My friend and mentor Melanie Winter has hit a hard time. On January 1st, she needs to pay $3000 toward rent or she will be at risk of being evicted, or her landlord will raise her rent to market rate (nearly double).

For decades Melanie has been a leader in pushing progressive water policies forward. She has worked to rewrite laws that implement nature-based solutions in water management and conservation, and in so doing has changed LA’s relationship with our River and the surrounding watershed.

Moreover, she has designed and led a multitude of projects that make the resources, education, and implementation of these solutions available to low-income communities.

Now she is doing critical work to increase LA’s flood management capacity so that we can better adapt to climate change and avoid mass disasters in our communities.

However, she’s in between grant funding and has long sacrificed her own personal finances in order to drive the work forward. As of right now, she can’t afford to pay the rent on her apartment which serves as both her living space and a home office for her colleagues in the work.

As we close out 2022, it would mean a lot to Melanie and me if our community could help pitch in to keep her and her work housed.

I know folks are likely already stretched in this holiday season, but no donation is too small, and every dollar counts. Thank you!