Events and Opportunities to Connect

September 2025 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The September 2025 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on supporting schools, districts, and county offices of education during the active Green Ribbon Schools application season. Facilitated by George Garcia and Nate Ivy, the session opened with networking and reflections on where participants are in the application process, then explored essential resources, including the Applicant Toolkit, FAQs, and updates to the 2026 application, alongside an applicant story from Captain Leland Norton Elementary School. Participants reflected in small groups on what resonated most, their next goals, and commitments for advancing Green Ribbon efforts in their communities, before closing with reminders about the November 17 application deadline and upcoming CAELI Green Ribbon Network gatherings.

• View agenda and resources at: https://tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkSept2025 

• View video recording at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ-xt_wY2vk 

May 2025 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The May 2025 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting centered on celebrating success from the 2024–25 Green Ribbon season and preparing for the next application cycle. Facilitated by George and Andra, the meeting began with a welcome and networking session, where participants shared highlights from their Green Ribbon efforts this year. The group then celebrated 2025 awardees, reviewed updated statewide data from 2014–2025, and explored promising practices across California. A segment on preparing for the upcoming Green Ribbon application season followed, with a focus on documenting Pillar III data, using planning tools, and identifying next steps. 

• View agenda and resources at: https://tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkMay2025 

• View video recording at: https://youtu.be/vyN-U851ncc 

February 2025 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The February 2025 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on engaging students in Green Ribbon initiatives, with a particular emphasis on fostering active student participation in sustainability efforts. Facilitated by George, the meeting began with a warm welcome and networking time, where participants introduced themselves and shared how their students contribute to sustainability in their schools or districts. The conversation then shifted to strategies for involving students in Green Ribbon initiatives, followed by insights from student speaker Kieran, who shared his journey in applying for the CA-GRS, and Jeff Rivero and his students, who discussed student civic engagement through Green Ribbon.

• View agenda and resources at: https://tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkFeb2025 

• View video recording at: https://youtu.be/8tqpSmHSrxY 

December 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The December 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on the intersection between policy and Green Ribbon with case studies from Pittsburg Unified School District (presented by Matthew Belasco) and Laguna Beach Unified School District (presented by Gloria Harwood) and reflections on goals and commitments for driving sustainability efforts forward.

• View agenda and resources at: https://tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkDec2024 

• View video recording at: https://youtu.be/rwHrecoCeFg 

September 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The September 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on the success with the Green Ribbon Application. George Garcia (CDE) and Andra Yeghoian (Ten Strands) previewed key resources for successfully managing and submitting an application, and provided time for network participants to meet and share resources and best practices in breakout rooms. 

• View agenda and resources at: www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkSep2024   

• View video recording at: https://youtu.be/kVAQKJMaXTg

May 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The May 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on the Connections between Living Schoolyards and the Green Ribbon Program. Guest speakers included: Andra Yeghoian sharing an overview to Living Schoolyards and Green Ribbon; Rachel Pringle of Green Schoolyards America providing history on Living Schoolyard Month and where to find resources, John Fisher of Life Lab sharing about the importance of school gardens, and Jas Bains Wright and Heather Merodio sharing their Green Ribbon alumni achievement story from Suisun Valley K-8. 

• View agenda and resources at www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkMay2024  

• View video recording at: https://youtu.be/01HNCUXKnX8

March 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The March 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on Green Ribbon Pillar III - Environmental Education.  Guest speakers included Andra Yeghoian sharing resources for Environmental Education Policy and Environmental Literacy Plans, and Natalie Taylor sharing the Environmental Education journey and programs for Claremont Unified School District.

• View agenda and resources at www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkMarch2024 

• View video recording at: https://youtu.be/ImTGuP7FqVg 

January 2024 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The January 2024 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on Resource Conservation and connections between Pillar I and Pillar III. Guest speakers included Michelle Cevallos sharing a statewide perspective and resources from CalRecycle, and Fenna Gatty sharing a case study of zero waste in acton at Livermore Unified School District.  

• View agenda and resources at www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkJan2024 

• View video recording at: https://youtu.be/5neoxTHXPYU

October 2023 CA Green Ribbon Network Meeting: The October 2023 California Green Ribbon Network Meeting focused on systems change and platforms for prioritizing environmental and climate action in districts and schools. The guest speaker for this workshop was Andra Yeghoian, Chief Innovation Officer at Ten Strands.

• View agenda and resources at  www.tinyurl.com/CAGreenRibbonNetworkOct2023

• View video recording at: https://youtu.be/PM1cvSBR8cA