This week, the movers and shakers of Los Angeles met to honor those who have been working to green the city for the rest of us. Green LA Coalition celebrated Michele Prichard, Cecilia V. Estolano, and the Teamsters Joint Council 42 for their recent efforts in the green world.  And they did so right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles at hipster hot spot Cuidad.

Amidst crispy quinoa balls and “Green City” margaritas featuring USDA Organic Casa Noble tequila, the honorees mingled with honorers. The fundraising event was organized by Green LA Coalition, which is a group of 100 organizations working to “provide vision, expertise and community support for making Los Angeles the greenest big city in America.” Other sponsors included Antioch University, The Nature Conservancy, TreePeople, the Los Angeles County Metro, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and more.

First, I spoke with Jonathan Parfrey, Director of the Green LA Institute. This is the education and capacity building arm of Green LA Coalition, which works to bring timely information and resources to the environmental community. As Parfrey explained, “we put on workshops conference, meetings with elected officials, tours of local facilities and more.” Parfrey, who is also the Commissioner of LA Department of Water and Power, further detailed a new green initiative by the LA DWP. According to Parfrey, soon DWP employees “will start going door to door to help city of LA learn more about with water conversation, energy efficiency rebates, and essentially transitioning into green lifestyle.”

Director Parfrey then introduced me to their first honoree, Michele Prichard. According to Parfrey, “Michele is really sort of a woman who helped get Green LA Coalition off the ground.” Prichard is the Director of Common Agenda at the Liberty Hill Foundation. Liberty Hill advances movements for social change through a unique combination of grants, leadership training and alliance building. Common Agenda was formed to bring different community groups to make a difference in public policy.

Prichard was honored for her work, but told me that “it really was a team effort. Green LA wouldn’t be here without the contributions of dozens of leaders.” When I asked her how she felt about being honored by the Green LA Coalition, she informed me that she was most thrilled “by the fact that Green LA has brought together the environmental justice movement, but also other arenas like affordable housing. Tonight, a lot of different communities coming together and I’m excited to see it.”

The evening also acknowledged Cecilia V. Estolano, who Director Parfrey informed me has been “a superstar in bringing a green building infrastructure to LA.” Estolano is part of Green for All, a national organization that advocates for broad access and opportunity in the clean- energy economy. She is spearheading Green for All’s effort to scale public-private partnerships that grow family-supporting, green jobs in cities across the country.

And last but certainly not least, the evening honored the green work of the Teamsters Joint Council 42. The Teamsters have been active in the Clean Truck Program at the Port of Long Beach. Reports are that this program has reduced air pollution from harbor trucks by nearly 80 percent as of January 1, 2010. On this date, the Port banned trucks with 1993 and older engines, as well as nearly all trucks with 1994-2003 engines. And they aren’t stopping there. Next up, the Teamsters are going to start greening up trash collection of the city of Los Angeles.

Photo: Honoree Michele Prichard with Paul Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing.