Sydney Casler, IVCSD community engagement director; and California Special Districts Association CEO Neil McCormick. (Courtesy photo)
Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) rhas eceived the 2022 CSDA Exceptional Public Outreach and Advocacy Award for a small district category by the California Special Districts Association (CSDA).
IVCSD was honored during the association’s 52nd Annual Conference and Exhibitor Showcase held in Palm Desert. The recognition from the CSDA is bestowed upon organizations that demonstrate extraordinary commitment and engagement to the people they serve.
The IVCSD was awarded for its Isla Vista Mobility Plan. To learn more about the Isla Vista Mobility Plan project, its efforts, and goals for the future, view this video.
IVCSD successfully applied for and received a competitive Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) grant from the State of California Air Resources Board to develop the first equity-based Community Mobility Plan for Isla Vista.
The goal of the planning effort is to empower Isla Vista residents to identify gaps in their mobility ecosystem, experiment with solutions, and develop a list of priority projects that will increase access to equitable, affordable, sustainable, and safe multimodal transportation systems.
“Through IVCSD’s extensive community engagement and outreach, it’s apparent that the district is committed to ensuring that community feedback is implemented into the Mobility Plan,” said Vanessa Gonzales, CSDA’s communications specialist.
“The Isla Vista Mobility Plan project is one of the biggest IVCSD has taken on, and by going through it we are building capacity in the District and the community on many topics and skills,” said Jonathan Abboud, IVCSD general manager.
The Isla Vista Community Mobility Plan is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment.
Sub applicants on the STEP grant include Isla Vista Youth Projects, Santa Barbara MTD, and the County of Santa Barbara. Community Partners include Independent Living Resource Center, SBBIKE+COAST, UCSB Office of Sustainability, Cool/Block Empowerment Institute, Community Environmental Council, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara, and Isla Vista Food Cooperative.
“On behalf of the IVCSD, we want to thank the California Special Districts Association for recognizing this work, and to our incredible community partners, we are grateful to bring even more awareness to this project,” said Sydney Casler, IVCSD’s community engagement director.