Jackie Peña

Jackie Peña (she, her, ella) joined LandPaths in August 2022 as a part-time Bilingual Education Field Specialist. She is excited to help bridge the gap between youth and the environment and provide a safe space for those that do not have a relationship with the outdoors yet. 

Born and raised in Sonoma County, Jackie loves being a Santa Rosa local and the convenience of being surrounded by wonderful landmarks and parks. Growing up, she was a bit of a homebody, but has always enjoyed quiet walks and exploring new places. Having traveled all over Sonoma County and being quite the foodie, she has learned to appreciate the diversity of the local landscape, people, and food. 

Although her love for her town is big, she moved to San Francisco for 2.5 years where she received her Bachelor of Arts in two academic disciplines: Broadcasting and Electronic Communication Arts, and Spanish at San Francisco State University in Spring 2021.

While in San Francisco, Jackie was able to explore her passions and came to develop a love for the environment and indigenous practices. While taking a course in traditional medicine at SFSU, she connected with her Southern Mexican roots and explored the traditional practices of her family. With this newfound knowledge, Jackie has grown in her passion for building stronger communities, reconnecting with traditional practices, and having cultural awareness. She is a big advocate of learning about others and the different cultures around her in order to form a stronger community. 

During her free moments, if Jackie isn’t out dancing, she is either spending time with her mom or cousin, watching a movie, reading, living her best life listening to music, or exploring small towns throughout the Northern Bay Area.