My mother prioritized education over athletics or other interests. Both of my parents organized many visits and family gatherings to ensure that we spent lots of time with our cousins and other relatives. They emphasized the importance of family and maintaining connections even if you are separated by the Pacific Ocean.

My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Todd, sparked my interest in conservation. We studied endangered species and collected money to adopt an Arctic fox. At the end of the year, the fox was brought to the classroom and we all sat in a circle and watched mesmerized as it pranced in the middle. The Exxon Valdez oil spill also happened that year, and I was heartbroken by the images of birds and sea otters covered in oil. I felt helpless to do anything about the disaster.

While my siblings were supportive of my interest in the environment, others in the family were skeptical about the my ability to make a living saving the world. However, I was stubborn and could not really imagine pursuing anything else. Except maybe a movie critic.

Audubon and other conservation organizations are making progress in becoming more inclusive and welcoming to all people. Contacting groups we have not usually partnered with to work together on a campaign or just a bird walk is a good first step. Another way to introduce Audubon to new audiences is to host themed walks, like with a feminist birding club, or one tied to a heritage month. Finally, providing career opportunities to underrepresented groups is another way we can diversify the field of conservation.

Natasha Khanna

I was born and raised in Los Angeles. My mother is from Vietnam and my father is from India. When I was a child, my dream job was to be a forest ranger. While my family was never supportive of this idea, I was lucky to have a mom who exposed us to nature and the outdoors. As a single mother, my mom would take my siblings and sometimes my cousin on road trips to such places as Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and Big Sur. Sometimes it would just be my mom and four of us kids in tow. I really do not know how she did it, but I am very appreciative.

It was not until after I graduated from college that I learned it was possible to pursue a career in the field of conservation. I volunteered for a local nonprofit organization that organized outdoor trips for youth in the urban core. They were looking for more role models from diverse backgrounds and I got the opportunity learn outdoor living skills and lead trips. They exposed me to a whole network of environmental professionals and career paths. After many years of volunteering with different conservation organizations, I got the opportunity to work here at Audubon.

In a previous job, I got the opportunity to work on a local campaign to protect the San Gabriel Mountains here in LA County. Part of my job was to outreach to the Asian American community and build support for our campaign. What I learned is that our communities do deeply care about the environment. Sometimes it is a matter of how you frame the issue. One study found that while Asian Americans may not call themselves “environmentalists”, they do care about “protecting our land, air and water”.

I believe that we need to create more pathways for members of our communities to become leaders in the environmental conservation field. Whether it be intentionally funding more career pathways or creating more leadership programs that target our communities, there are many ways to support this work. Click here to learn more about Audubon’s outlook on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.