Photo by Cynthia Gibson
By Cynthia Gibson
Contributing Writer
LEIMERT PARK — An Earth Day festival, “Our Planet, Our Power,” will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26 on Degnan Boulevard in Leimert Park Village.
The festival is a dream come true for Leimert Park Village merchant Sandra Mejia, owner of the Plant Chica, located at 4311 Degnan Blvd. Mejia previously celebrated Earth Day at her former Jefferson Park location by hosting an adopt-a-plant event, where she gave away hundreds of healthy but struggling plants in need of a second chance with new caretakers.
Each year, word spread, and the Plant Chica’s Earth Day Adopt-A-Plant events grew in popularity. Eventually, Mejia secured sponsors and began distributing new plants as well.
“We’d usually give out around 2,000 free plants every time, and they would all be gone by the end of the day,” Mejia said.
Despite the success, Mejia dreamed of something bigger — a large-scale Earth Day celebration.
“I always thought Earth Day should be a day off, where the world slows down,” she said. “We should all be home, playing outside, not using our cars — something like that.
“I just wanted Earth Day to feel like a big festival, something much larger than what the Plant Chica could host alone.”
Her former Jefferson Park location wasn’t ideal for a large event, but relocating to Degnan Boulevard in Leimert Park Village in October 2024 doubled her operating space and opened the door to finally realize her vision.
With support from District 10 Councilwoman Heather Hutt’s office, Degnan Boulevard will be closed to traffic from 43rd Street to 43rd Place. Activities will also take place in Leimert Park and on Peoples Street Plaza, extending along 43rd Street from Leimert to Crenshaw boulevards.
“Our Planet, Our Power” will feature more than 50 vendors offering eco-friendly products and food, along with workshops, family-friendly entertainment, a kids’ zone, and of course, a free adopt-a-plant giveaway.
Council District 10, the event sponsor, will host an information booth. Event partners Walk Good LA will lead a yoga session in Leimert Park, and Hike Clerb will demonstrate how to set up a tent.
While Mejia cherishes the events she hosted in Jefferson Park, she says her new location allows for greater impact and community engagement.
“There’s so much community and history here in Leimert Park — so much for us to build on. I’m excited because the possibilities are endless,” she said.
Cynthia Gibson is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers. She can be reached at ckgcommunications@gmail.com.
