Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC), the UC Santa Barbara Environmental Studies Program, and the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) for a discussion around the risks of oil extraction and the ongoing work to protect our region’s vital resources. This annual Memorial Lecture honors the legacy of Darcy Aston, a 1981 UCSB Environmental Studies alum and beloved member of the Santa Barbara community, and brings us together to explore solutions for water quality, watershed protection, and environmental stewardship. This year’s program will feature a moderated panel discussion led by Linda Krop, Chief Counsel at the Environmental Defense Center, featuring Assemblymembers Steve Bennett and Gregg Hart. They will reflect on the legacy of environmental action since the 1969 oil spill and examine the impacts of oil extraction and transport on water quality, the role of policy and advocacy in driving change, and the challenges and opportunities ahead. A reception with light refreshments will follow the discussion.

Join us to celebrate a key milestone for the State Street Master Plan, a visionary effort shaping the future of downtown Santa Barbara for the next 20–30 years. This community-driven process is reimagining State Street as a vibrant, safe, and sustainable destination that reflects the values of those who live, work, and gather here. Come learn about the progress of the plan, connect with community members and project partners, and be part of the conversation as we continue revitalizing the heart of downtown.

Join us for Repair Cafe Santa Barbara, a completely free, community-powered event where volunteers help fix broken items instead of sending them to the landfill. Bring up to two items —such as clothing, electronics, bikes, furniture, toys, small appliances, or knives for sharpening —and work alongside skilled fixers to bring them back to life.

Looking to make more informed decisions at the ballot box?

Join the Sierra Club Santa Barbara - Ventura Chapter for an opportunity to connect directly with candidates running in the 2026 local elections. This casual meet-and-greet will feature candidates endorsed by the Sierra Club Political Committee, offering you a chance to learn where they stand on key environmental and community issues.

Drop in, ask questions, and engage in meaningful conversations about the future of our region. Whether you’re a longtime voter or newly engaged, this is a great way to better understand the people seeking to represent you.

Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for an evening celebrating native plants and local biodiversity. Enjoy a short film, a panel discussion, and guided tours of the new State Street planters, along with light refreshments. As the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden marks its 100th anniversary — celebrating a century as the first U.S. botanic garden dedicated exclusively to native plants — this event will highlight the importance of native plant stewardship and share opportunities to get involved. Come learn, connect with your community, and discover how you can help grow a more resilient, climate-ready California.

Join us for a compelling conversation between the Community Environmental Council's (CEC) Director of Outreach and Education Kathi King and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Ed Humes, centered around his book “Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World.” We'll explore the hidden systems behind what we throw away and the environmental, economic, and ethical consequences of our waste. Ed will also examine the role of journalism in discovering environmental truths and inspiring meaningful climate action. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the country's foremost environmental storytellers.

This event is part of the inaugural Santa Barbara Literary Festival, with events taking place throughout downtown Santa Barbara on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3. The festival brings together leading voices in journalism, politics, and environmental writing for a weekend of thought-provoking conversations and community engagement. Learn more and register.

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 Community Environmental Council and Santa Barbara City College Projects in Sustainability Club for a discussion around conversation and eco-action, featuring Alelia Parenteau, Director of the City of Santa Barbara’s Sustainability and Resilience Department. The event will include a panel discussion, resource tables, and opportunities to learn how local organizations and leaders are advancing sustainability in our community, with additional special guests to be announced. Come get inspired, get informed, and explore meaningful ways to take action locally.

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 the Santa Barbara News-Press for an evening with author and journalist Susan Page, featuring her latest book “The Queen and Her Presidents.” Page explores Queen Elizabeth II’s relationships with 13 U.S. presidents, drawing on her career as USA Today’s Washington Bureau Chief. This special event brings the community together for an exploration of current events, political insight, and the craft of reporting from one of the nation’s most respected voices in journalism. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. with the author and News-Press team. A moderated Q&A and book signing will follow, led by Newsmakers' Jerry Roberts.

Women In the Water and the Sea League are presenting a film screening of Women & the Wind. This independent documentary follows three women on a 50-year-old wooden catamaran as they sail across the North Atlantic, documenting ocean plastic pollution while highlighting the raw connection between humanity and nature. This is a fundraiser event to raise money for the Sea League's "Big Blue Bridge" program which provides scholarships for kids to learn how to swim.

The Santa Barbara Sierra Club Group is part of the Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter, covering Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. For 75 years the Santa Barbara Group has been working to protect wildlife and wildlands, clean air and water, public health, a sustainable future and a healthy environment across the Santa Barbara region.

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. 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 an evening of art, community, and conservation at the BIGGEST Little Elephant Parade™ Silent Auction and Reception, presented by the Summer Solstice Celebration. This public event brings together more than 100 local artists and community members who have transformed mini-elephant sculptures into vibrant works of art, all in support of elephant conservation. The event culminates in a silent auction fundraiser —attendees will have the opportunity to take home a one-of-a-kind sculpture while contributing to a meaningful cause. Come celebrate creativity, connection, and the power of community to make a difference.

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!

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.

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 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.

Santa Barbara Black Culture House will open this season’s events under the theme !00 Years of Black History Month, commemorating educator Carter G. Woodson’s efforts to institutionalize Black History Week on Feb. 7, 1926.

Join them at The Hub for a presentation by James Joyce III as part of The Santa Barbara Black Culture House lecture series.

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 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 us 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. 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.

The Santa Barbara Sierra Club Group is part of the Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter, covering Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. For 75 years the Santa Barbara Group has been working to protect wildlife and wildlands, clean air and water, public health, a sustainable future and a healthy environment across the Santa Barbara region.

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.