Alfredo works from his computer as he manages his team from the Facility and Maintenance Division.


that he will.


Alfredo, Lorenzo, and Fernando have demonstrated that people make the difference. But the differences they made would not


have materialized if someone along the way hadn’t fought for the environmental justice programs that reached into our most vulnerable and underserved communities. As we build more parks and expand


Fernando Gomez From Naturalist-in-Training to Chief Ranger


On September 28th, 2011, Fernando Gomez was sworn in as Chief Ranger of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. Fernando started with the MRCA Division of Interpretation through our Urban Naturalist in Training program (UNIT) at the age of 18. UNIT was a jobs program that recruited young adults from urban areas to be naturalists for our environmental education programs that serve a similar demographic.


Throughout his 18 years with the MRCA, Fernando transitioned from being a naturalist to coordinator of a training program to a ranger trainee. Fernando continued to refine his skills and experience as a MRCA Ranger, leading to his appointment as Chief Ranger. With hard work, dedication, and a personal drive to succeed, Fernando has proven to be a true success story of our jobs program.


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our outreach programs, we hope to continue this tradition of hiring from the community in which the parks and programs serve. These programs offer youth a chance to try something new, learn life skills, work with inspiring role models, invest their efforts into their own community, and can lead to lifelong careers. But the benefits don’t stop there. The efforts that each of these individuals puts into their jobs result in communities enhanced with natural parks where people play, relax, and enjoy nature in a safe and beautiful place. These places continue the EJ tradition of offering not only recreation and relaxation opportunities, but those life changing possibilities.


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