Huey Johnson and the team at the RRI are filled with profound loss as we inform you of the passing of environmental justice leader and civil rights advocate, Robert García (1952 – 2020).

Robert was the Founding Director and Counsel of The City Project, a non-profit legal and policy advocacy team in Los Angeles, California. The City Project works with diverse allies on equal access to (1) healthy green land use through community planning; (2) climate justice; (3) quality education including physical education; (4) health equity; and (5) economic vitality for all, including creating jobs and avoiding displacement.

Through his tireless work, Robert helped diversify support for and access to state resource bonds, with unprecedented levels of support among communities of color and low-income communities, and billions of dollars for urban parks. In 2010, Robert received the President’s Award from the American Public Health Association. Hispanic Business Magazine has recognized him as one of the 100 most influential Latinos in the United States.

In 2015, Robert generously met with the RRI team and allowed us to capture his wisdom for our Forces of Nature program. The video can be found here: https://theforcesofnature.com/vimeo-video/robert-garcia/

Learn more about Robert’s legacy and The City Project here: https://www.cityprojectca.org/bio-rgarcia

You are invited to share a message, picture, or video in the next few days conveying your memories, support and gratitude at comms@GreenLatinos.org, an organization where he served as a board member. They will be sure to forward your messages to his family.

We thank Robert for all he has given Los Angeles, California, and the country. May he rest in power.