July is the last month of Jojo and Kiara's Grizzly Corps Fellowship. It has been so wonderful to see them grow this year and we are looking forward to seeing what's next!
Jojo:
As my year as a Grizzly Corps Fellow is coming to an end, I feel extreme gratitude for my time at the Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Council. This was a transformative experience in which I expanded my knowledge of community service, wildfire ecology, chaparral ecosystems, and the inner workings of a non-profit organization. Additionally, having the opportunity to work within the Santa Monica Mountains is one I will always cherish. It has been wonderful to help the council grow this past year and I am greatly appreciative to announce that I will continue my work with the org next year as a Fire Safety Liaison! Thank you to my team, our partners, and everyone who helped make this year so special!
Kiara:
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Council for the past year. I will be finishing out my final steps with the council this month as my Grizzly Corps term comes to an end. During my position, I have grown into the professional that I have always wanted to become, by getting to engage and give back to my community, as well as explore the world of environmental stewardship and mitigation. This fellowship has given me the confidence to continue to pursue a career in the environmental field, in particular I will continue my stewardship interests as a Native Seed Technician for SAMO fund and National Park Service. I want to specifically thank my team – Pauline, Danielle, and Jojo– as well as the partners we made along the way, for an extraordinary year of building lasting friendships and service. It has been an honor serving the Santa Monica Mountains community, and I hope to continue volunteering with the SMMFSC throughout the next year.
