Our Mission
Our mission is to share time-critical information with Orange County residents
about the escalating climate crisis, and empower them to make planet-friendly choices.
Building planet friendly, climate resilient blocks, one neighborhood at a time.
This year Cool OC has been working hard all year to inspire climate action and build resilient, connected neighborhoods across Orange County. Thanks to our incredible volunteers, partners, and supporters, 2025 was one of our most impactful years yet.
2025 Recap!
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- 158 students mentored through eco-challenges and youth programs
- 1,360 engaged in our workshops on sustainable living, climate resilience (total number of hours)
- 3,323 people engaged in meaningful climate conversations and local climate initiatives
Achievements
Our Programs
Sustainability Workshops
Through our Sustainability Workshops, we empower individuals to adopt practical, planet-friendly habits through engaging, hands-on experiences.
Plant-Based Diet Workshops
Our interactive workshops dive into the environmental benefits of plant-based diets, showcasing how they positively affect you, your community, and the planet.
Cool Block Program
By taking simple, actionable steps, we can reduce carbon emissions, prepare for extreme weather events, and build stronger, more resilient communities.
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- Participants brought their best 100% vegan/plant-based sides, entrées, and desserts, and guests sampled each dish and voted for their favorites in a fun competition.
- Vegan food lovers gathered to enjoy a variety of creative dishes, and everyone was welcome whether or not they brought a dish to share.
- Build stronger community connections by bringing people together over shared meals, creating a welcoming space for conversation, collaboration, and new friendships.
- Increased awareness of plant-based living by introducing participants to delicious vegan options, helping dispel myths and show how accessible and enjoyable sustainable eating can be.
Vegan Events
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Donate!
Stick around for exciting updates as we take on new challenges, host more events, and continue building a resilient, sustainable future for Orange County! Together, we can make a lasting impact, but we can’t do it without your support. Donate today to help us achieve these goals and continue driving meaningful change across Orange County. Every contribution makes a difference!
- SMMI initiative focused on gathering community input where air quality monitoring should take place
- Outreach was done in Fullerton, Buena Park, Anaheim and Orange
- Numerous community surveys were conducted to collect data and feedback.
- Two meetings were held to review car driving routes and discuss findings.
- Final meeting in May/June to present results and report key findings.
SMMI
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- 15 volunteers helped preserve and prevent items from going to the landfill
- 52 items repaired
- Hosted our first community repair café focused on reducing landfill waste
- Encouraged residents to extend the life of household products through repair
- Invited community members to bring broken items for fixing
- Recruited volunteer repairers to share their skills
- Created opportunities for attendees to learn basic repair skills
Repair Cafe
- Open to middle and high school students in Orange County, the Cool OC Student Green Challenge invites students to take action on environmental issues that matter to them.
- Students participated by creating a Call to Action video or flyer that raises awareness and inspires others to make a difference.
- The goal is to show how small actions can lead to a big environmental impact in their community.
Student Challenges
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Zero Waste Education at Global Village Festival
- Helped distribute peoples waste at the festival by guiding them to put items in the appropriate bins
- Had 26 volunteers working at zero waste stations
- Helped people sort compost, recycling, and trash the right way
- Talked with and educated 1,382 attendees about waste reduction
- Supported the event’s sustainability efforts with hands-on help
Youth Summit
- Youth-led climate summit (ICITY – Irvine Conference of International & Transnational Youth) empowering young change makers to take bold action for the planet, rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Attendees had the chance to hear from renowned speakers Councilwoman Melinda Liu, Climate Scientist and Councilwoman Kathleen Treseder, UNAOC President Dave Rice, Officer Alan Fong, OCPA CEO Joe Mosca, and Central OC Landfill Manager David Tieu.
- Designed to inspire education, leadership, and practical climate solutions at the local and global level.
- Invited residents of a local neighborhood to a fun, community-centered gathering.
- Engage with over 113 community members
- Residents brought items they no longer use to be swapped or donated resulting in 83 items finding new homes
- Learn about local sustainability initiatives while connecting with local residents.
- Enjoy kid activities, a teen corner, plant-based snack samples, nature-inspired art by Woodbridge resident Sangeetha G.
- Participate in a community swap/donation: bring gently used books, housewares, small appliances, or clothes to exchange or donate.