Below is information about local and international history for participants interested in learning more about the SCGX.
Bridging the Gap (BTG) is a community-driven environmental initiative founded in April 2019 by co-founders Jennalee Dahlen and Melissa Begin that bring people together through hands-on stewardship of the San Lorenzo River and surrounding areas. Since its inception, BTG has hosted quarterly cleanups in collaboration with partners such as Save Our Shores and the Coastal Watershed Council and San Lorenzo Park Neighbors, engaging local businesses, families, students, and volunteers in meaningful restoration work. To date, participants have collectively removed over 7,500 pounds of trash, removed invasive plant species, and replanted native vegetation to help restore the health and beauty of the river corridor.
In October 2019, Jennalee Dahlen and Melissa Begin were honored by the California State Legislature and the Santa Cruz Volunteer Center with the Be the Difference Award in recognition of their stewardship and leadership through Bridging the Gap’s river cleanup and habitat restoration efforts.
What makes BTG unique is its focus on connection — bridging businesses, residents, and organizations through shared action, fostering civic pride and environmental responsibility while strengthening Santa Cruz’s sense of community.
Green Exchange Event Diagram
Taylor’s journey into community organizing began while writing Câmbio, a children’s book inspired by Câmbio Verde, or the Green Exchange—a Brazilian program where people trade recyclables for goods.
In 2019, Taylor traveled to Curitiba, Brazil to observe the Green Exchange firsthand. Câmbio was set during a time when participants traded trash for bus tokens. Today, the program allows residents to exchange recyclables (like paper, cardboard, glass, and scrap metal) for locally grown fresh produce, collected at over 100 pop-up sites every two weeks.
After self-publishing Câmbio in 2023, Taylor applied the exchange principles he had observed to his own community—leading to the creation of the **Bike Exchange** held in Capitola in November 2024.
The Green Exchange is run by Curitiba’s Municipal Department of the Environment and coordinates between four groups: