Better Together Nature Positive Innovation Grant program

• Farm Discovery at Live Earth (South Bay and Central Coast)
• Little Manila Foundation (Central Valley)
• Maidu Summit Consortium (North Valley and Sierra)
• Marine Science Institute (Bay Area)
• Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California (North Coast)

Profiles of Grant Recipients

Farm Discovery at Live Earth

Through farm projects and community-based collaboration, Farm Discovery advocates for regenerative farming that supports biodiversity, conserves water, improves water quality, sequesters carbon and is socially-just. This project will support its goals, including increasing long-term, on-farm biodiversity and engaging students in Santa Cruz County.

"We are immensely grateful to The PG&E Corporation Foundation for investing in Farm Discovery's Farming for Soil Health and Regenerative Food Systems Program. Grant funding will be instrumental in enhancing the biodiversity of our organic fields through regenerative farming practices, on-farm education with local schools, and cultivation of native plants with volunteers. Our goal is to empower youth and families to steward their environment, learn to grow their own food and engage with their community. " - Jessica Ridgeway, Executive Director at Farm Discovery at Live Earth

Little Manila Foundation

The project engages in planning, building, and pilot implementation of the Skywatch program’s educational curriculum, “Community Roots.” The overall planned outcome is creating citizen scientists in South Stockton to help demystify the science around pollution-impact on health and inspire them to create sustainable solutions for their community.

“Little Manila Rising is honored to express our heartfelt appreciation to the PG&E Foundation for their remarkable generosity in providing a $100,000 contribution, which will significantly impact our ongoing mission to promote awareness of local air quality improvement projects. The Better Together Nature Positive Innovation Grant represents a crucial step in empowering our organization to educate residents about pertinent air quality concerns and equipping them with mitigation tactics in an engaging and culturally sensitive manner, ultimately contributing to the protection of public health and the well-being of the South Stockton community. “ - Dillon Delvo, Executive Director, Little Manilla Rising

Maidu Summit Consortium

The project will focus on management of traditional gathering places through communication, outreach, and education of how to gather traditional basket weaving materials and learning about the gathering and management process. Maidu Summit Consortium will promote, preserve, and protect sacred plants through reciprocal gathering practices, Native seed collection, native plant care, etc. in Plumas County.

"Maidu Summit Consortium thanks PG&E for this grant to help highlight traditional knowledge holders and their insight into land management, nature plant care, Basketry weaving, and cultural burning." - Ben Cunningham, Maidu Summit Consortium Chairman.

Marine Science Institute

Marine Science Institute's team of science educators will place students in direct contact with the natural environment via the Discover Our Bay program where they will experience and build perspectives on their local San Francisco Bay Area watershed’s connection to the ocean, and the possible changes to it from climate change.

“PG&E’s Better Together Nature Positive Innovation Grant will allow Marine Science Institute to offer our thrilling hands-on marine science programs to thousands of underserved Bay Area students, increasing their knowledge about bay and ocean ecology, and the impact that humans have on these fragile ecosystems. Putting students in direct physical contact with their local bay environment will help cultivate their curiosity while deepening their understanding of science and fostering a sense of responsibility to protect the marine environment - creating the stewards of tomorrow.” - Marilou Seiff, Executive Director, Marine Science Institute

Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California

Middletown Rancheria will develop and implement a program to protect and reinvigorate the biodiversity of the habitat of plant and animal species within the ancestral territories of the tribe with emphasis on the oak woodland and native oak species. Community engagement and education is included in the project, located in Lake County.

“Middletown Rancheria looks forward to bringing increased community engagement, cultural understanding, respect, and protection of its ancestral territories' native species and habitats, and providing local environmental stewardship, through the Tribe's Natural Biodiversity Project’s goals of education, outreach, and promotion of cultural keystone species and habitats in the region. Tribal Ecological Knowledge sharing and outreach in our vulnerable communities can lead to a better understanding of the human effects on the natural landscape and its plants and animals. With the funding opportunity provided by The PG&E Corporation Foundation, the tribe will continue to work in support of a more comprehensive understanding of the region's biodiversity needs and struggles through this project.” - Jose (Moke) Simon III, Tribal Chairman Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California.

• 4th Second (North Valley and Sierra)
• Central Coast State Parks Association (South Bay and Central Coast)
• City of Fresno, Department of Transportation (Central Valley)
• Family Harvest Farm (Bay Area)
• Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association (North Coast)

Profiles of Grant Recipients

4th Second will seed a mosaic of habitats in vacant lots throughout South Vallejo to create spaces that provide ecosystem services and healthy food access. The project also aims to develop pathways for economic opportunity.

“4th Second's Mosaic Project aims to create socio-ecological resilience in Vallejo through stewardship that supports thriving habitats, and pathways for economic opportunity and healthy food access. Led by marginalized community members, the project will transform 3.5 acres of vacant and blighted lots into a mosaic of community gardens and green spaces that will serve generations to come. We are grateful for PG&E’s support to our community as we work to cultivate a more resilient and just future.” - Richard Fisher, Executive Director, 4th Second

Central Coast State Parks Association will increase exposure to coastal habitats to disadvantaged and underserved K-12 students by funding transportation costs for field trips.

“The grant will be monumental in providing free transportation for low-income school groups to visit three Central Coast State Park locations, where they will participate in guided educational programs led by State Park staff. The field trips cover topics like monarch butterflies, Northern Chumash education, the Morro Bay estuary, marine mammals, watersheds, and more, and provide hands-on experiences students will remember for the rest of their lives. Our goal, in collaboration with California State Parks, is to inspire our next generation of environmental stewards. PG&E's grant gives us the opportunity to bring those future environmental stewards into our beautiful parks and deepen their connections with our precious land and water resources.” - Kristin Howland, Executive Director, Central Coast State Parks Association

City of Fresno, Department of Transportation will provide free bus rides to community college students, with the goal of reducing single occupant vehicle (SOV)-related air emissions.

“With PG&E’s commitment to a cleaner environment, we thank them for supporting State Center Community College. We are so grateful that students at Fresno City and Clovis Community Colleges will have the opportunity to have free rides on FAX buses with their student ID cards.” - Gregory Barfield, Interim Assistant City Manager and FAX Director.

Family Harvest Farm will develop a regenerative urban farm in a food desert that will employ and train foster youth and provide youth workshops on outdoor education and farming. Results include leadership and skills training for youth, land cultivation, and produce for the local community.

“John Muir Land Trust protects and cares for open space, ranches, farms, parkland, and shoreline in the East Bay. Family Harvest Farm is a thriving 3.5 acre regenerative, biodiverse, climate-friendly urban farming program of John Muir Land Trust located in a U.S. Department of Agriculture-defined food desert neighborhood in Pittsburg, California. This grant will help Family Harvest Farm increase leadership skills and self-sufficiency for transition age foster youth by offering employment and training on natural resources within a local food system that encourages healthy living, reduces fire risk, and feeds communities in need.” - Hannah Hodgson Katzman, Associate Director, Family Harvest Farm

Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association will host hands-on workshops to train local property owners in watershed resource management, including traditional ecological knowledge.

“We appreciate The PG&E Corporation Foundation for recognizing our proposal to engage and work with property owners along the Cobb Area Watershed, which feeds directly into Clear Lake. This stewardship project targets watershed management practices in the Cobb Mountain community by recruiting local property owners to participate in “hands-on” workshops interweaving resource management training with direct actions to match site conditions and landowner concerns. In partnership with local tribal authorities, our project also acknowledges a history of limited access to traditional gathering areas that has undermined food sovereignty and cultural practices. Every workshop we hold, and every direct action we take during this project [and beyond] involves tribal knowledge holders and teachers, who will combine their expertise with that of other topical specialists.” - Eliot Hurwitz, Executive Director, Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association