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Long Beach Recycles & Puente Latino
Compost & Recycling Ambassador (CRA) en Español
Presented by Long Beach Recycles in partnership with Puente Latino.
Environmental leadership begins in our neighborhoods.
“People often think sustainability begins when someone teaches it.
We discovered something different.
Our community has been practicing it for generations.”
The Program
Not a translated class.
A redesigned one.
Puente did not simply translate the City's English CRA curriculum into Spanish.
The curriculum stayed faithful to the City's educational goals.
Built Through Partnership
Two organizations. One shared goal.
Long Beach Recycles
The official program
- Official CRA Program
- Curriculum
- Registration
- Ambassador certification
- Citywide volunteer opportunities
Puente Latino
The community partner
- Community outreach
- Spanish-language instruction
- Community-centered facilitation
- Cultural adaptation
- Hands-on education
- Interactive learning tools
- Ongoing community engagement
Registration for the CRA program is managed exclusively by Long Beach Recycles. Puente Latino does not process registrations.
The Redesign
Not a translation. A redesign.
Traditional translation
- Translate slides
- Keep lecture format
- Same assumptions
- Same examples
Community redesign
- Start with community knowledge
- Conversation first
- Facilitator second
- Hands-on learning
- Peer teaching
- Cultural relevance
Where the traditional curriculum devoted roughly fifteen minutes to hands-on activity, the redesigned model expanded those experiences into an hour or more of demonstration, discussion, and peer learning.
Our Educational Approach
A model built on conversation, not lecture.
01
Ask
Facilitators open with questions, not slides.
02
Listen
Participants share what they already know.
03
Build Together
The group builds new understanding collectively.
04
Practice
Hands-on demonstration and experimentation.
05
Teach Others
Graduates carry the knowledge home and beyond.
Community Knowledge
Many families were already practicing sustainability.
The class begins by recognizing what participants already bring into the room — then builds new concepts on top of it.
Repair culture
Food preservation
Reusing containers
Creative cooking
Sharing resources
Home composting
Gardening
Upcycling
Interactive Learning
Learning continues before, during, and after class.
Student Stories
In their own words.
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What surprised you?
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What changed at home?
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Why did you stay for seven weeks?
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What have you taught your family?
Podcast
Spanish-language environmental education, in audio.
A growing series on composting, recycling myths, food waste, gardening.
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Composting
Starting your first bin
Coming soon
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Recycling Myths
What actually belongs in the blue cart
Coming soon
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Graduates
A conversation with the Spring class
Coming soon
Photo Essay
The seven weeks, in pictures.
Community garden / composting
Sorting recyclables
Conversation / discussion circle
Hands-on demonstration
Graduation day
Families and children
Volunteer work
Impact
A first in the City's CRA history.
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Graduation Rate
First in City history
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Weeks
Of hands-on instruction
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Volunteer Hours
Contributed by graduates
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Graduates
Spring cohort
Spring 2027
Spring 2027 registration opens soon.
Registration is managed by Long Beach Recycles.
Register Through Long Beach Recycles