EDC’s TGIF! on July 10 | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Jonnie Williams | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Alex Katz, Executive Director | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Das and Jonnie Williams | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Representatives from Brighten Solar, More Mesa Preservation, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), Citizens for Carpinteria Bluffs, and other partner organizations shared updates on their work at EDC’s TGIF on July 10. | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Linsey Rodriguez of MICOP Mixteco / Indigena Community Project Organization | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
EDC’s TGIF! on July 10 | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Jon Tilton and Ted Rhodes of Citizens for Carpinteria Bluffs | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
The Chaps | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
EDC’s TGIF! on July 10 | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Isabel Gira, More Mesa Preservation Coalition Operations Manager | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
EDC’s TGIF! on July 10 | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
The Chaps | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
EDC’s TGIF! on July 10 | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Alex Katz, Executive Director | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
EDC’s TGIF! on July 10 | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
The Environmental Defense Center hosted a TGIF! happy hour at its courtyard on Friday, July 10, 2026. | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Alexandra VanAntwerp (center) | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
EDC’s TGIF! on July 10 | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
EDC’s TGIF! on July 10 | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom 
Spenser Jaimes | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom
The Environmental Defense Center hosted its first of its three TGIF! gatherings on Friday, July 10, in its Garden Street courtyard. Happy hour met purpose — a win-win for Santa Barbara’s environmental advocates, who could use a drink and intentional connection to weather each new environmental catastrophe.
Representatives from Brighten Solar, More Mesa Preservation, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), Citizens for Carpinteria Bluffs, and other partner organizations shared updates on their work and encouraged attendees to get involved.
For More Mesa Preservation, the focus is protecting the undeveloped coastal landscapes. “It’s the goal to purchase and preserve” the 265-acre oceanside property from future development, said Isabel Gira, operations manager.
Similarly, the Citizens for Carpinteria Bluffs are preservation minded and resisting a 191-unit housing project on the Carpinteria Bluffs. “We’ve been down this road many times, and I’m hopeful that we can still stop this development,” said Ted Rhodes, former Citizens president.
Linsey Rodriguez of MICOP championed the organization’s annual fundraiser, Noche de Pueblos Originarios, which is happening on August 7 at Godric Grove in Elings Park. “A good way to support the Indigenous community,” Rodriguez said, “is by attending our fundraiser.”
The other TGIF! events for 2026 are scheduled for September 19 and October 9.
