Knowledge & Support
Community Resources
Curated tools for informed shopping, citizen science, emergency preparedness, free community resources, open source software, mindfulness, and creative practice — empowering mindful living from the San Gabriel Valley and beyond.
Community Hub
Building Power for Housing Justice
Tenant organizing is transforming communities across Greater Los Angeles. From rent control victories to portfolio-wide campaigns, renters are coming together to demand dignified, affordable housing.
Video: More Perfect Union — How Tenants Are Fighting Back
Greater LA & San Gabriel Valley Renters Unions
LA Tenants Union
Citywide
The largest tenant union in Los Angeles, fighting for rent control, just cause eviction protections, and tenant power through collective action.
Join LATUSGV Tenants' Alliance
San Gabriel Valley
Organizing renters across the San Gabriel Valley for affordable housing, tenant protections, and community control.
Local Chapters
Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank
Neighborhood-based tenant organizing in Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, Glendale, and Burbank.
Find Your ChapterKey Organizing Strategies
- •Portfolio Organizing: Target landlords who own multiple buildings to amplify tenant power
- •Rent Control Campaigns: Fight for local rent stabilization ordinances and just cause eviction protections
- •Tenant Associations: Form building-level groups to negotiate collectively with landlords
- •Know Your Rights: Understand California tenant law, habitability standards, and eviction protections
Digital Rights & Consumer Freedom
FULU Foundation
Foothill Unity for Liberty and Usability
FULU Foundation fights for digital ownership rights and consumer rights, leading the Right to Repair movement to ensure you can fix what you own. Founded by Louis Rossmann and Kevin O'Reilly, FULU has achieved landmark legislation in Colorado and California, challenging manufacturer lockouts that affect farmers, hospitals, and everyday consumers.
Key Initiatives
- • Right to Repair legislation
- • Consumer Rights Wiki
- • FULU Bounties program
- • Repair Preservation Group
Leadership
- • Louis Rossmann (Founder)
- • Kevin O'Reilly (Executive Director)
- • Maria Palazzo (Operations)
- • Kevin Yardley (Wiki Manager)
Ready to Organize?
Browse all curated resources — from product safety databases to citizen science platforms, emergency guides, open source tools, and creative practice resources.
Showing 88 resources
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Search over 90,000 personal care products and their ingredient safety ratings. Science-backed hazard scores help you make informed choices about what goes on your body.
EWG Tap Water Database
Enter your zip code to see what contaminants are in your local tap water. Compares detected levels against health guidelines and EWG standards.
EWG Healthy Living App
Scan product barcodes while shopping to instantly see safety ratings for food, personal care, and cleaning products. Free for iOS and Android.
Good On You — Ethical Fashion Ratings
Rate and discover ethical fashion brands. Evaluates companies on labor practices, environmental impact, and animal welfare with easy-to-understand scores.
Ethical Consumer
Independent, research-based ethical shopping guides covering 100+ product categories. Compare brands on environmental, social, and governance criteria.
Buycott — Vote With Your Wallet
Scan product barcodes to trace them back to parent companies and see if they align with your values. Join campaigns to support or avoid specific corporate practices.
The Good Shopping Guide
Compare thousands of brands across ethical ratings tables. Research covers environmental track records, animal welfare, and human rights issues for informed purchasing.
DoneGood — Shop With Purpose
A marketplace and browser extension that redirects your everyday purchases to companies that are good for people and the planet. Discover certified B Corps and social enterprises.
Open Food Facts
A free, open database of food products from around the world. Check ingredients, additives, allergens, and nutritional information. Scan barcodes with the free app.
iNaturalist
One of the world's most popular citizen science platforms. Record observations of plants, animals, and fungi. AI-powered identification helps you learn while contributing to global biodiversity research.
Zooniverse
The world's largest platform for people-powered research. Contribute to real scientific projects in astronomy, ecology, history, and more — no special skills required.
eBird — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Log your bird sightings and contribute to one of the largest biodiversity databases in the world. Real-time maps, hotspot guides, and species alerts for birders of all levels.
GLOBE Observer — NASA
Collect environmental observations for NASA scientists. Measure clouds, land cover, trees, and mosquito habitats. Your data helps validate satellite measurements.
SciStarter — Citizen Science Project Finder
Discover over 3,000 citizen science projects you can join. Filter by topic, location, and activity type. Perfect for finding projects that match your interests and schedule.
Merlin Bird ID — Cornell Lab
Free app that identifies birds by sight or sound. Point your phone at a bird or record its song and get instant identification powered by machine learning.
CoCoRaHS — Community Weather Network
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network. Measure and report daily precipitation from your backyard. Data is used by the National Weather Service and researchers.
Galaxy Zoo — Classify Galaxies
Help astronomers classify millions of galaxies captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Your classifications help scientists understand how galaxies form and evolve.
Foldit — Protein Folding Game
Solve puzzles to help scientists understand protein folding — a key challenge in medicine and biology. Players have made real scientific discoveries through gameplay.
OpenFarm — Crop Growing Database
A free and open database for growing food. Find growing guides for hundreds of crops, share your own knowledge, and connect with growers in your climate zone.
CalEnviroScreen — Environmental Justice Mapping
California's environmental justice screening tool. Identify communities most burdened by pollution and least able to respond. Essential for SGV environmental advocacy.
LAPL Memory Lab
Free digitization services at the Los Angeles Public Library. Convert your old photos, slides, VHS tapes, and audio cassettes to digital formats — completely free for LA residents.
Boycat.io
Community-driven tech platform providing accessible tools and resources. Connecting creators, builders, and community members through open technology.
Khan Academy
World-class education for anyone, anywhere — completely free. Courses in math, science, computing, economics, arts, and more with personalized learning paths.
Internet Archive & Wayback Machine
A digital library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, and websites. The Wayback Machine preserves the history of the internet for everyone.
DigitalLearn.org
Free, self-paced digital literacy courses from the Public Library Association. Learn computer basics, internet skills, job searching online, and more.
OER Commons — Open Educational Resources
A public digital library of free teaching and learning materials. Explore, create, and collaborate with educators worldwide to access quality education resources.
Mutual Aid Hub
Find mutual aid networks and community self-support projects near you. Search by location to connect with neighbors offering and requesting help.
Little Free Library — Locate a Library
Find the nearest Little Free Library to take a book, leave a book, or start your own. A global network of community book exchanges fostering literacy and neighborhood connection.
Tool Library Network
Borrow tools instead of buying them. Tool libraries reduce consumption, build community, and give everyone access to the tools they need for home repair, gardening, and creative projects.
Repair Café — Fix Things Together
Free community repair events where volunteers help fix broken items — electronics, clothing, furniture, and more. Reduces waste and builds repair skills in your community.
Loomio — Cooperative Decision Making
Open-source platform for collaborative decision-making. Built for cooperatives, nonprofits, and community groups. Host discussions, vote on proposals, and build consensus online.
Ready.gov — FEMA Preparedness
The official U.S. government resource for emergency preparedness. Build a kit, make a plan, and stay informed about disasters. Download the FEMA app for real-time alerts.
American Red Cross — Emergency Prep
Comprehensive emergency resource library with guides for wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and more. Includes first aid training, shelter locator, and blood donation info.
AirNow — Air Quality Index
Real-time air quality data from the EPA. Check current and forecasted AQI for your area, get health recommendations, and sign up for air quality alerts — critical during wildfire season.
PurpleAir — Community Air Sensors
Real-time air quality data from community-owned sensors. More granular than government monitors, especially useful during wildfires. View the live map to find sensors near you.
CERT — Community Emergency Response Team
Free training program that teaches civilians basic disaster response skills: fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
DisasterAssistance.gov
Apply for federal disaster assistance online. Find information about available aid programs, check application status, and locate local disaster recovery centers.
Climate Resilience Toolkit
A curated collection of tools and resources for understanding and preparing for climate-related challenges. Case studies, data, and planning frameworks for communities.
ShakeAlert — USGS Earthquake Early Warning
The USGS earthquake early warning system for the West Coast. Receive seconds of advance warning before shaking arrives. Download the MyShake or QuakeAlertUSA app.
LA County Emergency Preparedness
Official Los Angeles County emergency preparedness portal. Evacuation zones, shelter locations, disaster resources, and sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts specific to your area.
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
Real-time earthquake data, hazard maps, and historical seismicity for California and the world. Essential for understanding SGV's seismic risk and fault proximity.
FossifyOrg — Mobile FOSS Apps
A collection of free and open-source mobile applications for everyday use — gallery, calendar, contacts, file manager, and more. Privacy-respecting alternatives to proprietary apps.
LibreOffice
The leading free and open-source office suite. Full-featured word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and drawing tools compatible with Microsoft Office formats.
Signal — Encrypted Messaging
State-of-the-art end-to-end encrypted messaging and calling. Open source, no ads, no trackers. Used by journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious individuals worldwide.
Firefox — Privacy-First Browser
The independent, open-source web browser from Mozilla. Built-in tracking protection, customizable with extensions, and committed to keeping the internet open and accessible.
Blender — 3D Creation Suite
Professional-grade 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and video editing — completely free. Used by studios, artists, and hobbyists for everything from film VFX to game assets.
GIMP — Image Editor
A free and open-source image editor for photo retouching, image composition, and graphic design. A powerful alternative to Photoshop with extensive plugin support.
Audacity — Audio Editor
Free, open-source audio recording and editing software. Record live audio, convert tapes and records, edit sound files, and mix tracks for podcasts, music, and more.
Nextcloud — Self-Hosted Cloud
Host your own cloud storage, calendar, contacts, and collaboration tools. Full control over your data with no subscription fees. Enterprise-grade features for individuals and teams.
AFFiNE — Open Source Knowledge Base
A privacy-first, open-source alternative to Notion. Build your personal knowledge base with markdown, whiteboards, and databases. Recommended for the AlignFlow journaling practice.
OpenStreetMap — Community Maps
A free, editable map of the entire world built by volunteers. Use it, contribute to it, and build applications on top of it — the Wikipedia of maps.
Tor Browser — Anonymous Browsing
Browse the internet anonymously and bypass censorship. Tor routes your traffic through multiple servers worldwide, protecting your identity and location from surveillance.
KeePassXC — Password Manager
A free, open-source, cross-platform password manager. Store all your passwords in an encrypted local database — no cloud required, no subscription, no data collection.
Obsidian — Markdown Knowledge Graph
A powerful markdown-based note-taking app that stores everything locally. Build a personal knowledge graph, link ideas together, and use community plugins to extend functionality.
Standard Notes — Encrypted Notes
A free, open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes app. Your notes are private, secure, and accessible across all your devices. Syncs without ever seeing your content.
VLC — Universal Media Player
The free, open-source media player that plays virtually every audio and video format. No codecs needed, no tracking, no ads. Works on every platform.
84-Day AlignFlow Journey
Our signature mindfulness program — 84 days of guided prompts, creative activities, emotional check-ins, and reflective practices designed to cultivate presence and flow state.
Recommended Reading
Core texts that inform our practice: The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz), The Creative Act (Rick Rubin), The Dead Emcee Scrolls (Saul Williams), Freedom is a Constant Struggle (Angela Davis), The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho).
Insight Timer — Free Meditation App
The world's largest free meditation app with 150,000+ guided meditations, music tracks, and talks. Includes a timer for silent practice, sleep meditations, and courses from world-renowned teachers.
Wim Hof Breathing Method
The foundational breathwork technique combining controlled hyperventilation, breath retention, and cold exposure. Backed by scientific research for stress reduction, immune function, and mental clarity.
Box Breathing — Navy SEAL Technique
A simple 4-4-4-4 breath pattern used by Navy SEALs and first responders to regulate the nervous system under stress. Inhale 4 counts, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4. Practice for 5 minutes daily.
Somatic Experiencing — Peter Levine
A body-oriented approach to healing trauma developed by Dr. Peter Levine. SE works with physical sensations to release stored trauma from the nervous system — foundational to the AlignFlow practice.
Tara Brach — RAIN Meditation
Tara Brach's RAIN practice: Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture. A mindfulness technique for working with difficult emotions. Free guided meditations and dharma talks available.
The Work of Byron Katie
A method of self-inquiry that questions stressful thoughts through four questions and a turnaround. Free worksheets, videos, and a Judge-Your-Neighbor worksheet available at thework.com.
Nadi Shodhana — Alternate Nostril Breathing
A pranayama technique from the yogic tradition that balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Reduces anxiety, improves focus, and prepares the mind for meditation.
Journaling for Clarity — Morning Pages
Julia Cameron's Morning Pages practice from The Artist's Way: three pages of longhand stream-of-consciousness writing every morning. Clears mental clutter and unlocks creative insight.
Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta)
A traditional Buddhist meditation practice of cultivating unconditional goodwill toward oneself and others. Research shows it increases positive emotions, reduces bias, and builds resilience.
Headspace — Guided Meditation
A leading meditation and mindfulness app with structured courses for beginners and advanced practitioners. Offers free basics courses and specialized content for sleep, focus, and stress.
Non-Violent Communication — Marshall Rosenberg
NVC is a communication framework that connects us to our needs and the needs of others. Essential for community organizing, conflict resolution, and authentic self-expression.
VisionSt48 Mutual Aid Fund
A percentage of all VisionSt48 proceeds supports community mutual aid. Funds go directly to disaster recovery, food security, and educational access in the SGV.
Gift Economy & Sharing Resources
Learn about gift economy principles and how VisionSt48 integrates mutual aid into our business model — because community resilience starts with generosity.
Food Not Bombs — Free Food Sharing
An international movement that recovers food that would otherwise be discarded and shares free vegetarian meals with anyone who is hungry. Find or start a chapter in your area.
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief
A grassroots disaster relief network operating on principles of solidarity, not charity. Connects communities affected by disasters with resources and support from other communities.
Buy Nothing Project
Hyperlocal gift economies where neighbors give and receive freely. Join your local Buy Nothing group to share items, skills, and time without money changing hands.
SGV Mutual Aid Network
Community-organized mutual aid serving the San Gabriel Valley. Connects neighbors with food, supplies, transportation, and support. Building resilience from the ground up.
SELC — Sustainable Economies Law Center
Legal resources for cooperative businesses, community land trusts, and alternative economic models. Free guides on starting worker cooperatives and community-owned enterprises.
The Creative Act — Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin's meditation on creativity as a spiritual practice. The book reframes the creative process as a way of connecting to the universe, not just producing output. Core CC reading.
The Artist's Way — Julia Cameron
A 12-week course in discovering and recovering your creative self. Morning Pages and Artist Dates are the two core tools. Foundational for anyone integrating creativity into daily practice.
The Dead Emcee Scrolls — Saul Williams
A collection of poetry and prose that merges hip-hop aesthetics with mysticism, activism, and self-discovery. Saul Williams' work is a direct influence on the VisionSt48 voice and vision.
Bandcamp — Support Independent Artists
A music platform where artists keep 80–85% of revenue. Discover and directly support independent musicians, especially those making music that matters — jazz, hip-hop, experimental, and beyond.
Itch.io — Independent Games & Zines
An open marketplace for independent digital creators. Find and support indie games, zines, comics, and interactive art. A community-first alternative to corporate platforms.
Are.na — Collaborative Research
A platform for saving and organizing research, images, and ideas into visual collections. Used by designers, artists, and thinkers to build knowledge in public and connect with others.
Krita — Digital Painting
A free and open-source digital painting application. Professional-grade tools for concept art, illustration, comics, and animation. A powerful alternative to Procreate and Photoshop.
Musescore — Free Music Notation
Create, play, and share sheet music for free. MuseScore is the world's most popular free music notation software, used by composers, educators, and musicians worldwide.
Letterboxd — Film Community
A social network for film lovers. Log films you've watched, write reviews, create lists, and discover films through the lens of people whose taste you trust. Cinema as community practice.
Commonplace Book Practice
The ancient practice of keeping a personal anthology of meaningful passages, quotes, observations, and ideas. A physical or digital commonplace book is a cornerstone of the CC creative process.
Vocal.media — Independent Publishing
A platform for independent writers and storytellers. Publish essays, poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction and earn from your work. Community-driven and creator-owned.
Substack — Independent Newsletters
Build a direct relationship with your readers through email newsletters. Writers keep full ownership of their subscriber lists and content. The CC recommends it for consistent creative output.
Emotional Intelligence
The Inner Work
Cultivating presence begins with understanding how we feel. These curated resources support the inner journey — from emotional regulation to gnosis as a vehicle for positive change.
The Crucial Emotional Skill Most Adults Were Never Taught
Dr. Becky Kennedy, clinical psychologist and founder of Good Inside, reveals that emotion regulation is a learned skill — not an innate trait. It is never too late to develop it through conscious reparenting of the self.
The AVP Practice
Acknowledge
Name the feeling without judgment — "I am feeling jealous."
Validate
Understand that the feeling makes sense given your circumstances.
Permit
Give yourself full permission to feel it — without shame or suppression.
Saul Williams — The Intersection of Art & Activism
Saul Williams embodies the Creative Council's core principle: that art is not separate from justice, but its most potent vehicle. His work merges spoken word, hip-hop, and mysticism into a practice of radical self-expression and collective liberation.
CC Principle
"The creative act is not performance. It is transmission. What you make carries the frequency of who you are becoming."
Journal Prompt
"What emotion have I been suppressing that deserves to be acknowledged today?"
Daily Practice
"I believe in myself to move through this feeling and emerge with greater clarity."
Reflection
"Where in my body do I feel this emotion? What does it need from me right now?"
AlignFlow Connection
The AVP framework integrates directly into the 84-Day AlignFlow Journey — use it as a daily emotional check-in at the start of each practice session to build the self-regulation capacity that underpins all inner work.
Creative Council
The Practice of Making
The Creative Council holds that creativity is not a talent but a discipline — a daily practice of showing up, making things, and allowing the work to reveal who you are becoming.
Elevate
Raise the frequency of your creative output by working from a place of presence, not performance. The best work comes when you stop trying to impress and start trying to express.
Daily Practice
Begin every creative session with 5 minutes of breathwork or meditation to clear mental noise.
Integrate
Weave your creative practice into the fabric of daily life. Art is not something you do — it is how you see. Integrate observation, reflection, and making into your routines.
Daily Practice
Keep a sketchbook, voice memo app, or notebook with you at all times for capturing moments of inspiration.
Radiate
Share your work generously and without attachment to outcome. The act of sharing completes the creative circuit — it transforms private expression into collective meaning.
Daily Practice
Publish something — a poem, a sketch, a thought — every week, regardless of whether you feel it is ready.
Cultivate
Tend to your creative practice like a garden. Protect it from distraction, nourish it with diverse inputs, and trust that the seeds you plant today will bloom in unexpected ways.
Daily Practice
Dedicate 30 minutes daily to reading, listening, or viewing work that challenges and inspires you.
Creative Council Core Reading
The Creative Act
Rick Rubin
Creativity as spiritual practice
The Artist's Way
Julia Cameron
12-week creative recovery
The Dead Emcee Scrolls
Saul Williams
Hip-hop mysticism & activism
The Four Agreements
Don Miguel Ruiz
Toltec wisdom for living
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
Following your personal legend
Freedom is a Constant Struggle
Angela Davis
Art, justice & liberation
Our Commitment
Environmental & Social Justice
VisionSt48 is committed to supporting dynamic, inclusive environmental justice initiatives. A percentage of proceeds goes directly into community programs, resources, and direct aid.
We believe that community resilience starts with mutual support. Every purchase, every practice, every connection through this platform contributes to building a more just and connected world. Thank you for supporting VisionSt48.
SGV
Local Focus
FOSS
Open Source First
84
Day Journey
88+
Resources