Clean & Safe: Public Works Week kicks off with We Are Essential community festival May 19 

We Are Essential, a community festival centered around water conservation and zero waste and organics recycling education, kicks off National Public Works Week on May 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gandara Park. Gandara Park is located at 1819 Stewart St. in the Pico Neighborhood and is adjacent to the City Yards, the heart of operations for essential public works services. 

The festival, which will feature workshops, activities and performances, is part of a two-year artist-in-residency project with artist Debra Scacco that explores themes of ecological sustainability and justice, the daily work of municipal maintenance and its connections to the community, and the labor of public works essential workers.  

The free event will feature activities for the whole family, including: 

·         Learn about compost workshop 

·         Tap and purified blind water tasting 

·         Santa Monica Youth Orchestra and SOL-LA Music Academy performing water-themed music  

·         Coloring stations 

·         Seed and compost giveaways  

·         Closeup photo ops with city utility vehicles  

·         Recycling themed lawn games  

·         Vocal artist Sharon Chohi Kim  

·         Reading by Santa Monica Poet Laureate Anne Carmack 

·         Participatory truck activation by artist Tanya Aguiñiga 

Santa Monica will continue celebrating National Public Works Week through May 25, highlighting the role of public works in our daily lives and honoring the essential workers that make it all possible. 

Additional Public Works Week activities include: 

·         A celebratory proclamation delivered by the City Council at its May 14 meeting.  

·         Public displays in the City Hall lobby and the City Yards Operations Center lobby 

“The dedicated employees of our Public Works Department keep essential city services running day in and day out,” Mayor Phil Brock said. “I’m thrilled to celebrate and acknowledge our workforce and all essential workers this May and every day of the year.” 

Public Works plays a major role in advancing the city’s strategic priorities of Clean & Safe and Sustainable & Connected, ensuring beautiful and safe infrastructure while also furthering the city’s work toward water self-sufficiency, zero waste and carbon neutrality as outlined in the Sustainable City Plan, which marks its 30th anniversary this year. 

For more information about Santa Monica Public Works, click here.