Introducing Our 2026 Coastal Leadership Program Cohort
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We’re excited to introduce the 2026 Coastal Leadership Program cohort. Beginning this July, a group of early professionals with backgrounds spanning environmentalism, education, and the arts will be dedicating four and a half months diving into the many aspects of coastal conservation.
Between evening sessions with guest speakers in the Audubon Center at Debs Park and out in the field with our partnering organizations, the cohort members will focus on deepening their knowledge of coastal habitat restoration, bird identification, policy, and climate change, while building the professional skills that make long-term stewardship possible.
Keep reading to join us in celebrating the launch of our new CLP cohort and get to know them!
Stephanie Hu is an artist from the South Bay who spends her free time birding on the Lower LA River. She co-leads a high school mentorship program that brings students to the LA River and supports community-based organizations in Southeast LA through art. Stephanie is interested in exploring how the built-environment shapes how birds and humans co-exist. She’s excited to build her coastal ecology knowledge and connect with others who care deeply about the coast.
Abigail Garcia is from the San Fernando Valley and recently graduated with her B.A in Biology from Kenyon College. She was first introduced to coastal conservation during a fellowship at the Massachusetts Audubon Society where she assisted with Saltmarsh Sparrow conservation efforts. She finds birding as a way to stay connected to home wherever she goes. She is excited to learn about coastal ecosystems close to home and build community with other young adults interested in birding.
Anya Jiménez is a filmmaker, ecologist, New Yorker, and drag king who believes everyone should shave their head at least once. Some of her favorite memories as a conservationist include banding Darwin’s finches in the Galápagos, studying ocean storytelling aboard the R/V OceanXplorer in both Indonesia and China, and working as an environmental communications photographer for the Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability on Catalina Island. Anya is new to birding, so she’s very excited to learn from her new peers and help educate her community about the importance of environmental stewardship for our beautiful coastal birds.
Olive Gaetz is a Texan-turned-Californian currently working as a graphic designer and freelance artist in Pasadena. Many childhood summers spent at her local Audobon Center in Dallas sparked a lifelong fascination with birding that continues to manifest itself through her artwork, curatorial projects, and love of exploring new environments. In 2025, Olive presented “Signs From Above”: an independently curated art exhibition from the collections of Scripps College that studies the global significance of birds from cultures around the world. She hopes to continue developing projects like this that combine her passions of art, birding, and community: showing how we are all connected through the natural world. As someone recently acquainted with California’s coastline and the risks the ecosystem faces, Olive is eager to learn from the Coastal Leadership Program how to use her creativity to develop effective conservation projects and outreach campaigns, integrating her experiences in design, event-planning, and public speaking.
Xitlaly Uribe is a first-gen Mexican-American queer community advocate and professional passionate about equity and urban green spaces. She currently coordinates programs that support immigrant and low-wage workers, focusing on health, wellness, and workforce development. Outside of work, they enjoy biking and volunteering at animal shelters. Guided by their motto, they are committed to social justice and fostering inclusive communities.
Ciel is a queer, Latine linguist and budding naturalist born and raised in Los Angeles. After joining the City Nature Challenge in 2025, Ciel was captivated by birding and has since taken up wildlife photography. They are excited to learn more about environmental justice, level up their shorebird ID game, and help connect more Black and Brown folks with green spaces.
Andrea is a first-generation college student at Pasadena City College who’s currently studying biology and hoping to pursue a bachelor’s degree of Animal Biology and a minor in Wildlife Conservation. Growing up in Los Angeles, she has experienced and seen historically marginalized communities, including Latino immigrant communities, face exclusion from the outdoors and barriers to accessing outdoor spaces. This experience motivates her to help close the outdoor-equity gap and advocate for outdoor accessibility and environmental justice. She’s most excited to enhance her skills in research and public speaking, learn more about bird species and migration, and better understand the effects of urbanization.
Gabriella (she/her) is a community educator of Zapotec heritage who aims to use storytelling as a tool to build stewardship of the land. She loves spending time connecting with the natural world through hiking, biking, and exploring parks. She is most excited about building a learning community alongside other bird lovers and learning more about the Southern California coastal landscape.
Ray (they/them) is a Viet and trans printmaker passionate about community building. In the last year, they have discovered a deep passion for birdwatching, tidepooling, and ocean-exploring. Through the Coastal Leadership Program, they hope to learn more about shorebird life cycles and how to host informative, accessible events where people can participate in coastal restoration and shorebirds!
Funding for Audubon California’s 2026 Coastal Leadership Program cohort is generously provided by the Ocean Protection Council through a grant program made possible by sales of the WHALE TAIL® License Plate and donations to the Protect Our Coast and Oceans Fund on California state tax returns.