Graciela is the director of youth and community engagement at Los Padres ForestWatch. Her work is focused at the intersection of health, racial justice, and the environment. She has a background that includes over twenty years of experience in conservation, movement building, community engagement, and communications. In her role, she works to support nature connection and reconnect communities from underrepresented backgrounds with public lands. Through this work, she organizes hikes, nature outings, and family campouts for youth and families.
Prior to joining ForestWatch, she was the founding national director of Latino Outdoors, a national organization committed to supporting Latino engagement, leadership, and advocacy in the areas of outdoor recreation, conservation, and storytelling.
When she’s not on an urban or nature trail, Graciela enjoys spending time with friends and family and is always on the search for the best tacos. Graciela holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, East Bay.