The agenda included a screen printing activity, a map/compass basics workshop, raffle giveaways provided, as well as hike to the river. The event engaged about 40 participants that were composed of youth from Self Help Graphics’s Summer of Youth (S.O.Y) Artista program; and men and women from Homeboy Industries. More than half of the participants had never been to a national forest and many said they would return with their families. The following year, Keila joined two events: a LCW’s Chino Hills State Park tour, where she shared her professional experience with Latino youth from a church group; and a Nature For All’s LCW Kickoff at Wildwood Picnic Area, helping the organizers secure a special use permit for the event and delivering a bilingual talk about Leave No Trace ethics.

Reflecting on her experience serving communities, Keila shares: “When the event finally started to kick-off and I saw everyone excited, having a good time, learning, and getting some good forest therapy, there was no doubt in my mind that all the planning and even worrying was worth it. To take people into the forest for their first time and be a part of that experience with them is such a privilege that I will never take for granted”

We are appreciative of Keila’s contributions to the program, and for having her as part of the MANO family, and we look forward to supporting her through her career path. Thanks to her commitment to the agency’s mission and to her community’s needs, Keila will be continuing to work with the Angeles Forest as a Conservation Education fellow in 2020.