On Jan. 14, energy independence and environmentalism was the central topic for Jewish leaders and more than 100 community members at an event co-sponsored by AJC's ACCESS program and 30 Years After, an organization promoting Iranian American Jewish participation in civic life. Additional sponsorship was provided by a Collaborative Microgrant from the NextGen Engagement Initiative and by ReGreen Corp. The NextGen Engagement Initiative is a project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, funded by a generous grant from the Jewish Community Foundation. ACCESS Co-Chairs Adam Weiss and Lemor Moses, and 30 Years After founder Sam Yebri, spoke of the importance of energy and environmentalism to both the Jewish community and wider Los Angeles community.

The expert panel, moderated by David Nahai, senior adviser to the Clinton Climate Initiative, included Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, chair of the Energy and Environment Committee; Jonathan Parfrey, director of the GREEN LA Institute; and Adi Liberman of Adi Liberman & Associates and the former executive director of Heal the Bay.

The topics ranged from the threat of climate change to California, electric vehicles, our dependence on oil supplied by regimes who want to undermine the United States and its allies, and steps take in your own life to use less energy.

The Jewish Journal covered the story.