and the chance to learn more about local organizations tabling. The program begins at 5:15, followed by guest speakers, a public comment period, and networking time. Santa Barbara will be one of at least five People's Hearings in CA during the comment period — come use your voice to defend our beloved Central Coast from the devastating consequences of offshore oil drilling.

Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.

Join the United Nations Association Santa Barbara Chapter and the Community Environmental Council for a special gathering in honor of Human Rights Day. This December chapter meeting will feature a talk by Joshua Cooper, a renowned human rights advocate, academic, and activist with deep experience in global human rights law, Indigenous rights, and ecological justice. The event is free and open to the public. Community members, students, and anyone passionate about human rights are warmly invited to attend, learn, and engage in meaningful discussion.

Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends. We aim to create a space where individuals can learn about regional climate change issues, take collective action, and collaborate to protect our planet.

December’s gathering will focus on sustainability wins in Goleta. We will hear from City of Goleta Sustainability Manager Dana Murray, City of Goleta Council Member Stuart Kasdin, and Clean Coalition's Craig Lewis to learn more about trail expansion, bike access, battery storage facility updates, and more. Stay after for a special networking happy hour, complete with holiday cookies and beverages.

Climate Fridays Santa Barbara continues in 2026. Our January 9 gathering will feature a resource fair including partner tables and lots of opportunities to network!

Celebrate the season sustainably at CEC's Green Holiday Market, a festive evening filled with eco-friendly shopping, creative crafting, and community cheer. Explore a curated lineup of vendors offering thoughtful, sustainably-made gifts, including ceramics, jewelry, paper goods, and vintage finds. This collaborative event, hosted by Beachside Babes Market and CEC, will feature flash tattoos, the chance to craft your own upcycled charm bracelet or necklace, and sustainable gift wrapping from local Girl Scouts. Come sip on cozy cocoa or cider as you browse and get your holiday shopping done while supporting Santa Barbara makers and the planet.

Join The Earth Advocates, CEC, and local regenerative agriculture leaders for an inspiring evening featuring clips from the documentary Common Ground. We’ll explore how regenerative farming heals the planet through an interactive panel discussion where experts and community members can connect and share ideas. Come dig into conversations about soil health, sustainability, and the future of our food system and be part of a night that celebrates solutions and the people growing them. There will be food and refreshments available.

Join us for an evening with Dr. Trisalyn Nelson as she takes us through a year in bicycling in Santa Barbara, sharing insights, trends, and stories from our local cycling community. Be among the first to see the debut of the Santa Barbara County Active Transportation Dashboard, a powerful new tool for exploring bicycle and pedestrian safety data. The event will feature a presentation, audience Q&A, and a reception with food and beverages. Come meet fellow biking enthusiasts and learn how the dashboard will help encourage better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Join us for Repair Cafe Santa Barbara, a free, community-powered event where volunteers come together to fix broken treasures instead of tossing them away! Bring your worn-out clothes, appliances, toys, electronics, bikes, furniture, and more. The team of talented fixers will help you bring them back to life. This hands-on event is all about learning, sharing skills, and keeping items out of the landfill. This is not a drop-off service — we invite you to roll up your sleeves and take part in the repair process!

Students in grades six through 12 who want to take meaningful climate action are invited to a free, hands-on workshop at CEC’s Environmental Hub. Join CEC staff and local leaders to dive into environmental policy advocacy and learn how to use your voice to stand up for climate justice. You’ll hear from inspiring guest speakers from the Environmental Defense Center and Make Polluters Pay Santa Barbara as they share how their organizations are leading the charge on high impact campaigns in our communities.

A lively panel discussion with local elected officials will give you an opportunity to learn what they are doing on environmental action and connect with them one-on-one afterwards. Co-hosted by CEC and Santa Barbara High School’s Environmental Advocacy Club, the workshop will include complimentary snacks and drinks, opportunities to collaborate with peers, and tools to help you lead positive change in your community.

Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.

Join CEC and the Sierra Club Santa Barbara/Ventura Chapter for The Issue with Tissue film screening, followed by an enlightening discussion with writer, director, and producer Michael Zelniker, moderated by CEC board member and UC Santa Barbara professor Dr. David Pellow. This documentary reveals the powerful connection between the boreal forest and the Indigenous Peoples who call it home — and the deforestation threats they now face from the toilet paper industry. Scientists, activists, and First Nations Elders and Leaders speak out on why conserving this ancient forest is not only necessary, but deeply human.

Before the screening, enjoy a Halloween-themed reception featuring refreshments, snacks, and a chance to mingle with fellow attendees. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., film starts at 6:45 p.m.

Hosted by Westmont’s Center for Dialogue and Deliberation, this timely community conversation invites you to help shape the future of e-bike use in Santa Barbara. In light of the recent Grand Jury Report and growing public concern, we’ll come together as neighbors for small-table conversations about what we value in public spaces and how we can best move forward together. This discussion, facilitated by Westmont students, is open to all, but space is limited.