New organization builds on years of civic service and grassroots environmental advocacy to create a lasting voice for Ladera Ranch.
LADERA RANCH, Calif. — Protect Ladera has launched as an independent, resident-led nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Ladera Ranch, bringing residents together, and helping turn community concerns into meaningful action.
Protect Ladera has filed to become a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and intends to seek recognition as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
The organization was founded by John Gresko, a longtime Ladera Ranch resident who has spent the past five years serving on the Ladera Ranch Civic Council and working with residents, elected officials, government agencies, community leaders, and other decision makers on issues affecting the community.
That experience helped shape the vision for Protect Ladera.
“Protect Ladera was created because our community deserves a strong, organized and lasting voice — one that can bring residents together, work with decision makers, engage qualified experts when needed, and stay with an issue until there is meaningful action,” Gresko said.
Protect Ladera is designed to do more than raise awareness. The organization will educate residents, organize community participation, advocate with local, county, state, and federal decision makers, engage qualified professionals, pursue independent environmental evaluation when appropriate, and work for stronger protections for Ladera Ranch.
Environmental issues are an important part of that mission, including concerns involving air, water, soil, pesticides, pollution, contamination, parks, open spaces, wildlife, and the broader environment where Ladera Ranch families live.
Protect Ladera is also being built with the capacity to go beyond discussion when circumstances call for it. That can include bringing in independent experts, supporting environmental testing and evaluation, reviewing available information, asking difficult questions, and helping ensure that legitimate community concerns are followed through rather than simply acknowledged.
But Protect Ladera is being built for the long term — not around one issue, one campaign, or one moment.
The organization’s goal is to provide Ladera Ranch with a lasting advocacy voice capable of identifying issues, bringing the right people together, engaging experts and decision makers, organizing residents, and staying with issues until there is a meaningful response.
Protect Ladera is not being created to compete with or replace other well-meaning community organizations. It is being built to bring people together and create greater capacity for action.
It is a call for unity.
The organization invites residents, community groups, professionals, advocates, experts, and leaders who genuinely want to protect Ladera Ranch to partner, participate, and work together wherever their goals align.
“There are many good people in this community who want the same basic thing — to protect the place where our families live,” Gresko said. “Protect Ladera should be a place where those people can come together, build something lasting, and make sure Ladera Ranch has a strong voice wherever decisions affecting our community are being made.”
Protect Ladera’s mission is reflected in three words:
Advocate. Act. Protect.
Leadership
John Gresko, Founder of Protect Ladera. His commitment to environmental issues began in childhood, shaped by his own struggles with diet and health, and continued throughout his architectural career, where he developed a strong focus on sustainability and healthier built environments. After five years of community service through the Ladera Ranch Civic Council, John has built a reputation as an effective public spokesperson for Ladera Ranch and as someone who follows through and gets things done. He founded Protect Ladera to organize residents, advocate directly with decision makers, challenge decisions when necessary, and pursue meaningful action through every appropriate and lawful avenue available to protect the community.
Aaron Sonnenberg, Co-Founder of Protect Ladera. A Ladera Ranch resident and owner of Sonnenberg Design, a local web and design studio, Aaron built and manages Protect Ladera’s website, community survey, and digital operations. He brings high standards to every project, with a focus on clear communication, thoughtful execution, and building lasting relationships grounded in trust and results.
About Protect Ladera
Protect Ladera is a resident-led advocacy organization focused on protecting the health, safety, environment, and quality of life of our community.
We educate residents, organize community participation, and advocate with local, county, state, and federal decision makers on issues affecting Ladera Ranch and its residents, including air, water, soil, pesticides, parks, open spaces, public health, transparency, and responsible community governance.
Our work begins in Ladera Ranch, but our long-term mission is broader. We aim to advance stronger protections and safer practices wherever policies, environmental conditions, or community decisions may affect families and neighborhoods. This includes helping drive statewide and federal action to reduce and ultimately end the routine use of conventional pesticides in residential communities, schools, parks, and other public spaces where safer alternatives are available.
Protect Ladera is volunteer-run and independent of the HOA, property managers, and any other organization.
Advocate. Act. Protect.
Logo and Brand Assets
Media outlets are welcome to use our logo. Email press@protectladera.org for high-resolution files.
Media, Speaking & Partnership Inquiries
For interviews, press inquiries, speaking opportunities, partnership requests, or additional information, please contact:
John Gresko, Founder