education & Humanity

Pazala wholeheartedly supports groups working to further education and human health and welfare. In addition to the projects shown below, Pazala also supports local grassroots groups such the Human Needs Project and Humanist Mutual Aid Network.
Indigenized energy
Photos by Christina West
In 2020 a former Zep Solar coworker, Daniel East, approached Pazala cofounder, Christina West with a proposal to help start an Indigenous-led nonprofit focused on providing the cultural, technical, and business training to tribe members needed to create the infrastructure for developing clean energy sovereignty for the tribes of the Northern Plains and beyond. Seeing this as a unique opportunity for restoration and strengthening of tribal culture, economics, and land, Christina joined the Indigenized Energy Advisory Board and over the years Pazala was the lead funder of multiple rounds of seed capital. Indigenized Energy, along with Red Cloud Renewable, continues to provide life-changing opportunities for Indigenous community members to learn, engage, create jobs, and install solar energy for tribal homes in need. In 2024 Indigenized Energy, headed by Cody Two Bears, was selected by the US Environmental Protection Agency to be a sub-recipient and grant/project manager for a $135.58M Solar For All award for a coalition of 14 Northern Plains Tribes in a groundbreaking act of cooperation between the US government and the tribal sovereign nations.
The Girl Project
Photos by Liliana Ocampo
In 2014 dancer Claudine Naganuma met with Pazala cofounder, Christina West about her project to provide free after-school and summer empowerment workshops for middle-school aged girls at risk for sex trafficking in Oakland CA, resulting in Pazala providing annual anchor funding for the Girl Project. Claudine and her team's dedication to the girls cannot be overstated in their mission of providing a safe, nuturing space that facilitates healthy relationships, self-worth, and healing through education and artistic expression. The Girl Project developed community partners and alliances with neighborhood businesses and agencies to enforce the web of support and sense of place for the girls. Many of the girls have been able to improve their trajectories with some going on to college and careers.
UC DAVIS: FELLOWSHIPS IN SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Photo by Alice Fontaine
In 2017 Pazala Executive Director (and UC Davis alumnus), Christina West, met with college friend Carol Hillhouse of the UC Davis Student Farm to discuss ideas around further development of the Sustainable Living & Learning Communities (SLLC) program on campus and creating fellowships to inspire students to create career paths focused on sustainability and social justice. Pazala then provided the seed funding to create a master plan for the SLLC and two student fellowships, dubbed the Green Fellowships. Carol and Christina quickly assembled a group of their old UC Davis friends to form the roots of the Green Donors group which has since expanded as a way for sustainability-minded alumni and others to stay in touch with new ideas and technologies and to educate and influence future generations of decision-makers. Every spring the Green Donors gather at the SLLC for a tour and presentation by the current fellows of their projects.
CAL POLY HUMBOLDT: SCHATZ ENERGY RESEARCH CENTER fellowships
Photos by Schatz Energy Research Center
In 2017 Pazala cofounder (and Humboldt alumnus) Jack West was invited by his former Cal Poly Humboldt engineering professor Peter Lehman to speak to students about his experience in the solar industry. This led to Jack and Christina joining the Advisory Board of the Schatz Energy Research Center (SERC) on campus (founded by Lehman) and creating two Pazala-funded fellowships at SERC supporting the innovation and advancement of clean renewable energy technology. In recent years SERC has expanded greatly and become a world leader in microgrids, fuel cells, and off-shore wind energy.
Big mountain thanksgiving supply run
Photos by Clan Dyken
Every year for over three decades the musical group, Clan Dyken, performs benefit concerts for their Revive the Beauty Way tour to raise money for their annual Big Mountain Thanksgiving Supply Run. Every November brothers Bear and Mark Dyken, along with their families and friends, fill a tour bus and caravan with food, blankets, equipment, and other much needed supplies and drive to the Big Mountain region of the Navajo (Dineh) Reservation to deliver the supplies, chop firewood, help with repairs, and most of all renew connections with the reservation communities and the land. Pazala is a long time supporter of their actions and we encourage you to support their gofundme or use the following link for a tax deductible donation to the Big Mountain Thanksgiving Supply Run.
grant applications & donations
All Pazala funding and granting is internal and is currently fully subscribed. Pazala does not accept applications for grants or donations but encourages you to donate directly to the projects on their websites.
We invite you to learn more about us and explore our collaborations in Art & Music, and Environment & Community.