CANOPY BLOG

Latina Climate Stewards Transforming San Jose

By Luz Aguilar on December 3, 2025

As a fellow member of the 2025 UC Climate Stewards cohort, I created this blog for my course project to honor the LUNA women’s experiences and to shine a light on the importance of accessible, inclusive environmental education.

A Cohort Rooted in Representation

This year, Canopy launched its UC Climate Stewards course, an 8 week program blending virtual lectures with hands-on fieldwork. More than 30 passionate Bay Area community members joined this new endeavor, among them a remarkable group of women from Latinos Unidos por una Nueva America (LUNA).

LUNA, based in East San Jose, supports local leaders in advancing community issues ranging from housing and safety to climate justice. Their participation in this course stood out because they completed the entire program in Spanish, a powerful reminder that language access is environmental justice. Without it, communities cannot fully participate in environmental programs or decisions. Urban forestry has long lacked Latino and immigrant representation, making this cohort’s presence an important step toward more inclusive environmental leadership.

Sharing Knowledge, Growing Power

When asked what motivated them to join, the LUNA participants shared a common goal: to learn and bring that knowledge back to their neighbors. Through years of community outreach, they’ve seen that while families want trees, they often lack information about proper planting and maintenance, especially when resources aren’t available in their language.

Rita Birrueta, originally from Michoacán, Mexico, described how essential this knowledge is. She recalled a school planting project where, due to limited maintenance skills and irrigation issues, only one tree survived. Experiences like this fuel their commitment to helping East San Jose plant and care for trees successfully, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier urban environment.

Rooted in Nature: The Women Behind the Work

For many of these women, connecting with the land is a lifelong tradition.

• Guadalupe García from San Tomás de los Plátanos Mexico, grew up surrounded by trees and learned to plant fruits and vegetables with her father.
• Marilu Zepeda from El Salvador remembers a childhood filled with nature and recreates that environment in her current home, filling every possible corner with plants and flowers.

Both shared that learning technical skills, such as eliminating air pockets when planting, proper
pruning, and long-term tree care, has empowered them to support their neighbors with
confidence while helping families avoid unnecessary expenses.

What a “Greener Community” Means to Them

When the women spoke about the impact of expanding tree canopy in their neighborhoods,
their responses revealed both personal experience and community vision.

• Rosaura Vivanco (Jalisco, Mexico) said that more trees would mean fewer health problems, cleaner air, and a renewed appreciation for nature during daily walks. Living near Highway 280, she has felt the health impacts of poor air quality firsthand.
• Guadalupe García emphasized that increased shade and vegetation would especially help vulnerable groups: children, older adults, and those with chronic illnesses.
• Rita Birrueta expressed a hopeful vision: she wants to see “un San Jose vestido de verde”- a San Jose dressed in green. She highlighted the inequities between East San Jose and wealthier neighborhoods: “What do they have that we don’t? Why not us?”

Their answers reflect a shared understanding that urban greening is about far more than beautification. It’s about health, dignity, and environmental justice.

Favorite Program Moment

The Luna cohort appreciated both the community building and the hands-on learning.

• Marielena Lazo described the experience as “fascinating,” sharing that being present with others, and continuously learning, made the program meaningful. She noted that because they are deeply connected to their communities, they are well positioned to spread this knowledge.
• Marilu enjoyed meeting others who share a love for the environment and learning every step of tree care. The Thursday lectures often left her thinking, “Wow how can our small group make a difference?” She’s excited to put her new skills into practice and hopes to pass this knowledge on to a future group.

The Power of Learning in Community

One of the most meaningful aspects of the course for the women was participating in a cohort of fellow Latina leaders. Many expressed gratitude for being in a space where they felt included, respected, and encouraged to grow.

• Rita said it was an honor to learn alongside other housewives, promotoras, and community leaders working toward cleaner air and stronger environmental advocacy.
• Rosaura appreciated that the program created a welcoming environment and felt they were “planting seeds for future generations.”
• Guadalupe admitted she initially doubted herself, believing she might be too old to learn something new, but instead walked away feeling proud of how much she had gained and eager to put her skills to work.

A Future “Dressed in Green”

The Spanish-speaking LUNA cohort is an inspiring example of what inclusive environmental education can achieve. Their participation expands who is seen as an environmental leader and ensures that the communities most impacted by climate change have a rightful place in shaping solutions.

Through language access, shared experience, and a deep commitment to their neighborhoods, these women are paving the way for a greener, healthier East San Jose – and they’re bringing their community along every step of the way.