CALRC 2024: From the Ground Up
EPA R9 Regional Administrator Martha Guzman opened California Land Recycling Conference (CALRC) 2024 with a question, “How many of you believe in redemption?” She was, of course, referencing the power of reinvestment in brownfields. From overturning unjust laws to pioneering advancements in nature-based remediation, triumphant reuse of churches to creating climate resilience in the face of catastrophe– brownfield reuse is making meaningful change! Guzman’s question, and hundreds of hands in the air, showcased the energy supporting land reuse From the Ground Up.
The 5th CALRC packed in 32 sessions with 80 speakers who presented their expertise to nearly 400 attendees in Carson, CA. This year’s theme From the Ground Up embraces brownfield reuse as a path to empower communities with environmental, social, economic, and equity innovations.
During the 2024 Women Visionaries panel, DTSC Director Dr. Meredith Williams, PhD asserted that “everything fun happens at the messy intersections,” comparing her intersectional lived experience to her innovative work style. EPA R9 Deputy Regional Administrator Cheree Peterson agreed that it takes imagination and bravery to imagine solutions to complex problems. President and CEO of the Greenlining Institute, Debra Gore-Mann offered, “If you know your voice, you gotta use your voice.” The three women talked candidly about their experiences navigating non-traditional routes with non-traditional backgrounds. They closed out their session by reminding young people to be brave, be firm in their values and to keep steering toward justice.
Keynote speakers Leah and Richard Rothstein, scholars and co authors of Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law, also emphasized the importance of embracing non-traditional experiences. Tracing the history of single family zoning, the mechanics of exclusive lending policies and a new wave of NIMBYism, Leah Rothstein debunked the myth of de facto segregation. She encouraged practitioners to incentivize dense zoning, mixed-income housing, and programs that integrate new neighbors from different backgrounds. The Rothsteins reinforced that From the Ground Up means using every tool at our disposal to codify more just policy and realize racial justice one brownfield reuse at a time.
This year, CALRC introduced new interactive sessions. On Tuesday, SCS Engineers led a two-hour workshop on how to Stack and Sequence funding. Participants learned about different funding streams and when in the land reuse process the sources could be leveraged. Other sessions outlined the community engagement process, challenged participants to develop their own outreach plan and walked brownfield practitioners through the steps of the housing entitlement process.
Three days of packed programming also meant ample time to dig deep into the technical side of land recycling. Environmental scientists reminded audiences that even the most well intentioned cleanup efforts leave a carbon footprint. They encouraged balance and consideration of the potential climate harms involved in conventional cleanups. Next door, attendees analyzed maps of Los Angeles and saw stark evidence that city planning and community health are intimately connected.
Other sessions highlighted real life case studies setting a standard for land reuse in California. WRT’s John Gibbs quipped that something as simple as a fresh coat of paint can transform the vibe of a neighborhood park from prison yard to safe haven during a session that detailed how Fresno is investing in parks to improve health and wellbeing in park-poor neighborhoods. With inspiration from downtown reinvestment in West Sacramento to affordable housing efforts in Oakland, and many cases in between, attendees left with a toolkit full of ideas for their own communities.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at CALRC 2024! Especially those of you who spent nearly 20 hours on multiple flights from the Pacific Islands to Los Angeles – we celebrate you! As Vanessa Delgado and Alfred Fraijo Jr. said in their closing remarks, land reuse takes commitment and hope. We hope you will use what you learned, the relationships you built, and resources found to build a better future From the Ground Up.
