This week I was lucky enough to get an interview with the owner of the Hammer Skate Shop in Norwalk, California. This store is very important to Norwalk skaters, and is seen as a cool hangout spot. The owner of the store is named Tony. He is very fond of his customers, and he likes to help out a fellow skateboarder whenever he can. Tony is known for being helpful in the community and is also seen as a role model for other young skateboarders.

The following is a guest post by 2009 Focus Roots Fellow Amanda Hass. Earlier this year, Amanda Hass and Erin Coffey developed the project Rethink Diné Power to promote sustainable energy and spur community action in the Navajo Nation.

With all the action across the country, this is my project, aimed at engaging Navajo youth in environmental community activism. Since my friend Erin and I came to the reservation, we've met some incredible youth in Shiprock, New Mexico who have the passion and drive to change what their community looks like and we've been giving all the support we can! We kicked it off with a ReEnergize Art Rally, an event with art supplies to let youth paint a picture of what they want Shiprock to look like.

We have a weekly program called "What's Your Story?" that helps youth develop their personal story and how to tell it in a motivational way. The teens having a great time listening to speeches by Obama and sharing their own inspiring stories.

Visit our blog: http://rethinkdinepower.wordpress.com
Help us sustain this project by voting for our project here: http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/74

Los Angeles is bustling city that is known for its movie stars, sunshine, and traffic.  For those who have ever visited the 2nd most populated city in the US, you know that there are tons of pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders, and other non-driving citizens of the City of Angels.  These very people are gaining momentum to bring Ciclovia(bike way) to Los Angeles.  An organized community and open space gathering that is to occur every Sunday in Los Angeles where major streets and intersections will be temporarily closed down to allow anyone without a car to take a stroll, ride a bike, or walk their dogs throughout the city.

The movement originated in Bogota, Colombia 30 years ago when activists and city officials organized major street closures on Sundays to alleviate the terrible traffic and car congestion in the city.  It also gives neighbors a chance to get acquainted with eachother and brings a sense of community to the once crowded streets of a major city.

Last fall a small group of bicyclists, pedestrians, and open-space activists teamed up to bring a weekly community/traffic free gathering to Downtown Los Angeles.  LA's version is called cicLAvia(get it?) and is aiming to get the first cicLAvia in the spring of 2010.  So far, they've launched small scale events with help from the LAPD to gauge how different communities would react as well as to figure out the most effective routes.  New York, Portland, and San Francisco already have versions of a Sunday road closure and Los Angeles looks to have their very own Ciclovia very soon.

For more information be sure to visit the official cicLAvia blog.

For the month of October, Just 1 Click will support The Greening of Detroit and its mission to "guide and inspire the growth of a 'greener' Detroit through planting and educational programs, environmental leadership, advocacy, and by building community capacity." From community vegetable gardens to park restorations, The Greening of Detroit is making important change in its backyard. Click to support its efforts! 

 

Click to support the Greening of Detroit, and organization that is improving the quality of life in Detroit through educational, environmental and community-building programs. 100,000 clicks = $500!!

 

It only takes a second to help out a great cause, so what are you waiting for?! Help now!!