Earlier this spring, Literacy for Environmental Justice hosted over 50 community members for a fun-filled day of kayaking and a BBQ lunch.

The event took place at Jack Rabbit Beach in Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (CPSRA). We had three activities happening at once – a paddle out on the Bay, planting native plants along Jack Rabbit Beach, and a beach/park clean-up.

The day kicked off with an opening circle where people got to meet their neighbors and talk a bit about the park and activity. Due to the high attendance, we had three rotations of kayakers throughout the morning. A BBQ lunch was cooked by community members, Sister Stephanie and Brother Ron. We spent the afternoon enjoying great food, new friends, and the beauty of CPSRA.

Events like this are critical to LEJ’s work as they inspire and create greater health, wellness, and enjoyment for our community and the outdoors. Our role is to foster stewardship through strengthened bonds with nature and local open spaces. We enjoyed the opportunity to kayak on the Bay with community members and provide an opportunity for individuals to spend more time with Bayview Hunter Point neighbors at the BBQ.

We greatly appreciate Ted from City Kayak, who provided paddle and safety talks to all participants. Our friends at Kayaks Unlimited stopped by. Everyone enjoyed the BBQ thanks to Sister Stephanie and Brother Ron’s hard work. And we have so much gratitude for Norma Rodriguez who spent time sharing the event with the Alice Griffith community.

When asked, “What’s the most important thing you learned about yourself during this event?” one participant shared, “Being connected to nature is good for your mental health.”

We couldn’t agree more.

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