CANOPY BLOG

Meet Cynthia Perez, Canopy’s Administrative Associate

By Canopy Team on August 5, 2021

Join us in welcoming Cynthia Perez to the Canopy team!

Cynthia is Canopy’s new Administrative Associate (joined May 2021). We asked Cynthia a few questions to get to know her better:

What were you up to before joining Canopy?

Cynthia: I joined the Canopy team in May 2021 after graduating from Scripps College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Art minor. From 2016-2017, I was a Teen Urban Forester with Canopy, where I worked with the education manager and other Teen Urban Foresters to teach elementary school children about tree biology and general tree care.

Why do you think trees are so important?

Cynthia: I think trees are important because they help to better and protect our surrounding environment. They help to improve air quality, conserve water, and support wildlife.

What is your favorite memory of being a Teen Urban Forester?

Cynthia: I think that one of my favorite memories of being a TUF was attending and helping out with Canopy Arbor Day Festival in Mitchell Park. It was really cool to have a day dedicated to celebrating trees while connecting with community members. There were a lot of fun activities like tree climbing, face painting, and a variety of tree workshops.

How did your experience as a TUF prepare you for college, career, or life?

Cynthia: My experience as a TUF provided me with exposure to a variety of different environmental careers. Through meeting other Canopy Staff, attending planting events, and even field trips to places such as the Stanford School of Geological Sciences where we spoke with graduate students, I was better able to understand the wide variety of opportunities out there related to the environment. These experiences also helped to cement my passion for Biology, which inspired me to study Biology in college as well. The work experience and skills that I gained as a TUF during high school were super valuable when I began applying to internships in college. My experience with environmental nonprofits allowed me to secure internships such as ones I held at the Sierra Club and the Energy Foundation during my summers.

*Cynthia planting with Canopy’s Teen Urban Foresters in 2016.*

What is your advice for TUFs as they’re preparing to graduate and looking for their next step towards a green career?

Cynthia: One piece of advice that I have for TUFs is to take advantage of the resources at your disposal and try to reach out to people to learn more about their roles if you are interested in learning more. Learning to reach out to people to learn more about prospective careers or interests is a super valuable skill for the future, and because the people you meet through Canopy are super supportive and accessible, this is a great place to start!