Local Community Resources
Global education does not require leaving the classroom or traveling abroad—global issues, perspectives, and interconnections are woven directly into the local landscape. This directory bridges the local-to-global gap, showing how regional institutions investigate global issues, recognize diverse perspectives, communicate across cultures, and take meaningful action locally.
LA Arboretum & Botanic Gardens
127 acres of curated landscapes and historical sites behind the historic Santa Anita Racetrack.
Discover plant collections organized geographically from around the world—including regions like Australia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and South America—alongside native California habitats.
Local elementary schools love to visit to learn about the Tongva people - also referred to as the Gabrielino Tribe - who inhabited the LA Basin and surrounding region for over 8,000 years!
Hollywood also likes to visit, and has used the gardens as a filming location for nearly a century.The Queen Anne Cottage with the bell tower where Tattoo shouted "de plane! de plane!" is located here.
General admission is FREE
The Broad features contemporary artists from across the globe whose works address migration, identity, globalization, and social critique. Participate in inquiry-based visual thinking routines (VTRs) using contemporary global art to analyze how artists convey socio-political movement and cultural identity. Self guided and guided visits for groups and schools, family programs, and special events.
Look for educator workshops with lesson plans before you book a school visit. I attended one in 2020 and then Covid. But I was able to visit in 2024 with my IB class. A must for all living and visiting LA.
Bridges local storytelling and global activism by offering curricula aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and human rights framework. Collaborations with film makers, musicians, mental health awareness campaigns, and Education Ambassador programs for teachers creating partnerships that empower students to become creative changemakers.
Founded in 1917 and located in the heart of Pasadena, the playhouse serves as a hub for dramatic storytelling that explores diverse human experiences, local histories, and global narrative traditions. Offers programs for kids, teens, families, schools and summer camps.
My recent favorite production is Mexodus - a two-man musical about the Underground Railroad that ran south into Mexico. Absolutely brilliant! This one is NOT to be missed.
Connects historical global events—such as the Holocaust and international human rights violations—to contemporary local dynamics surrounding bias, civil rights, and systemic equity. Visits include interactive exhibits and personal testimonials to practice perspective-taking and develop student-led anti-bias campaigns within the school community. The museum offers educator resources, lesson plans & onsite - and virtual - programs for students, as well as professional programs.
Showcases modern and contemporary Latin American, Chicano/a/x, and Afro-Latinx art. Visitors can analyze how artistic movements reflect historical migration patterns, political changes, and cultural synthesis across North and South America. Offers student film festivals, summer camps & educator resources.
Produces classic literature and world drama that interrogate timeless themes of justice, ethics, and leadership across historical eras and geographical borders.
I've seen several productions here on my own, and have arranged fieldtrips for students. The theatre group provides study guides, summer camps, and teacher resources.
Connects Southern California’s coastal ecology to global ocean systems, climate change, and marine conservation efforts.
Virtual & onsite tours, teacher resources & summer camps available to empower students towards sustainability in their local watersheds.