“How did we get here, and what can I do to change it?”
When you share your voice, values, and life experiences with others, you create community—the living heart of democracy—and the possibilities for transformation are endless. EFC is an intergenerational community to address injustice and create a future where every voice is heard.
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If you are a young person (15-18) and want to develop your activism skills, apply to the Encampment. The 2026 Encampment application is closed but the 2027 application will open next Fall. Click to learn more.
Countdown to the 2026 Encampment
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News & Events
Learning and Taking Action about Pesticides in the Community
The Other Strawberry Festival 2026, hosted at Community Roots Garden, brought together approximately 150 community members, farmers, educators, youth leaders, and partner organizations for an afternoon of hands-on learning, creativity, and connection focused on reimagining our food system. “I am grateful for all of the community unity at the Other Strawberry Festival. I loved all the cooperation and participation we experienced for the play ‘Drift.’” — PFSP intern Becky, senior at Oxnard High School
EFC’s Community Gathering to Meet Dr. Faith Kares
Our latest InterGen Café took place on February 21 ushering in new leadership and kicking off a new chapter of the Encampment. We had a whopping 72 participants! 40% were alums and more than half of those alums were youth 30 years-old and younger. Also, 25% of the gathering’s participants were brand new to the Encampment. This is how we build our base and remain strong for another 80 years.
Date Change: Join us February 21
The EFC community gathering planned for January 10 has been postponed to February 21, 2026, 9 a.m. Pacific/10 a.m. Mountain/11 a.m. Central/12 noon p.m. Eastern. Please save the date! Participants will gather virtually to meet our new Executive Director Dr. Faith R. Kares (she/her), board members, and recent alums. They will introduce our vision of expanding the EFC’s impact and capacity, and how we are meeting this moment of ongoing crisis and precariousness.
Ripple Effect – Samara Smith Alum Story
Samara Smith, 2015 MS “We always say ‘young people are the future and we are going to change things’ but often when you are in high school you are not really talking about these issues in person. You might be in an online group that’s talking about them or you might see social media posts about them but talking about them in person and actually meeting people whose lives are affected — that’s different.”
Alum Network
