ECOS Environmental Justice Speaker Series with Dr. Aranda, May 21

Mapping Inequality: Connecting Rural Environmental Justice and Local Realities

With Dr. Alfonso A. Aranda, Professor of Environmental Studies at California State University, Sacramento.

Thursday, May 21, 2026
5:30 PM Social/6:00 PM Event

While many environmental justice (EJ) conversations focus on urban centers, rural communities face unique and often overlooked challenges. This talk will define the core principles of EJ and demonstrate how tools like CalEnviroScreen are used to identify disproportionate burdens in our region. By connecting these broader frameworks to local issues (specifically within agricultural communities) we will explore how data and community-led research can drive local action.

Dr. Alfonso A. Aranda is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Sacramento State and a scholar-activist dedicated to advancing environmental justice. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography from UC Davis, where his research focused on environmental health risks in farmworker and agricultural communities. As the son of farmworkers, Dr. Aranda is committed to bridging academia and community through participatory research. He leads the Knights Landing Environmental Health Project (KLEHP) and teaches courses on environmental health and justice, critical thinking, and science.

Join us in-person or via Zoom!
– Zoom
Link to join meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155
– In-person location
Sacramento State – Downtown, 304 S St, #104/105, Sacramento, CA 95811

ECOS Orientation, May 19

Learn what ECOS is all about! Attend our monthly orientation session on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 6:00 – 6:30 pm via Zoom to get a broad overview of what ECOS does, why it matters, and what you can do to help! This orientation can also benefit anyone interested in learning more about environmental issues in the Sacramento region. We will cover our current goals that involve climate change prevention, promoting infill over sprawl development, transit, habitat protection, and the wise use of water resources, among others.

When the Rivers Rise (Video)

The ECOS Water Committee Presents

When the Rivers Rise – Flood Risk and Resilience in the Sacramento Region

Watch the presentation in the video below to learn about the Sacramento region’s flood risks, current mitigation efforts, and how you can prepare for future floods.

Featuring:

Gary Bardini | P.E., Director of Planning, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency
Austin Miller | Environmental Specialist at Sacramento County Department of Water Resources
Nicole Sears | Environmental Scientist & Graduate Student, Water & Environmental Law, McGeorge School of Law

Recorded: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Click here for the meeting agenda packet.

CANCELLED – Vote on Upper Westside

The Board of Supervisors will not vote on the Upper Westside Project at 2 pm on April 28, 2026.

The vote on Upper Westside has been cancelled due to the absence of one of the Supervisors. Staff is recommending that the Board of Supervisors drop the item from the April 28 agenda and reschedule it to a date when all five Supervisors are in attendance.

The vote has not been rescheduled yet and the Agenda may not have been modified yet (3:45 pm April 27, 2026).

Sacramento Earth Day 2026

We want to thank everyone who supported or came out to Sacramento Earth Day on April 26, 2026 at Southside Park! It was a beautiful day full of fun, festivities and education!

2026 Sponsors

We give special thanks to our sponsors, below.

In the News

Earth Day celebration underway in Southside park in Sacramento, Fox 40

Sacramento Earth Day Festival celebrates 40 years at Southside Park, ABC 10

SACRAMENTO EARTH DAY! April 26

Come to Sacramento Earth Day on Sunday, April 26, 2026 11am-4pm at Southside Park, 700 T Street Sacramento!

Hosted annually by ECOS, the Environmental Council of Sacramento!

Sacramento Earth Day is more than just an event—it’s a vibrant educational experience for our entire community. Each year, we come together to explore the impact humans have on our environment and discover practical actions we can take to protect our planet. Through interactive exhibits, engaging workshops, and meaningful conversations, we empower individuals and organizations to build relationships, share knowledge, and strengthen sustainability practices. Join us as we learn, connect, and take steps toward a greener, healthier future for Sacramento and beyond.

2026 Theme: In honor of the Water Forum Agreement 2050, this year’s theme is “Water We Waiting for?”: Sacramento Earth Day offers us an opportunity to better understand the value of our water supply and the need for a balance between water for humans and the natural environment.

Click here to learn more!