Recent Community Environmental Council (CEC) UC Climate Steward graduate Christina Hernandez is a lifelong resident of the small coastal city of Guadalupe in North Santa Barbara County. A social and environmental justice advocate for over 10 years, she is driven by a deep love of her community and the desire to help her fellow residents connect with nature, access critical resources and support, and participate in building a healthy and resilient region. Christina fills many key roles in her community, including as a member of the Santa Barbara County Equity Advisory and Outreach Committee, a board member at Los Amigos de Guadalupe, and the Community Outreach Coordinator at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center.

We spoke with Christina about how CEC’s UC Climate Stewards program helped deepen her community engagement around climate change and nature conservation, and what she envisions for the future of Guadalupe.