Join us at upcoming programs & events:
Scroll down to find the event or program you’re looking for!
THE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN FIX-IT FRENZY!
SATURDAY, APRIL 27th, 9AM-12PM
The Friendship Garden is a 2000 sq foot lawn which RuckusRoots transformed into a native plant, art and learning garden in 2023. The space is almost ready for its official unveiling to the campus community, but we need help crossing the finish line!
Help us plant, prep and build for our May 2nd Dedication!
Get more info and sign up below! (Map + parking)
Garden Magic is an art series for youth age 7-10, held outdoors at urban farm, The Hungry Gardens in Sun Valley, CA. We're excited to be back for our 3rd program series this spring, Garden Magic: Play with Clay!
In a series of five free, outdoor workshops, ceramicist Ching Ching Cheng will lead project-based clay workshops, creating artworks that help participants explore ancient sustainability techniques and water conservation methods for use in everyday life! Come get your hands dirty, learn something new, and play with clay!
Garden Magic: Play with Clay
Register for our FREE art and ecology workshops launching April 13th, 2024!
Special thanks to the California Arts Council for their generous support of this project COMING SOON…
…a return to The Rebel Garden!
We are excited to launch our 3rd year of The Rebel Garden Project for systems-impacted young adults in collaboration with The Youth Justice Coalition and Chuco’s Justice Center. Starting on Earth Day (April 22nd), our long-time collaborator and Rebel Garden cofounder Erica Montelongo will lead youth in a multi-week series, painting a mural she designed to honor the history of the Rebel Garden.
We can’t wait to share progress of this special project. In the meantime, check out Erica’s article published by Zocolo Public Square last year, In South Central, a Rebel Garden of True Bounty.
-
My name is Erica Montelongo, born and raised in South Central, Los Angeles. I am one of the founders and caretakers of Rebel Garden at Chuco's Justice Center.
I'm also an artist and creative. I currently work for LA Compost as the South LA Compost Hub Manager.
Rebel Garden started in 2019 with three small crates, and now contains raised beds, a greenhouse, and a curriculum for students at FREE L.A High School through our collaboration with RuckusRoots.
Having the power to be self-sustaining even in limited spaces is crucial to our autonomy as a black and brown community; we have been disconnected from our gardening/farming practices, and stewardship of our lands. Our goal is to create a garden where community members can learn to grow/ harvest food and also utilize the space for healing.
Thank you to the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs for supporting this project.
Recent Program Updates:
Spring Equinox 2024: Mural Unveiling and Community Event
On March 17, 2024, we spent a wonderful day in community and creativity celebrating the coming of Spring, and officially unveiling our mural, “Sacred Earth Symphony.”
Participating 8th graders, artists, organizers and other stakeholders were there to share what this mural means to them, the Willows Wetland Preserve, and the greater community.
If you were there, you’ll know it was an incredibly inspiring day! Thanks to all who attended, and if you missed it please check out these videos or scroll through the image gallery below to experience the event virtually!
Special thanks to Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture and Friends of the Willows for their support of this project. 
Spring 2024: WILD ART is back Glenfeliz Elementary School
In 2023, we created “Protect Our Ocean,” a collaborative collage made entirely from plastic bags and cardboard as part of our Wild Art program. Four classes of preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade students worked together to paint, cut, and glue recycled plastic bags in order to create a beautiful ocean scene that honors four local endangered sea animals: the sea otter, the green sea turtle, the blue whale, and the California sheepshead fish. From March - May, 2024, we’re back for 3 more rounds of Wild Art, this time exploring the local biomes of desert, foothills and river in our artwork with students age K-6th grade. This three month program integrates art-making with lessons about plastic waste, creative reuse and wildlife endangerment and conservation. We’ll share pictures soon of our new artworks!
Thank you to the TahDah Foundation for supporting this project
Summer Apprenticeship Concludes at ECHS-Gardena!
Our first Public Art Apprenticeship has concluded at Environmental Charter School in Gardena! It's been a wonderful summer of creativity and collaboration as this select group of high school apprentices assisted artist NiNo Alicea as he and his team built large-scale, sustainable public art sculpture, "ATABEY'S TREASURE” in preparation for Burning Man 2023!
Congratulations on a great summer, apprentices — and good luck on the Playa, NiNo, we wish you and ATABEY a wonderful time sharing the artwork and the beautiful message behind its creation.
SHIPPING CONTAINER MURAL w/ L.A Dodgers
In January 2023, we had the privilege of helping out at L.A Dodgers annual Employee Day of Service in collaboration with L.A Conservation Corps. Over 150 employees came out to plant trees, do landscaping work, clean the community garden beds on-site — and paint a mural designed by RuckusRoots especially for the space! It features Southern California native plants painted by hand on an old shipping container to help beautify the space! We had a blast and loved seeing the power of what so many helping hands can do!
