Smith -Weiss Honorees in 2006 were Tree People, S. David Freeman, CA Assembly Member Jenny Oropeza, and Mary Nichols

TreePeople Founded by Andy Lipkis nearly 35 years ago as the California Conservation Project, TreePeople’s mission reaches beyond the simple act of planting a tree. Its K- 12 education programs raise environmental awareness and enrich academic lessons by teaching valuable life skills. Its forestry programs restore watersheds and fragile habitats. This work also brings neighbors together, revitalizes inner-city communities, cools and greens campuses, and address serious urban issues including water and energy conservation, flood prevention and stormwater pollution. Its T.R.E.E.S. project is changing the nation’s approach to urban watershed management, motivating other cities to adopt “best management practices.” Literally and figuratively, TreePeople has planted millions upon millions of seeds in the Los Angeles community. The organization’s success is a celebration shared by all who have contributed time, talent and resources to build the vision and realize the dream.

PUBLIC SERVICE HONOREES

S. David Freeman was appointed to the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2005. Freeman has a 30-year record as board member and manager of many of America's largest publicly owned businesses. He served as general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, from 1997 to 2001. Under his leadership, the DWP kept the rates level and lights on during California's power crisis. Freeman has won awards from the Los Angeles Coalition for Clean Air, National Wildlife Association and Global Green for his devotion to clean air, clean water, and renewable energy. He negotiated the settlement of the decades-long dispute over the dust pollution from the Owens (Dry) Lake, resulting in the restoration effort that has created a bird sanctuary and cleaner air for that pristine area.

Mary D. Nichols was appointed to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners by Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa in 2005. She is Director of the UCLA Institute of the Environment (IoE) and holds a faculty appointment as Professor in Residence at the Law School and an appointment in the School of Public Affairs. Before joining UCLA, she served as Secretary for California’s Resources Agency, where she set policy for 27 departments, boards, commissions and conservancies, including Forestry and Fire Protection, Water Resources, Fish & Game, and State Parks, and led efforts to gain voter approval for four successful bond acts that raised over $10 billion for land and water programs.

Assemblymember Jenny Oropeza is a cancer survivor, Latina role model and policy leader in diverse areas like air pollution, highway funding, radiation exposure, sexual violence on campus, election reform, homebuyer rights, military defense and national security. Oropeza last won re-election in 2004 to her third two-year term representing a culturally diverse district with an overwhelming 67 percent of more than 110,000 votes cast. Assemblymember Oropeza has a 95% approval score from CLCV. Oropeza, represents Carson, portions of the cities of Long Beach and Lakewood and the Los Angeles communities of Wilmington, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway and Rancho Dominguez.