As a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s MANO Project, Victoria works to place young BIPOC people throughout the country in meaningful paid federal internships.
Victoria has dedicated her life to public service and has found the most rewarding experiences in doing so. Growing up in Southern California, Victoria discovered a love for the outdoors and equity early on and has supported conservation efforts and advocacy ever since. In college, she studied environmental science and sociology to better understand the intersection between environmental and social issues. Her research ranged from analyzing transnational labor alliance campaigns to natural resource management in Kings Canyon National Park.
Victoria has volunteered with the Sierra Club and was engaged with her environmental science and sustainability club on campus as well. She also participated as a MANO intern in Kings Canyon National Park providing environmental education programming in Spanish and English and conducting natural resource management research. After college, she accepted an AmeriCorps service position to advise and mentor high school environmental service-learning clubs in the Greater Seattle area.
Why she works for Hispanic Access…
“I am passionate about empowering Latino and underrepresented communities to be key advocates and leaders within the environmental sector. Being able to help connect and build leaders of color to protect public lands is why I love working for Hispanic Access.”
In her spare time…
”I love to spend time outdoors as much as I can—hiking, swimming, reading, hammocking, biking, camping, slacklining, gardening, and basking in the sun. If the sun is out so, am I!”
Her favorite book…
“My favorite book is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Kimmerer is an Indigenous woman from the Potawatomi Nation who uses the wisdom of her ancestors and her scientific knowledge as a botanist to help us understand what plants and the earth can teach us. I love this book because it celebrates our reciprocal relationship with the living world in a very intimate way. She reminds us how we depend on the Earth and the Earth depends on us as well.”
A person she finds inspirational…
“Someone I find inspiring in the Seattle community where I live is Nyema Clark, founder and Director of Nurturing Roots Farm. Nyema focuses her efforts on addressing food and environmental justice issues within her community by sharing her knowledge and expertise in community farming, food empowerment, social justice, and education. Her strength and passion for her community is truly inspiring to me and many others.”