Environment & Community

As the UCCE-Imperial County, Climate Smart Agriculture, Community Education Specialist, I actively engage with ranchers and farmers in my area to discuss and brainstorm possible projects they can apply for. I enjoy having the opportunity to visit feedlots, dairies, and farmer’s fields to see first-hand what management practices they are currently using, and how the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) – Climate Smart Agriculture Grants can assist them in sustaining their operation. In my experience farmers and ranchers greatly appreciate knowing that there is someone housed at their local Cooperative Extension dedicated solely to support them and help them access these funds, and who can help demystify the grant application process.

The E&C Program provided me with the opportunity to engage with a wide range of literature and research methods (not to mention amazing interdisciplinary faculty) that profoundly shaped my community organizing, research, and career work in the far southeastern corner of California - the Imperial Valley. It also gave me the opportunity to shape a graduate project/thesis that explored my identity and place-based knowledge as a Xicana from the small border town of Calexico who has been working on environmental justice issues for over a decade. I continue to use the skills and nuggets of knowledge I gain (from both faculty and peers) in both my personal and professional career.