Contact:
Taryn Martinez (212) 979-3185 /
Gabriela Castañeda (323) 221-2255 /
For Immediate Use
December 4, 2008

New York, NY—A Los Angeles woman is the recipient of a new national fellowship designed to advance the work of individuals with outstanding potential to help shape a brighter environmental future.

Gabriela Castañeda is one of only 40 people selected from competitors nationwide for the TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Program, part of a new conservation initiative of the National Audubon Society with support from Toyota.  Fellows receive specialized training in conservation planning and execution, the chance to work and share best practices with gifted conservation professionals, and assistance with project outreach and evaluation. Each Fellow will also receive $10,000 towards a community-focused project to engage local residents in conserving land, water and energy, and contributing to greater environmental health.

Castañeda will focus her efforts on leading the Junior Naturalist program, designed to engage 11-14 year-olds from the predominately Latino neighborhoods surrounding Debs Park. The Junior Naturalists will collect biological data and implement a restoration plan for the native coastal sage scrub habitat in Debs Park. Not only will the program help protect one of the last open spaces along the Arroyo Seco tributary of the Los Angeles River, but it will also provide new and exciting experiences for communities that have had limited opportunities to become involved in traditional conservation efforts.

The Audubon Center at Debs Park Teacher Naturalist has been involved in conservation efforts for 11 years.  As one of three Teacher Naturalists, she leads the Center’s Spanish language bird walk program in addition to nature-based programs for local elementary and secondary school students.  Castañeda has a long history of bringing science and the environment into the classroom to engage urban students—notably at the CityLife Downtown Charter School in L.A. and the American School of Quito in Ecuador.  By helping young students to learn about the unique local plants and animals, Castañeda hopes to mentor the next generation of environmental stewards in Northeast Los Angeles.

“Gabriela is the kind of person who can make a real difference in the health of our environment and the quality of our future,” said Audubon President John Flicker.  “Each of our TogetherGreen Fellows demonstrates exceptional environmental understanding and commitment, combined with tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. Together, they represent the talented and diverse leadership the environmental community will need to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us now and in the years to come.” 

“Creating awareness of nature is critical to achieve conservation goals as well as sustainable and healthy life styles for all,” said Castañeda.  “As a Fellow of the TogetherGreen initiative, I hope to establish the foundation of a program that will promote a culture of conservation in Northeast Los Angeles.”

Castañeda has been affiliated with the Audubon Center at Debs Park since 2007.  Half of the TogetherGreen fellows come from within Audubon’s far-reaching national network; half channel their environmental efforts through other organizations.

Castañeda received a Bachelors degree in biology from Ecuador’s Pontificia Universidad Católica, with a thesis focusing on birds’ usage of seven different epiphyte species. She has published five articles in scientific journals, and in addition to working as a science teacher, she has worked as an ornithologist in Mexico, the Galapagos Islands, the Andes and Amazon in Ecuador, and as a research associate to the Center for Tropical Research at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“Toyota believes in the power of grassroots efforts to develop the environmental leaders of tomorrow,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, Group Vice President, Toyota Motor North America. “These 40 TogetherGreen Fellows will receive invaluable training for the future while immediately making a difference today with on-the-ground community projects.”

A complete list of TogetherGreen fellows can be found online at www.TogetherGreen.org/fellows.

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About TogetherGreen
Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in spring, 2008 to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offer volunteer and individual action opportunities that significantly benefit the environment. As of October, volunteer days have begun in 40, tallying in excess of 11,000 volunteer hours.  Funding totaling $1.4 million was recently awarded to innovative conservation projects nationwide, while www.TogetherGreen.org helps users take individual conservation action and share and celebrate success stories. The TogetherGreen initiative and grants programs are funded by a $20 million Toyota gift to Audubon, the largest in the conservation group’s long history.       

About Audubon
Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon online at www.audubon.org.   

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, with another under construction in Mississippi. Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Through its corporate initiatives, manufacturing operations and philanthropy, Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. In 2007, Toyota contributed more than $56 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community.