Debs Park hosts its 2nd annual Arroyo Seco Marketplace

On November 24th, the Audubon Center at Debs Park held its 2nd annual Arroyo Seco Marketplace, celebrating local artists and vendors on Small Business Saturday.  The event was marketted as a family holiday fair and market for local community members to enjoy the great small businesses Los Angeles has to offer.  The Audubon Center at Debs Park partnered with several organizations to put on the Arroyo Seco Marketplace including Self-Help Graphics, National Parks Service, Ponderosa Cactus, Patagonia, and 2 neighborhood councils to create a fun, activity-packed day.  The Arroyo Seco Marketplace hosted a total of 16 vendors and artists selling wares such as jewelry, tea, art prints, water drums, and cacti.  Around 350 community members attended and experienced the free family activities offered at the Marketplace including holiday card printing with Self-Help Graphics, succulent potting and holiday wreath-making with Audubon staff, and nature arts & crafts and native plant walks with NPS and Nature School LA.

During the Marketplace, we were also happy to present 2 fun, interactive performances.  These performances were a backed house! Our first performance was a live bird show by The Nature of Wild Works, featuring a red-shouldered hawk, a barn owl, and Harry the turkey vulture.  "It was so cool to see so many kids in one room just to see birds!," said Estefania Palacio, Communications & Development Associate at the Audubon Center at Debs Park.  Nature of Wild Works presenters were happy to educate community members on bird species, including information on how the hunted and ate.  They also took questions from the audience.  The second performance by Aztec Stories was another immersive experience.  In Aztec Stories, Michael Heralda told indigenous stories to the audience through music.  Mr. Heralda crafts his own traditional instruments from items he sources from nature.  His show invites audience members of all ages to participate through singing, chanting, and accompanying instruments.  Aztec Stories was a popular performance.  The music Mr. Heralda and his audience created added a beautiful backdrop to the Marketplace festivities.

The Audubon Center at Debs Park was so excited to host this event for the second year!  It's always great to support our community members and celebrate the talent in this community.  When asked what his favorite thing about the Arroyo Seco Marketplace was, Center Director Marcos Trinidad said "I like how this event is able to create a healthy balance in supporting the community and the local economy.  It's great to see how we are continuing our old traditions, such as native plant wreath-making while building some new traditions with our partners - such as holiday cards with Self Help Graphics or succulent potting with Ponderosa Cactus".

We hope you'll join us next year for the Arroyo Seco Marketplace.  Be part of creating our newest holiday tradition!  Do you have any great stories or pictures from this years Arroyo Seco Marketplace?  Send them to us!  Email debspark@audubon.org.  

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Now Hiring Volunteer & Engagement Coordinator!

We are currently looking for a Volunteer & Engagement Coordinator with the following qualifications:

VOLUNTEER AND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Coordinate volunteer resources to assist in the delivery of the Center's programs, events and services. This includes directly managing volunteers, and/or providing guidance, support, resources and tools to staff who supervise volunteers.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement goals and objectives for the new volunteer program which reflect the mission of the Audubon Center
• Assess the need for volunteers to enhance program/service delivery
• Conduct ongoing evaluation of the programs and services delivered by volunteers and implement improvements as necessary
• Organize the volunteer program/service
• Develop, administer, and review policies and procedures which guide the volunteer programs and services, and reflect the overall values of the organization
• Develop and administer forms and records to document the volunteer activities
• Identify volunteer assignments that provide meaningful work for volunteers and write the volunteer position descriptions, develop trainings in consultation with staff as appropriate

Engage Volunteers

• Promote the volunteer program to gain community support of the volunteer program and the Audubon Center
• Develop and implement effective strategies to recruit the right volunteers with the right skills
• Develop and implement an intake and interview protocol for potential volunteers to ensure the best match between the skills, qualification, and interests of the volunteers and the needs of the Center
• Implement a screening process for potential volunteers according to accepted screening standards and practices
• Train staff to work effectively and cooperatively with volunteers
• Orient volunteers to increase their understanding of the organization, its guests, its services and the role and responsibilities of volunteers
• Ensure that volunteers are given appropriate training to be successful in their positions
• Ensure that volunteer check-in procedures are followed and records of volunteer hours are maintained according to established procedures
• Ensure that volunteers receive the appropriate level of supervision
• Assist with conflict resolution among clients, staff and volunteers according to established procedures
• Establish and implement a process for evaluating the contribution of individual volunteers
• Plan and implement formal and informal volunteer recognition activities to recognize the contribution of volunteers to the organization
• Evaluate the risks associated with each volunteer position and take appropriate action to control the risks associated with the program or service
• Ensure that volunteers work in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations
• Evaluate the contribution of each volunteer on an annual basis
• Prepare an annual report on the contribution of the volunteer program to the organization
• Administer and monitor expenditures for the volunteer program against the approved budget

Qualifications

• College certificate in Volunteer Management is an asset
• Post secondary education in social sciences, human resources, community development, or adult education is an asset

Think you have what it takes? Check out the application here or call us at (323) 221-2255!

Plant of the Month, October 2018: California Coffeeberry

California Coffeeberry
Frangula californica

California Coffeeberry is a plant we grow in our Los Nogales Native Plant Nursery. The plant is prized more for its fruit, a berry 10-15 millimeters in diameter, which turn red, then purple and finally black over the summer. It is valued by birds. This plant is beautiful and easy to grow. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types, and likes either full sun or part shade. It is moderately garden tolerant, and is OK with light summer water up to 2x per month. Coffeeberry has a dense form and is easy to prune. It makes a great and fire resistant hedge.

• Very easy to grow, moderately drought tolerant
• Height: 6-15 ft 
• Flowering season: Spring, Summer
• Berries prized by birds.  Berries are 10-15 millimeters in diameter, turn red, then purple, then black over the summer
• Makes a great and fire resistant hedge