Sierra Club Director to Deliver Inspirational Message at Environmental Justice Event

Hop Hopkins, the director of organizational transformation for the Sierra Club, is set to deliver an inspirational message about the environmental justice movement at the upcoming Environmental Justice for All event in Altadena, California, on Saturday, April 20.

The event, organized by the Altadena-based Soul Force Project in collaboration with the Pasadena Chapter of the United Nations Association, aims to celebrate the power of nonviolence through the arts while promoting inclusivity in environmental protection efforts. It will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. at Solvang Ranch, located at 280 Crosby Street.

According to the event organizers, Hopkins, who has over 25 years of experience as a community organizer and social movement strategist, will discuss the importance of diversity and inclusivity in efforts to protect the planet. His message is expected to resonate with the event’s theme of environmental justice for all.

The Environmental Justice for All event will also feature a variety of activities centered around environmental justice, including vegan food and live world music from local African, Latinx, and jazz musicians. The musical lineup includes the Earthseed Band led by Lebanese-born Paul Livingstone and the Soul Force Singers directed by Johanna Moore, a teacher at Muir High School.

Special musical guests for the event include Baba Onochie Chukwura, a Nigerian culture bearer from Rhythms of the Village in Altadena; Diana Soto, a percussionist from Peru; Masauko Chipembere, a Malawian singer-songwriter based in Pasadena; Danny Peterson, a South African drummer; Randal Fisher, a jazz saxophonist; and Dwight Trible, a jazz vocalist from the World Stage in Leimert Park.

During the event, local artist and educator Leigh Adams will be honored for her decades of environmental justice activism and her contributions as an ecosensitive designer and horticultural interpreter at the Los Angeles County Arboretum/Botanic Gardens. Adams is recognized for her work in regenerative gardening practices, which has earned her accolades from various local agencies, including the city and County of Los Angeles.

The Environmental Justice for All event is free and family-friendly. As a zero-waste event, it will only serve vegan food, and participants are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles. Donations are welcomed, and more information can be found on the Soul Force Project’s website at soulforceproject.com.