There are a lot of different ways to work toward a greener tomorrow. Making simple, green changes in your day-to-day life is a great way to help the environment, promote sustainability and combat global warming. If you find yourself wanting to do more, though, here are some great local groups that would love your time and support!

There are a lot of different ways to work toward a greener tomorrow. Making simple, green changes in your day-to-day life is a great way to help the environment, promote sustainability and combat global warming. If you find yourself wanting to do more, though, here are some great local groups that would love your time and support!

SustainableWorks.org: These folks are headquartered at the SMC campus on Pearl Street. They provide sustainability workshops to Santa Monica residents, teaching people how to green up their lives. Participants learn about waste, water, chemicals, transportation, energy and shopping. They also do Green Business Certification free of charge for any Santa Monica business. They also have a Sustainable Crew program for SMC students. Each Sustainable Crew consists of ten to fifteen individuals who meet once a week for nine weeks to learn about concepts of sustainability.

HealTheBay.org: Southern California is know world-wide for it's beautiful beaches. Heal The Bay wants to make sure our beaches and and ocean wildlife stay beautiful and healthy for generations to come. Located in Santa Monica, the folks at Heal the Bay have lots of events and fun ways to get involved and protect our beaches. From volunteering in the office to costalclean-up days, Heal The Bay makes volunteering fun and easy.

BallonaFriends.org: A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. The Ballona Watershed includes the communities of Santa Monica, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Inglewood, West Hollywood, Venice, West Los Angeles and Los Angeles. It is roughly 130 square miles in size. Watersheds are very important ecosystems, especially in an arid region like southern California. They are a natural habitat for birds and animals. Healthy watersheds also help to purify water before it flows into the ocean, recharge underground rivers and aquifers and clean the air by absorbing CO2 and releasing oxygen. Ballona Friends/org have educational workshops and partner with area schools to teach preservation and conservation of the watershed. They also have many short- and long-term volunteer opportunities.

These are just a few of the great organizations that are working toward a healthier planet for all of us. Visit their respective website for more information about what they do and what opportunities they have for volunteers. You'll be glad you did, and so will everyone else!

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Sustainability takes forever. And that's the point. - William McDonough