Pando Populus

In 2023, our educational mission remains helping young people do amazing things for the Greater LA region and the world. We remain an educational organization with a civic engagement focus on sustainability. Our programs target higher ed, K-12, and non-traditional learners, in working collaboration with NGOs, community and faith based partners, government and public agency officials, and sustainability professionals. Our work remains highly consistent with our founding mission.Our web-based presence (www.pandopopulus.com) remains as an active information and education hub; and we continue active social media presence primarily at this point over Facebook. Our newsletter, ROOTBALL, goes out to our community every month with progress updates and involvement solicitations. Our YouTube channel archives our video content.Special Initiatives for 2023 included:-The fourth season of Pando Days, our flagship program bringing together colleges and universities from across the California Southland to help implement Los Angeles County's ambitious social and environmental goals, as articulated in its plan, OurCountyLA.LACounty.gov. Pando Days works at the intersection of higher ed and public agencies for community betterment. The 2023 program involved 16 higher education projects created in courses/studios/labs at institutions across the Southland - including, for the first time, Orange County. The program delivers on-the-ground community impact related to a range of diverse challenges. The program is produced in partnership with LA County's Chief Sustainability Office, in consultation with LA's Chief Sustainability Officer Strategic Taskforce.- Magenta House, a project on water and power conservation and efficiency for middle schools made possible by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the LA Unified School District. The program reached more than 20 middle schools and eventually saw some 15 projects through to the Expo premiere (Spring 2024). Magenta House offers extensive curricular resources, including content-related resources such as articles, videos, and special presentations and leraning opportunities on water and power; as well as project-development resources such as a brainstorming workshop for project innovation, mentor and advisor support, project presentation and pitch support, and more.- CSO (Chief Sustatinability Officer) Strategic Taskforce, a network we have developed serving sustainability professionals from across Los Angeles County representing higher ed, public agencies, NGOs, and business. The Taskforce holds meetings three times per year; its members advise on special projects, such as Pando Days (which Taskforce members helped to conceive). In 2023, the Taskforce published its first book, by noted regional sustainability planner Mark VanderSchaff, "Sustainability Planning in Metropolitan Los Angeles." The book was made available free of charge via the Pando website.- Pando's office remains based on the Encino campus of the Sisters of Social Service, a collaborating partner for community development and support. We collaborate on selected programs.