April 16, 2023
Location: Caltech, Dabney Hall Lounge and Gardens
The Pando Days Awards was held April 16, 2023 at Dabney Hall Lounge and Gardens at the center of the Caltech campus. The event celebrated the results of 15 colleges and universities dedicating semester-long courses, studios, or labs to implementing LA County sustainability goals and the launch of Pando Days ’23. Some 200 students, professors, elected officials, and community partners attended.
CSO chair Heidrun Mumper-Drumm spoke about the work of the Taskforce and marked the day as the publishing occasion of the Taskforce’s first book: Sustainability Planning in Metropolitan Los Angeles: An Overview. Written by noted regional planner Mark VanderSchaaf, the first-of-its-kind volume offers an overview of 13 sustainability plans from the greater Los Angeles area. Additional participating CSO Taskforce representatives in key roles included Robyn Eason and founding CSO Taskforce Chair John Onderdonk.
Public agencies represented at the Awards included Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (District 5), LA County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath (District 3), the Office of LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell (District 2), and LA City Council President Paul Krekorian. LA City Councilmember-Emeritus Paul Koretz was awarded Pando’s Immortal Earthkeeper Award for lifetime achievement. LA County Supervisors and Supervisor Jeff Gorell of Ventura County commissioned scrolls of commendation for each of the Pando Days ‘22 teams. Acting LA County CSO Rita Kampalath participated in a key role, honoring schools with County scrolls of commendation for their participation in the Pando Days program and speaking on the importance of the OurCounty LA Plan and its role in framing Pando Days content.
Community partners in the Pando Days triad of collaborating institutions were honored with Earth Visionary Awards, and included Calpine Energy Solutions, LA Cleantech Incubator, Alexandria Technology, Caltech, Happold Foundation, LA Department of Water and Power, Metro, and Plante Moran. Ted Bardacke, CEO of the Clean Power Alliance, Pando Days ‘22 lead sponsor, spoke to the effectiveness of the Pando Days model.
The program was punctuated by the premiere presentation of the documentary short film, We Are Pando, featuring student reflections on their experience creating a Pando Days project. To read more about the film, see here.
A specially-published book for the occasion profiles all 15 college and university projects from the Pando Days ‘22 season and is titled, Hope.
To read a detailed write-up of the event, see here.
Program: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
