Rooted in Community. Planning with Purpose. Sustaining What Matters.

Creating sustainable solutions that endure by bringing together people, place, and infrastructure.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

  • Urban Semillas is a Los Angeles-based firm committed to community-led planning, sustainability, and resilient infrastructure. Our goal is to empower people at the grassroots-level and across sectors to participate in local and statewide issues that impact the communities they live in.

  • Miguel Luna is the CEO of Urban Semillas. Originally from Colombia, Miguel grew up in a city shaped by its river, where he developed an early and lasting kinship with water. After immigrating to Los Angeles in the late 1970s, he found that same connection in the LA River, a relationship that continues to inform and inspire his work today.

    As a child, he experienced firsthand the challenges of unreliable water infrastructure, city systems that often failed to serve communities equitably, and limited public trust in government. These experiences have guided his career in advancing community-driven planning, water resilience, equitable infrastructure, and strategic campaigns that give communities a voice in shaping their future.

  • For more than two decades, Miguel has led and participated in citywide and regional master planning initiatives that have expanded urban green space, strengthened water supply reliability, and improved water quality in underresourced communities. He has advised on major public and private development and infrastructure projects, integrating technical expertise with deep community engagement to build public trust, support strategic campaigns, and advance long-term sustainability and equitable access.

    He is widely respected and regularly engaged at the local, regional, and state levels for his work with diverse communities on social justice and advocacy, and for his ability to translate community insight into effective outreach strategies, successful campaigns, and durable grassroots coalitions.

    Miguel also serves as Chief Administrative Officer of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, where he works closely with tribal leadership to oversee the administration and strategic direction of tribal departments, advancing initiatives that strengthen governance, economic development, and long-term community resilience.

  • Miguel Luna serves as Chairman of the Board of the Tiüvac’a’ai Tribal Conservation Corps and as Chair of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. His leadership extends to the boards of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, Water Education for Latino Leaders, the Council for Watershed Health, the Upper LA River Watershed Area Steering Committee, the Upper LA River Tributaries Working Group, and the LA Development Fund.

    His past board service includes the Southern California Metropolitan Water District, Pacoima Beautiful, Community Nature Connection, and the Vincent Price Art Museum Foundation.

OUR WORK

Below is a selection of projects that reflect our work in community engagement, planning, and infrastructure across diverse communities. From early visioning through implementation, our work integrates community voice with technical expertise to advance equitable outcomes, support strategic campaigns, strengthen public trust, and deliver solutions that endure.

  • MLK Wellness Campus (Charles R. Drew University): Community Outreach & Engagement

    CLIENT

    Charles R. Drew University / MLK Wellness Campus Project

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Urban Semillas led a comprehensive bilingual community outreach and engagement program for the 12.8-acre CDU/MLK Wellness Campus in Willowbrook. The effort engaged residents, stakeholders, and institutions through meetings, focus groups, canvassing, digital outreach, and bilingual communications. Community input on housing, open space, programming, and health informed project development, helping ensure the campus reflects community priorities and supports inclusive, informed decision-making.

  • HACLA 25-Year Vision Plan: Community Engagement and Outreach

    CLIENT

    Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA)
    In partnership with The Robert Group

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Urban Semillas supported the design and implementation of a comprehensive community engagement strategy for HACLA’s 25-Year Vision Plan, a long-term framework for advancing affordable housing and healthy communities. The effort included stakeholder mapping, community workshops, surveys, and public meeting facilitation. Through this process, Urban Semillas elevated community voices, built public trust, and helped shape an equitable vision for housing and neighborhood investment across Los Angeles.

  • Lower Los Angeles River Master Plan: Southeast Cities Engagement

    CLIENT

    Los Angeles County Public Works
    Lead: Tetra Tech

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Miguel Luna supported community engagement for the Lower Los Angeles River Master Plan under Assembly Bill 530. Working with the LLARWG Community Engagement Subcommittee, he developed and implemented outreach strategies to engage residents across the Southeast Cities. He led coordination of kickoff events and early engagement efforts, helping build awareness, foster trust, and elevate community priorities to inform a shared vision for equitable revitalization along the river corridor.

  • Southeast LA Arts Festival: Community & Cultural Activation

    CLIENT

    Office of California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Miguel Luna led planning and coordination for the inaugural Southeast LA Arts Festival in the City of South Gate, working with the Office of the California State Assembly Speaker. He secured first-time permits for an in-river event and coordinated across multiple agencies. The festival brought together over 130 vendors, agencies, and nonprofits, attracting more than 6,000 attendees and successfully activating public space while elevating culture and community engagement in Southeast Los Angeles.

  • Intuit Dome (Clippers Arena): Community Engagement & Outreach Campaign

    CLIENT

    Murphy’s Bowl LLC

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Urban Semillas supported a strategic community outreach and engagement campaign for the proposed Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The effort focused on engaging Latino communities, seniors, and youth through culturally responsive strategies, community events, and targeted messaging. Urban Semillas trained community ambassadors and supported public input collection, helping inform decision-makers and foster a constructive environment during the entitlement process and public hearings.

  • City of Inglewood Senior Community Center: Community Engagement & Public Relations

    CLIENT

    City of Inglewood

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Miguel Luna led public relations and community engagement for the development of the City of Inglewood Senior Community Center. He designed and implemented outreach strategies to build awareness and community support, including engagement materials, workshop coordination, and public meeting facilitation. His work ensured meaningful community participation and helped foster broad-based support for a vital neighborhood resource serving Inglewood’s senior population.

  • Albion Park Master Plan: Community Engagement & Grant Strategy

    CLIENT

    City of Los Angeles

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Urban Semillas led community engagement for the Albion Park Master Plan and a competitive Proposition 84 grant application. Coordinating with multiple City departments, the team implemented a multi-phase outreach program, including community meetings, digital engagement, and project branding. Community input was translated into materials aligned with grant scoring criteria, strengthening the application and supporting the acquisition and future development of a riverside park with integrated stormwater best management practices.

  • Boyle Heights Metro Properties: Development Design Guidelines & Community Engagement

    CLIENT

    Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), East Los Angeles

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Miguel Luna led community outreach for the development of design guidelines for Metro-owned properties in Boyle Heights, including Mariachi Plaza and Fickett. He implemented a comprehensive engagement strategy involving door-to-door outreach, stakeholder coordination, and focus groups. His work ensured meaningful participation from residents, businesses, and community organizations, helping shape culturally responsive, place-based development guidelines that reflect community priorities.

  • SoFi Stadium (City of Champions Revitalization Initiative): Community Engagement & Outreach

    CLIENT

    Wilson Meany

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Urban Semillas supported community engagement for the development of SoFi Stadium and the City of Champions Revitalization Initiative in Inglewood. The effort included strategic outreach to residents, businesses, and community leaders, along with development of materials and coordination of public meetings. This work helped build community awareness and support, contributing to a positive environment that led to unanimous City Council approval.

  • Elmer Avenue Neighborhood Retrofit: Community Engagement & Stormwater Strategy

    CLIENT

    Council for Watershed Health

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Miguel Luna supported community engagement for the Elmer Avenue Neighborhood Retrofit Project as part of the LA Basin Water Augmentation Study. He conducted door-to-door outreach and community meetings in Sun Valley to build awareness and gauge resident support. Culturally responsive engagement helped foster long-term stewardship, contributing to the project’s success and sustained care of green infrastructure installations by local residents.

  • Northeast LA Riverfront Collaborative: Vision Plan & Economic Development Strategy

    CLIENT

    Partnership for Sustainable Communities (HUD, DOT, EPA)

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Urban Semillas supported community engagement and visioning for the Northeast LA Riverfront Collaborative, helping shape a district-wide framework connecting ecological assets to surrounding communities. The team developed a place-based high school curriculum and contributed to public outreach and Advisory Committee coordination. The effort informed economic and recreational investment priorities while advancing a shared vision for place-based development along the Los Angeles River.

  • Whittier Narrows Recreation Area Master Plan: Community Outreach Campaign

    CLIENT

    Rivers and Mountains Conservancy

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Urban Semillas supported community engagement for the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area Master Plan, developing an outreach campaign to build awareness, trust, and long-term stewardship. The team created forums for community-generated ideas and implemented strategies to demonstrate how public input informed decision-making. This approach increased participation from residents and businesses while fostering a shared vision for open space planning and long-term community investment.

  • LADWP Water Watch: Conservation Survey & Community-Based Data Collection

    CLIENT

    Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

    Urban Semillas developed and implemented a community-based survey program to assess water and energy conservation behaviors among over 6,300 apartment residents in Los Angeles. The effort recruited and trained local youth to conduct outreach and data collection, building community capacity. Results were compiled into an illustrative report and geographic database, providing actionable insights to inform conservation strategies and resource planning.

WORK WITH US