Earth Systems Science, Inc.

NEIGHBORHOOD GPS TRAINING IN THE WORKS

Jan 21, 2004

Sports Spectacular USA, headed by James Hawkins, has teamed up with Earth Systems Science, Inc. (ESSI, led by Gregory Lee and Patrick McCullough) and the Expo Neighbors Environmental Group (ENEG, led by Patrick McCullough) to explore bringing Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and training to neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. [Editor?’s note: To learn more about GPS technology, see the article ?“What is GPS??” in the ?“Our Pages?” section of this website. The article also includes links to free GPS tutorials.]

McCullough and Lee teamed up a few years ago to adapt Lee?’s non-traditional community-based environmental education approach to urban LA. Lee pioneered these efforts in northern rural Thailand (see the article ?“Community-based Education in Northern Thailand?” in the ?“Our Pages?” section of this website). McCullough wanted to use this approach in his neighborhood to bolster his environmental efforts that culminated in the Expo Greenway (see the article ?“Expo Neighbors Urban Wildlife Habitat Programs?” by using the link to the ENEG website in the ?“Our Hotlinks?” section of this website).

Hawkins has been involved in community and educational efforts in the Compton Community for more than 30 years. He and McCullough were business associates and were both involved in the National Parks Conservation Association?’s local affiliate group the Los Angeles Community Partners. Lee was also involved in this group. It was only a matter of time before these like-minded men came together in a critical mass to spawn an effort to push forward with a new initiative close to their hearts: job training for urban families to develop sustainable communities.

As with many other ideas, the threads of history go back into time. But a series of chance circumstances brought things to a head when Hawkins was invited to attend two ESSI-ENEG activities as a substitute last November (2003). Lee and McCullough were leading a conference delegation to report on a National Park Service youth training program they co-led in the Santa Monica Mountains and at Manzanar. One of the panelists could not attend and Hawkins was given the chance to attend and observe the presentation. Immediately following the conference, Lee and McCullough had organized a certified Trimble GPS training class. One of the trainees was not able to attend, and again, they called Hawkins in as a substitute.

As these three men physically converged and emerged from the GPS, Hawkins began to realize the pilot program efforts of Lee and McCullough had amassed critical momentum. The pilot was a success. It was time to step up to the next level---developing a full-fledged community job-training program. Using his long-standing community reputation and connections in Compton, Hawkins selected Compton Community College. Sports Spectacular, ESSI, and ENEG are now undertaking exploratory meetings to see how Hawkins?’ vision can be turned into reality in the Compton area.