Abril Santillan Jimenez, Program Coordinator
Abril Santillan Jimenez is a Program Coordinator for the Outdoor Equity Program in the San Fernando Valley at Nature for All. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Science and Mathematics Education from UC Santa Barbara. At UC Santa Barbara, she discovered her passion for environmental education and was motivated to learn more about how to contribute to equitable access to natural spaces. She is a docent naturalist at an LA County Nature Center and looks forward to helping our communities connect with nature and become stewards of the environment.
Araceli Hernandez, Program Manager
Araceli Hernandez is a Program Manager at Nature for All, where they are focused on creating access to nature within their community in the San Fernando Valley. Araceli’s passion for environmental justice and creating equitable access to nature led them to start 818hikes, a zine focused on trails that are accessible by bus and a social justice-focused hiking group. “I enjoy working at Nature for All because I get to work in the community I grew up in, connecting systemically and historically underserved youth and families to so many wonderful natural areas in LA, many for the first time! In fact, I was one of those youth, who had never been in the San Gabriel Mountains and only dreamed of what wonders existed. Thanks to Nature for All, I am now a proud steward and CA Naturalist, where I get the privilege to teach kids like me, how to be good relatives to the plants, animals, and the land.”
Anakaren Andrade, Communications Manager
Anakaren is an artist born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, California. She earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and minored in theater and geography at UCLA. During her time at UCLA, she learned about the environmental injustices happening in her community. This motivated her to become involved in environmental justice movements in her community and to help increase access to nature. She has also pursued her passion for the arts by creating films, visual art, and teaching arts to children. Anakaren creates paintings, films and documentaries focused on covering environmental justice issues in Los Angeles. She hopes that her art helps people connect to nature and to themselves.
Azeneth Martinez, Project Manager
Azeneth Martinez is a local resident of Pacoima. She enjoys journaling when out in nature “as a way to get in touch with myself and envision my dreams.” “I am excited to work with Nature for All because I envision a more equitable future that includes kindness and compassion for communities that have been disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices. I believe that when our communities have access to the proper tools and mentorship, they can not only survive, but thrive.”
Belén Bernal, Executive Director
Belén Bernal is the Executive Director of Nature for All. She joined the organization with 20 years of experience in nonprofit and public management sectors. Equity, justice, and inclusion are values that have guided Belén’s career, with programs that help community members gain access to legal services, housing, workforce development, social services, and nature. Belén spent eleven years in elected office, where she served as South Gate’s Mayor, and City Treasurer, and had an active role in shaping policies that impacted the quality of life of her community. A native of Southern California, Belén was raised in Southeast Los Angeles. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara and her MBA from CSU Long Beach.
Brenda Kyle, Program Manager
Brenda Kyle is one of a handful of fully bilingual people in California who holds both California Naturalist and National Interpretive Guide certifications. Her focus is educating the public about California native plants, wildlife and micro-climates along the Wild-Urban Interface as well as ethnobotany. She has worked in wetlands, planted street trees in Los Angeles with a conservation corps and on revitalization projects along the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River. As a volunteer for a County Natural Area, she developed its first fully Spanish nature programming and has done outreach to thousands. Brenda has over a decade of volunteer time with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department where she has patrolled, participated in active shooter drills and has responded to every wildfire, mudslide and evacuation in her community. She has also worked for the US Forest Service, during fire season, as a Public Information Officer trainee. “My family is of Tepehuán and Rarámuri descent. Somos de la sierra. The mountains are in my heart and in my DNA.”
Bryan Matsumoto, Senior Project Manager
Bryan Bryan is Project Manager of the Mt. Wilson Express – a transit to trails project to build Los Angeles’s first bus system to the Angeles National Forest. In partnership with Pasadena Transit and the U.S. Forest Service, the Mt. Wilson Express will provide equitable access to nature, sustainable visitor management, and “Recreate with Respect” education. Bryan is also Project Manager of the Fish Canyon Trail Restoration and Access Planning project in collaboration with the City of Duarte. Bryan is the Transportation Access Chair of the San Gabriel Mountains Community Collaborative, and Alternate on the LA County Safe Clean Water Program,Rio Hondo Watershed Area Steering Committee. Bryan has a Masters of Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona, a B.A. in Design | Media Arts from UCLA, and has worked over 15 years in public landscape architecture, park design and community outreach across LA County.
Criselda Velez, Billing and Accounting Specialist
With a decade of invaluable experience in the non-profit sector, Criselda possesses a wealth of expertise in non-profit accounting and compliance. Her proficiencies encompass accounting, payroll, and administration. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. She enjoys traveling with her family, reading National Geographic, and seeking inspiration from travel channels.
Jade Nguyen, Project Manager
Jade Nguyen (she/her/hers) is a Project Manager at Nature for All whose portfolio includes advocating for urban greening, open space and park equity in Los Angeles County. She will be managing the leadership development program in the East San Gabriel Valley centered around organizing the communities that have been harmed by environmental injustice and negative environmental impacts. Jade has previously worked in environmental advocacy and environmental science education across the state of California and has a background in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging work. A trained Circlekeeper and skilled facilitator, she grew up in the Los Angeles area exploring and hiking the San Gabriel mountains and foothills, and her favorite ecosystems are coastal sage scrub and chaparral.
Jorge Cortez-Solis, Director of Programs
Jorge’s work is inspired by his desire to honor his family’s journey from El Salvador. He values spending time in nature, nurturing his love for running, hiking, and backpacking. He cherishes quality moments with his wife, son, and family. Additionally, Jorge and his wife share a fondness for fostering dogs, having fostered over 20 furry companions. Jorge’s work is guided by his belief in the collective wisdom of a team and community. He has nearly 20 years of experience in community-centered work and is deeply committed to equitable access to outdoor spaces and the protection of natural areas. As part of the team at Outward Bound Adventures, Jorge helped expand the Diverse Outdoor Leaders Institute, graduating individuals from diverse backgrounds and creating a lasting impact across Southern California. At Youth Policy Institute, he contributed to the development of Community Schools programs, improving educational outcomes in Los Angeles and serving as models for statewide scaling.
Julio Soria, Workforce Development Manager
Julio loves the outdoors and values working, learning, and playing in nature. Growing up, he did not have access to environmental education programs, yet he found his way into this field. He self taught himself and sought out training opportunities. His early years in the outdoor industry included work as a trail guide, naturalist, and wilderness survival skills instructor. His career over the last eighteen years has included working in the government and nonprofit sectors in the fields of conservation, sustainability, and youth development. The latter ten years with a focus on workforce development initiatives that provided a pathway to careers in parks and conservation for young adults. He is a certified California Naturalist, Certified Interpretive Guide, and an instructor of the California Naturalist, Climate Stewards, and Leave No Trace courses. At Nature For All he runs the Environmental Careers Pathways program. He volunteers his time and skills serving on the board of directors for a national nonprofit that empowers families to enjoy the benefits of growing up in nature.
Lizbeth GonzalezRuiz, Program Manager
Lizbeth is a passionate environmental advocate committed to creating a sustainable and harmonious relationship between humanity and the planet. She was raised in a small unincorporated part of Los Angéles surrounded by the majestic San Gabriel Mountains which served as the perfect playground. Lizbeth developed a deep connection to the environment from a young age. Her upbringing instilled in her a sense of responsibility to protect and preserve the natural world for future generations. Lizbeth has spearheaded community outreach programs to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainable practices. Her efforts have led to increased community involvement in local conservation initiatives since her early teenage years.
Margarita Lopez-Pelayo, Advocacy & Organizing Manager
Margarita currently lives and honors the ancestral land of the past and current Tongva and Tataviam people. She originates from Otomi ancestral land. She migrated at the age of six to Pacoima. Margarita is the proud mother of an adventurous 7 year old girl. She has dedicated over 20 years of her life to community organizing in the San Fernando Valley within the nonprofit sector & labor movement. As an Indigenous two-spirited womyn of color she honors Mother Earth through community self-empowerment and advocacy. Her heart is in advocating for outdoor equity, environmental justice and protecting public land. She founded Brown Mamas Outdoors as a way to encourage brown mothers and their children to build community in the outdoors. She has visited over 30 national parks and loves camping and hiking. Her adventurous soul often seeks the outdoors as a form of healing. Margarita is currently helping with the expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
Melissa Lizaola, Program Coordinator
Melissa was born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles, and is proudly working as a program coordinator for her neighboring communities. Melissa brings over 8 years of youth program facilitation and educational outreach experience dating back to her high school career. Melissa graduated from Nature for All’s Environmental Career Pathways program as an Outdoor Educator Apprentice where she obtained her California Naturalist certification and learned so much about the natural spaces across Los Angeles. Through the program, she has rekindled her love for the environment, wildlife, and protecting nature! Luckily, she held onto those passions since she was a little girl, and now, she hopes to develop resources for her community, help explore their passions, and to implement opportunities for others to aspire to protect nature, too. When outdoors, you can find Melissa nature journaling, bird watching, and munching on snacks…especially clementines.
Omar Gomez, Senior Program Manager
Omar Gomez is a Program Manager at Nature for All. Omar joined the staff after serving as the Nature for All Coalition Chair Previously, he worked for the Council of Mexican Federation (COFEM) for 10 years as the Director of Programs and Public Policy, where he coordinated the Community Networks program and was the designer of the Civic Promoters Organizing Model that has trained more than 800 community leaders in southern California. He studied Political Science at California State University of Northridge (CSUN) and has more than 17 years of experience organizing the Latino community in California.
Samuel Brown, Advocacy & Organizing Manager
Samuel Brown is a long time resident of the East San Gabriel Valley. Having attended local public schools, he became involved in Environmental Justice organizing through PODER (People Organizing to Demand Environmental & Economic Rights) while studying at San Francisco State University (BA in Spanish; Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice; minor Latino/a studies). Samuel remains inspired by the labor farmworker organizing his father had participated in through the 1980s along with mobilizations against displacement in the Mission and Excelsior neighborhoods of San Francisco. Samuel helped launch an environmental justice collective with his sister in the equestrian district where they currently reside and has since gone on to champion public interest advocacy in zoning & land use planning, education, civil rights, and public health.