SACRAMENTO – Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the State’s Budget to allocate funds for the upcoming fiscal year. As part of the Budget, Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-Arleta) secured $5 million for Discovery Cube Los Angeles (DCLA), located in Sylmar, to build a Sustainability Park. The Park helps educate the public on the ways the state is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
DCLA is a children’s science museum located in the San Fernando Valley (SFV) that provides Angelenos with a fun, interactive, and educational environment. SFV has an estimated population of 1.8 million people, and the county of Los Angeles is home to more than 10 million people. DCLA seeks to address the needs of this community by providing effective, hands-on learning experiences for students, families, and residents.
“As a global leader in reversing climate change, it is important that we help the children who are disproportionately impacted by poor air quality learn about ways to improve it. DCLA provides hands-on clean technology and STEM education to the children living in my district where we have some of worst air quality in the nation. The Sustainability Park will provide these young leaders the education and tools to reduce poor air quality and reverse climate change in their own backyard,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas. “As the state, it is important that we invest in underserved communities, because we know access to early education fosters curiosity, encourages and reinforces positive behaviors to help students begin a career pathway for a cleaner and brighter future.”
“We are extremely appreciative of Assemblywoman Rivas' leadership to secure funding for Discovery Cube L.A. to allow us to continue to inspire and educate young minds through science based programs. The Sustainability Park will provide an incredible opportunity for the children and families in the San Fernando Valley to have a unique, hands-on learning experience that will motivate kids to create a meaningful environmental impact on their communities and on the State of California,” said Wendy Gruel, Discovery Cube Los Angeles Board Vice Chair.
DCLA has over 100 family friendly hands-on science exhibits on climate change, STEM education, and sustainability. DCLA has consistently served over 200,000 annual visitors, including more than 30,000 students on field trips annually, and supported nearly 70 Los Angeles teachers through professional development workshops. These exhibits can be used as an additional interactive learning tool for classroom teachers because these exhibits are aligned with California’s curriculum standards.
Assemblywoman Rivas proudly represents the 39th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Sun Valley, Sunland-Tujunga, Sylmar, and San Fernando.
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CONTACT:
Judy Yee, Judy.Yee@asm.ca.gov, 916.319.2039