Meet Kaitlyn Luque-Cardenas
How long have you lived in the Bay Area?
I’ve lived in the Bay Area since February of this year, before I lived near Washington, DC, for two years, and in San Diego for the majority of my life.
How did you learn about Save Mount Diablo?
I was searching for a way to pursue my passions during my gap year before starting college, and while I was researching, I came across Save Mount Diablo, read their mission statement, and decided to reach out!
When did you start volunteering with us, and why did you get involved?
I started volunteering at Save Mount Diablo in October. I got involved because I plan to pursue conservation and the general environmental field in college and my future career. During this gap year, I joined to gain some experience and grow my knowledge.
Which Save Mount Diablo programs are you involved in?
Currently, I’m a volunteer with the land use planning and advocacy team. I also plan to become part of the Diablo Restoration Team very soon.
What do you enjoy about the volunteer work you do?
I love searching through old projects to learn what goes into conserving the land around us, from the policies to community involvement. I also love to hear about the current projects being worked on and how the organization tackles the hurdles that come up.
What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on as a Save Mount Diablo volunteer?
The most challenging project I’ve worked on as a volunteer would be digging through old conservation projects, specifically the Sand Creek projects and organizing the documents and maps.
While providing information that could currently aid new projects in the foreseeable future, the Sand Creek file had lots of material that took a few weeks to go through.
Is there a memorable experience you’ve had as a Save Mount Diablo volunteer?
I attended a general plan meeting for the City of Antioch, the blueprint of the city’s future, from urban planning to environmental conservation. There, I saw the lengthy process of implementing the plan and the citizens’ critiques towards the policies being introduced.
How do you spend your time beyond your volunteer work with us?
Currently, I work part-time with kids, which I also did before joining Save Mount Diablo. Outside of that, I’m an avid reader. Currently, I’m reading Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I also love to bake, roller-skate, and of course, hike!
