Introducing Nature for All’s New Executive Director

After 10 years working with Nature for All and its predecessor organization, San Gabriel Mountains Forever, Belinda Faustinos, our inaugural Executive Director will step down.

Looking back, we are grateful to have benefited from Belinda’s leadership over the last ten years and wish her all the best in her second retirement.

After an extensive search, we are excited to announce the appointment of an extremely well-qualified individual to take Nature for All to the next level.

Looking forward, we are pleased to announce that Belén Bernal will start as our next Executive Director on April 16, 2021. Belén has over fifteen years of experience in leadership within the public and nonprofit sectors, focusing on advocacy, nonprofit operations, finance and program development. Belén has dedicated her career to addressing social issues by working closely with local community members, nonprofit partner-organizations and government leaders. Most recently, Belén served as Director of Operations for a local nonprofit that works to prepare students for various work-based learning opportunities and successful futures. Driven by an inherent drive to be of service, she accepted the call to serve her hometown of South Gate, California as City Treasurer, Mayor and Councilwoman from 2009 to 2020. She honorably served as South Gate’s Mayor twice during her time on the City Council.

During her eleven years in elected office, Belén focused her attention to transparency in City finance and quality of life for all residents. She understood the needs of her community and supported timely balanced budgets, advocated for strong public and park safety agendas; and encouraged road and park improvement projects that enhanced the lives and environmental health of the youth, seniors and families in South Gate. She always stressed the importance of civic engagement and education during her time in office and made it front and center in her agenda.

In addition to serving on the City Council, Belén represented the South Gate community on the following committees and outside agencies:

• Founding Member, City of South Gate Finance Budget Sub-committee
• City Council Warrant Auditor for three consecutive years
• Board Member, Community, Economic & Human Development Policy Committee (CEHD), SCAG- Southern California Association of Governments · Board Member, Southeast Water Coalition (SEWC)
• Board Member, Los Angeles County Sanitation District · Board Member, Independent Cities Association
• Board Member, Hub Cities Workforce Development Joint Powers Authority
• Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) Participant
  

Belén shares, “This is an incredible opportunity to combine my passion for community service, nature and advocacy; and blend it with my professional experience to grow this great organization. I am very honored to join this great team and appreciate the Board’s confidence in me to lead Nature for All!”

We are looking forward to having Belén at the helm of Nature for All. She is a proven, experienced community and nonprofit leader. Nature for All’s policy, advocacy and programs are poised for growth in the coming years, and we look forward to watching the seeds Belinda has sown bear fruit for years to come under Belén’s stewardship. Please join us in welcoming Belén to our Nature for All family!

Board of Directors, Thomas Wong, Vanessa Aramayo, Casey Schreiner & Charles Thomas; Coalition Chair: Roberto Morales