Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Montanez.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As a lifelong Angeleno raised in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, I began volunteering with local community organizations at the age of 12.
My love for the environment began with my family. My mother was raised in a remote, mountainous region of Veracruz, Mexico, and my father in the dry border state of Chihuahua.
My parents ignited a passion for the environment in me at an early age when they pointed out environmental injustices in our neighborhood. As a family, we participated in tree plantings, and we were blessed with frequent visits to state and national parks. My parents also encouraged all of the kids in my family to pursue careers in social justice.
Therefore, at the age of 25, I was elected as the youngest mayor and council member of my hometown of San Fernando. At 28 years old, I made history by becoming the youngest woman elected to the California State Legislature, where I became a champion for the environment, sustainable urban planning, and social justice.
Then I moved on to serve as Assistant General Manager at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, where I was a core part of the team transitioning the nation’s largest publicly-owned utility to cleaner energy and a more sustainable local water supply.
I’m currently the CEO of TreePeople, a non-profit environmental organization with a 46 years history of inspiring, engaging, and supporting people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment. Through the simple act of planting and caring for trees, we make the area safe, healthy, fun, and sustainable; plus we share our process as a model for the world. Additionally, I am a Board Member for the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and a Legislator In-Residence at the USC Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics.
Some of my favorite things to do are to hike TreePeople’s Coldwater Canyon Park trails, attend the Once Upon a Canyon Night summer event series, and volunteer with other non-profits in the area.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
On my path to TreePeople, I have always seen every challenge as an opportunity to make the change that I want to see in the world.
There have been several instances when I was told no or that something wasn’t possible. But I truly believe in working and empowering others to come together as a community to achieve change.
Most recently, TreePeople has expanded its work to plant trees in low-income neighborhoods, which have the lowest tree canopy coverage compared to other areas of the city. Many people didn’t think this was possible or a priority. However, we pushed as an organization to educate officials and to mobilize communities to ask for programs that would create a green environment for every citizen.
To date, TreePeople is working to green several areas including San Fernando Valley, Watts, and the five gateway cities of Downey, Norwalk, Commerce, Santa Fe Springs, and La Mirada.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with TreePeople – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Born from the efforts of a teenager over 45 years ago, Andy Lipkis founded TreePeople, which has been involved in planting and caring for more than 3 million trees.
TreePeople unites the power of trees, people, and nature-based solutions to grow a more climate-resilient city as the region faces historic drought and a hotter, drier future. Our mission is to inspire, engage, and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment – making it safe, healthy, fun, and sustainable. We also share our process as a model for the world.
TreePeople’s programs include the planting and caring for trees, harvesting the rain, and renewing depleted landscapes in urban and forest areas. We unite with communities to grow a greener, shadier, and more water-secure city by providing solutions for homes, neighborhoods, schools, and in the local mountains. Our environmental education team works closely with teachers, students, and administrators providing tools and opportunities to cultivate the next generation of environmentalists. TreePeople also trains and works with a vast network of volunteers; through our unique Citizen Forester model, we identify and shape the future leaders of our volunteer work. Plus TreePeople collaborates closely with government agencies and public officials to shape policies to create a more healthy and thriving Los Angeles.
Our work has served as model for organizations and cities worldwide.
For more information, visit www.treepeople.org.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
TreePeople continues to use our Coldwater Canyon Park headquarters to engage, educate, and empower local citizens to protect their communities and environment.
In addition to our available park eco tours, our Once Upon a Canyon Night event series is an opportunity for people to visit us and learn more about what we do for the region.
Our hope, goal, and plan is to share our process of nature-based solutions as a model for the world.
Contact Info:
- Address: 12601 Mulholland Dr
- Phone: 8186234896
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Photos by Adam Thomas
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
