Q: Where did your concern for the environment come from? What sparked your interest in environmentalism?

A: When I started as an organizer, building advocacy and organizing with the San Diego Organizing Project around an open space in Southcrest neighborhood; that space is now the Southcrest Trails Neighborhood Park. At the time, I was learning how large of a green space deficit existed in low-income communities, and how vital that space was.

While meeting with residents in the area, I found it interesting that 75 percent of residents were concerned about turning this abandoned creek into an open green space. They thought it would simply invite more homeless people and increase the illegal activity that happens at night. As a result, I organized a meeting with the police community relations officer in the San Diego Police Department’s Southeastern Division, and residents and parishioners of a local church. In that meeting, we learned that there was a rate of one homicide per month at this part of Chollas Creek in Southcrest. In addition, we were also learning about community policing tactics that were in the process of being implemented to better patrol the area, such as bike policing.

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