Dive into a moment of celebration, reflection, and inspiration as we honor the graduates of the first-ever Coastal Leadership Program (CLP)! Over the past six months, this incredible cohort of 10 individuals has journeyed through a transformative program, exploring coastal conservation through the lenses of science, community, and policy. Together, they’ve built friendships, developed leadership skills, and worked on capstone projects that reflect their passion for protecting coastal communities, ecosystems, and birds. 

As Audubon California’s Senior Coastal Program Manager Liliana Griego shared during her opening remarks:

"This cohort is made up of 10 diverse individuals from various backgrounds, neighborhoods, and professions who came together to learn, grow, and create impact. From their first bird walk at Ballona Wetlands to leading capstone projects that engaged their communities, this group has exceeded all expectations. The relationships you’ve built and the enthusiasm you’ve shared are a true testament to the power of collective effort in conservation." 

The event, hosted at the beautiful Audubon Center at Debs Park, brought together friends, family, and supporters to celebrate the graduates’ achievements. A highlight of the day was a mindfulness exercise led by guest speaker Tammah Watts,a best-selling author of the book Keep Looking Up: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching, Audubon CA advisory board member, southern CA Audubon Chapter Council Representative and San Diego Bird Alliance board member, who emphasized the deep connections between nature, community, and personal growth. Her inspiring words reminded us of the importance of creating inclusive spaces within conservation: 

"Thank you for all that you are giving to the world, all that you are creating, and all that you are representing. I want to invite you not to feel the full burden of responsibility for everything you are doing. Allow joy to be part of your journey as you continue with your projects. They are out in the world, reaching soul after soul, spirit after spirit. Know that—and please keep shining." 

Below, you’ll find the capstone projects of these remarkable graduates, showcasing their creativity and commitment to coastal stewardship. Each project reflects their unique perspectives and talents, from community birding events to artistic initiatives that inspire advocacy. 

2024 Capstone Project Highlights & Reflections from Participants​ (Don't forget to click the links to dive deeper into their incredible work!)

Coastal Connections: Shorebirding, Stories, and More - a Zine by Valeree Catangay
"The project goal was to create a zine about my relationship with birding and coastal conservation, community resources, and coastal career profiles. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of coastal conservation and share a relatable perspective as a birder and aspiring conservationist." 

Coastal Bird Art Contest by Rujin Yu
“This project involved organizing an art contest focused on raising awareness about coastal bird species and their conservation. The contest opened to college students across four UC campuses, encouraging them to create artwork that highlights the beauty and importance of coastal birds. By collaborating with Audubon chapters, campus groups, and other conservation organizations, the project sought to combine education and creativity, promoting a deeper understanding of the challenges these species face. This initiative not only celebrated artistic expression but also created a ripple effect, spreading knowledge about the need to protect coastal bird habitats and inspiring others to support conservation efforts." 

The Wonder of Ballona by Gicela Galvez
"I partnered with Emily from Nature Nexus Institute to teach between 20-30 individuals about the Ballona Wetlands. My goal was to highlight the importance of coastal access, especially for people living in the urban city. I focused on the interconnections between Ballona Wetlands and its existing bird diversity. This project was created as an introduction into how coastal ecosystems must be protected and hopefully sparked curiosity in my participants to learn more on their own." 

Coastal Bird Drawing & Wetlands Nature Journaling Workshops by Jennifer Wang
"With Liliana’s, Sophie’s, and my cohort’s guidance, I stepped into my leadership capabilities and created a capstone project transforming my artistic knowledge into bird drawing and wetlands nature journaling events to inspire others to advocate for coastal wildlife. I reached 25+ people across two events (and I anticipate 12+ more people in an upcoming nature journaling event that was originally planned as a part of the project). In the drawing workshop, I taught participants bird anatomy for artists, coastal bird structure and rendering, and how to tell various birds apart." 

Engaging Compton Youth in Birding by Nathan Carbajal
"The goal for this project was to engage Compton high school-aged youth in birding, understanding common California coastal birds, and learning how local water purifying and recycling improves coastal ecosystems. Compton youth learned about local coastal birds that visit Magic Johnson Park and were able to identify coastal birds frequenting the lake at the park. Additionally, students learned how the park recycles water and how this infrastructure protects the California coast from." 

Birds Are Our Relatives by Bii Gallardo
Bii’s project provided birding resources to Tongva community members. "I wanted to be able to support Tongva folks as I am a guest on the land and to talk about the importance of building relations with stewards, particularly in conservation and restoration. Although Humaliwo (Malibu Lagoon) is a shared village with Ventureño Chumash folks, I wanted to be able to find a location that had a large bird biodiverse population and was still in proximity to Tongva territory." 

Gull Identification in Southern California by Alexander deBarros
This Zoom session helped participants learn the art of identifying the 12 types of gulls commonly found in Southern California. Through detailed insights into gull anatomy, aging, and distinguishing features, participants gained practical tools to sharpen their birding skills. "The Gull ID class was a very exciting topic, and one that I was happy to present on. Everybody learned a lot about these difficult to ID birds, including me."  

ABC's of Black Los Angeles's Coastal History by Jasmine Sears
Jasmine’s project focused on the development of a shareable education tool distributed to a local organization, Jack and Jill of America's Los Angeles chapter to promote Black community members' connection with the coast."I found this project really fulfilling and a great way for me to connect with Los Angeles's Black community. I learned about myself in the process of making this and hope to have a positive impact on those who read it!" 

Coastal CA Nature Zine Workshop by Flip Sarta
"I had 3 goals for my project: 1.) Encourage artists to make art of local coastal ecosystem 2.) Show how art plays an important role in conservation 3.) Create space for artists who care about the coast to connect. I would do this program 100 times. I have made lifelong friends, connected with the coast, and fallen more in love with birds! I feel empowered to connect my community to nature through art and storytelling!"

As we celebrate the incredible achievements of our inaugural Coastal Leadership Program graduates, we are inspired by their dedication to coastal stewardship and the meaningful connections they’ve built along the way. Their passion and creativity have laid the foundation for a brighter future for birds, coastal ecosystems, and communities.

Interested in applying for the next CLP cohort? Learn more about this transformative program HERE and consider filling out our CLP Interest Form HERE.