Mission
Climate Action Santa Monica empowers people to learn about climate change, locally and beyond. We encourage people to use their talents, habits, and passion to help Santa Monica become a carbon-neutral and resilient community.
History
CASM was founded in spring 2013 by a group of Santa Monica residents concerned about the growing threat of climate change. Together they sought ways to engage and educate the community, to help them better understand the complex factors involved in climate change, its effects, and ways that it can be addressed on the local level. We formed in partnership with the Church at Ocean Park, while CASM currently works with Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE) as its fiscal partner.
Programs
CASM has run Climate Corps, a summer climate action program for high-school and college-aged youth, since 2016. CASM also runs ongoing outreach and advocacy programs in support of Santa Monica’s Climate Action and Adaptation plan. We have organized educational forums related to water, community energy initiatives, rooftop solar and more. We convene a regular working group related to Energy and advise the regional Transportation Management Organization.
CASM Steering Committee
Climate Action Santa Monica is led by a steering committee made up of founders of the organization as well as appointed members from the community. Our current steering committee members are as follows.
Laurene Von Klan – CASM Co-Chair, Nonprofit Management Professional, and Certified Dog Trainer
Kent Strumpell – CASM Co-Chair, Bicycling Advocate, and Urban Planning Activist
Judy Abdo – Former Santa Monica Mayor; Rep. to Metropolitan Water District
Amy Butte – Manager of Climate Corps program, clean energy professional
Mica Williams – Environmental Science Major Santa College, Climate Reality Project Leader
CASM Advisory Board
The advisory committee of Climate Action Santa Monica is made up of community members from across Santa Monica and the region who give their talents, passion, and years of wisdom to the organization to further its mission and extend its reach. The current advisory committee is as follows.
Tara Barauskas – Executive Director, Community Corporation of Santa Monica
Stuart Cooley – Retired Professor of Renewable Energies with the Sustainable Technologies Program at Santa Monica College
Rev. Jim Conn – Former Church in Ocean Park Minister & Former Santa Monica Mayor
Jim Dodenhoff – Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Developer, Silent Running LLC
Zachary Gaidzik – Environmentalist and Public Outreach Activist
Gina Garcia – Co-Director, Sustainable Works
Albin Gielicz – Marketing Professional, Environmentalist and Community Activist
Laura Gillette – Nonprofit Management and Fundraising Professional; Environmentalist
Cris Gutierrez – Climate Corps Project Manager, CPA Community Advisory Committee Member, EcoPeace Community Educator-Activist
Kurt Holland – Secondary Sci. Inst., CSU Long Beach; CSTA; Coast & Ocean Steward
Ben Kay – Marine Biology Teacher, SaMoHi/SMC, and Environmental Activist
Katharine King – Concert & Event Producer; Environmental Advocate, former CASM Co-Chair
Dean Kubani – Former Santa Monica Chief Sustainability Officer, Current Chair of the Santa Monica Task Force on the Environment
Robert Lempert – Rand Corporation Senior Scientist and Noble Prize Laureate
Jing Liu – Geography Professor teaching Physical Geography and GIS (Geographical Information Science) at Santa Monica College
Rev. Janet McKeithan – Church in Ocean Park Minister
Bill Selby – Retired Santa Monica College Professor of Geography and Earth Science
Amy Sullivan – Nutrition & Wellness Coach, Marketing Expert, Yoga Teacher, Vegan Food Blogger, Environment and Animal Activist
Michael Tarbet – Lawyer, Environmental Advocate and Community Organizer
Talia Tinari – Community Gardening Organizer, Climate Reality Project Leader
Belinda Waymouth – Environmental Journalist and Advocate
Natalya Zernitskaya – President, League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
John Zinner – Principal, Zinner Consultants; LEED Fellow.