Climate Resolve Series, Part 1, with Catherine Baltazar and Lia Cohen on Creating Cool Communities

Flanigan's Eco-Logic

In Part 1 of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic - Climate Resolve Series, Ted speaks with Catherine Baltazar, a Policy Analyst and Organizer, and Lia Cohen, a Coordinator for Climate Planning and Resilience, focusing on their work at Climate Resolve, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, building collaborations to champion equitable climate solutions.

Catherine was born and raised in LA, and has focused her work around the conditions of the community she grew up in, with limited access to green spaces, just west of downtown LA. She attended Wellesley College, and upon graduating, received a CivicSpark Fellowship, where she worked at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. There she worked on developing an Urban Heat Island Reduction Plan for the County which focused on strategic tree planting, “green space” development and planning, implementation of “cool roof” ordinances and the piloting of cool and permeable pavement projects. This experience allowed her to approach environmental justice from a local government perspective.

Lia was also born and raised in LA, sharing that she grew up in a family with lots of siblings and an open door policy, so her values are very much rooted in community care. She attended UCLA, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in International Development Studies and minors in Public Affairs and Environmental Systems and Society. Before joining Climate Resolve, Lia worked as a virtual field organizer for the Ohio Coordinated Campaign, mobilizing turnout in a key swing state during the 2020 election.

Ted, Catherine, and Lia discuss current projects that they are working on at Climate Resolve, both background and front-facing community work. Catherine starts with the Boyle Heights Community Plan Update, a plan that is supportive of environmental quality, economic vitality, and urban design that promotes safe and walkable neighborhoods. The draft plan includes many policies that address climate change and build resilience such as tree planting, cool roof replacement, solar panel installation, sidewalk improvements, resilience hubs, and community engagement. Lia also discusses coordinating the Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) grant implementation in the City of Commerce, and helping lead project implementation efforts for the Baldwin Hills Community Resilience and Access Plan, as well as the South LA Eco-Lab Transformative Climate Communities grant.

They also discuss tools for displacement avoidance, grassroots environmental justice efforts, and creating vibrant communities with access.