We are very excited to welcome Abbi Alfonso (she/her/hers) into the role of Native Plant Nursery Program Manager! Abbi will be supporting all of our nursery volunteer programs and growing native plants for habitat restoration projects on Mount Sutro!
As a native San Franciscan, Abbi’s (she/her) excitement for nature was fostered early on by exploring the limited green spaces throughout the city. From spunky California ground squirrels at Candlestick to Glen Canyon’s elusive Great Horned Owls to diversity of plant communities of San Bruno Mountain; these experiences allowed her to develop a deep connection and appreciation for the intersection of humans and wildlife that she now strives to share with others.
Since then, she’s gone on to volunteer in habitat restoration and community advocacy with organizations around the Bay Area and the Central Valley such as the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, Literacy for Environmental Justice and California Waterfowl Association before earning a bachelors of science degree from University of California, Davis in Wildlife Conservation Biology. Abbi began her professional career as an academic researcher for a UCD laboratory studying population ecology of California threatened and federally endangered fish species of the San Francisco Bay Estuary. As a woman of color working in the outdoors, while exciting, left Abbi feeling isolated and marginalized due to the lack of representation of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BiPOC) communities. Returning to her Southeast San Franciscan roots in 2019, Abbi joined Literacy for Environmental Justice as an outdoor educator, native plant propagator specialist, and community programs coordinator promoting equitable access to open space and engaging communities of color in culturally relevant ways to nurture their connection with nature.
Abbi holds her identity as a woman of color, environmental justice, and community advocacy at the center of her work. She is excited to join Sutro Stewards as the Native Plant Nursery Manager and continue her work restoring native plant habitat and creating equitable access to Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve for people of all backgrounds!
What are you excited about most working with Sutro Stewards?
I’m excited to wander the vast trails of Mount Sutro exploring its unique ecology, restoring native plant habitats through native plant propagation, and to get to know the community that holds Mount Sutro near and dear to their hearts.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
In my spare time, you can find me basking in the sun, fishing, bird watching, learning about ethnobotany, guerilla gardening at local parks, and enjoying my famous salsa.
Do you have a favorite plant?
Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasiana), Coastal Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) are currently in my favorite plant rotation due to all the wonderful cultural and medicinal uses!
Congrats, Abby!