RIVERFEST, WHERE FUN, EDUCATION AND AWARENESS MEET

RiverFest is an annual free event and fundraiser that brings together the entire Los Angeles community for a day of celebration, learning, and action. Hosted at the scenic Los Angeles State Historic Park, this much-anticipated event highlights the stories and perspectives of indigenous communities while showcasing the rich heritage of the L.A. River and California's natural landscapes. RiverFest is committed to making environmental justice both accessible and inspiring through fun activities, interactive exhibits, and educational workshops.

RiverFest 2022 was a huge success, featuring six short environmental films, over 30 booths, and more than 550 attendees. Rivers are Life proudly participated, donating $2,500 to FoLAR to support their important work for the LA River. The Rivers are Life booth gave away water purifiers, reusable Yeti cups, and shared insights about their feature film, River of Angels.

RIVER OF ANGELS PRESENTED AT FOLAR 2022 RIVERFEST

Rivers are Life proudly presented its captivating film, River of Angels, during the highly anticipated Friends of the L.A. River (FoLAR) 2022 RiverFest. This thought-provoking documentary showcases the inspiring individuals who champion the revitalization of the Los Angeles (L.A.) River, working tirelessly to raise awareness and restore its vitality as an integral part of the city.

HISTORY OF FOLAR

Los Angeles, once home to thriving streams, creeks, and wetlands, has a rich history deeply intertwined with its river. Before 1938, the L.A. River flowed freely, serving as an essential resource for indigenous communities and the city's environment. However, in an effort to prevent flooding and regulate water flow to the ocean, the river was encased in concrete. This drastic alteration cut off public access to the waterway. It wasn't until 1986 when Lewis MacAdams, a poet, activist, and river advocate, took a bold stand. MacAdams symbolically cut the chains that had walled off the L.A. River, sparking a movement to restore the river as a unifying water source for the people of Los Angeles.

This movement gave birth to the Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR), a community-driven organization dedicated to the care and education of the L.A. waterway. FoLAR creates a space for diverse communities, students, and leaders to learn about the river's ecosystem and take action to protect it. By raising awareness about the river's existence and significance, FoLAR empowers residents to advocate for local and global issues such as healthy waterways, climate justice, and social change. With a commitment to inclusivity and justice, FoLAR acknowledges the ancestral homeland of the Gabrieleño-Tongva, Fernandeño Tataviam, Gabrieleño-Kizh, and Chumash peoples on whose land and river the organization operates. FoLAR envisions a world where the LA River can thrive as it once did under the stewardship of indigenous communities.

FoLAR's work encompasses a variety of approaches to improve equitable access and ecological restoration of the LA River. They offer on-site school and community education programs, organize river cleanups, and facilitate river tours. The organization also leads large-scale initiatives that bring the community together, including annual Earth Day river cleanups and RiverFest, a free film festival celebrating the history and love of the city's central waterway. FoLAR strives to fight climate change, strengthen people's connection with nature in their city, and create a future where the LA River can flourish once again.