Photo by API Forward Movement
From Bee, Page 13
San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District Highlights Community-Driven Greening Project T he San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District is proud to shine a spotlight on the transformative campus greening effort at Fremont Elementary School in Alhambra, led by Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement in partnership with Alham - bra Unified School District. This project reflects a shared com - mitment to creating healthier, sustainable, and climate-resilient environments for students. In fall 2025, APIFM conducted an extensive community
want families, students, and residents to experience firsthand the importance of pollinators and the role we can all play in protecting them,” Moss said. City Manager Josh Nelson added, “Bees play a vital role in sustaining our environment, our food supply, and our quality of life. This teaching apiary is an investment in education, conservation, and community engagement, and we’re proud to bring an initiative like this to the City of Industry.” Bill Gibson also collaborates with the agricultural, chemistry and engineering departments of local universities while his wife focuses on sustainable hive management and reaches out to schools, festivals and community programs — spreading the message that organic hive practices work and anyone can help create a pollinator-friendly environment. Gavin and Grady are conducting research with universities and mentoring new beekeepers. They are the official beekeepers of the Centennial Farms hive located on the Orange County Fairgrounds. Gavin also leads high school outreach and internship programs while Grady assists with hive splits and building nucleus colonies. Grady also speaks at the Orange County Fair and in elementary school classrooms.
engagement process involving approximately 669 students and 146 parents, teachers, and staff. The effort centered on gathering meaningful input to guide the redesign of outdoor campus spaces, ensuring that improvements reflect the real needs of those who use them every day. Community Voices Shape the Vision The engagement findings revealed strong consensus around several key priorities. Students emphasized the importance of nature-based features, cooler outdoor spaces, and increased shade to make school grounds more comfortable. Meanwhile, parents and staff prioritized infrastructure improvements such as a forest walking trail, outdoor learning and gathering areas, and additional greenery along campus edges to address air quality and privacy concerns. Across all groups, one message stood out: Outdoor spaces are more likely to be used when they are cooler, greener, and thoughtfully designed. At the same time, the community stressed that enhancements should not
Learn more at Beesfeedus.org and hapahoneyfarm.com.
Next Steps and Continued Collaboration The project team, including landscape architects from Herrera Environmental Consultants, will incorporate community feedback into the design updates. Ongoing coordination with the Alhambra Unified School District, Fremont Elementary staff, and the Parent Teacher Association will guide the implementation plan. Advancing Regional Water and Climate Goals For the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, projects like this represent an investment in the region’s future. Greening initiatives support water conservation, reduce urban heat island effects, and promote environmental stewardship. As this project moves forward, the District looks forward to seeing Fremont Elementary School become a model for climate-resilient, student- centered campus design.
City of Industry City Council | email: COICouncil@cityofindustry.org | phone: (626) 333-2211
compromise existing play
areas or physical education spaces.
Mayor Cory Moss
Mayor Pro Tem Michael Greubel
Council Member Mark Radecki
Council Member Newell W. Ruggles
Council Member Steve Marcucci
Photo by API Forward Movement
For grants, rebates and more visit: www.SGVMWD.com
14 | Earthday 2025 14 | Earthday 2026
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