On Wednesday July 18th, the Audubon Center at Debs Park was honored to introduce our community and partners to Sarah Rose--Audubon California's new executive director. Sarah Rose recently joined the Audubon California team, but she's not new to Los Angeles or the conservation community.  Sarah previously served as the chief executive officer for the California League of Conservative Voters prior to coming to Audubon.  We were excited to welcome her to the Center and back to Los Angeles.

The night started with some mingling.  Community members and partners got the chance to connect and discuss their relationship with the Audubon Center at Debs Park.  All attendees were given a prompt as they arrived:  "What is your connection to Debs?".  Center Director, Marcos Trinidad opened the program by welcoming everyone to the Center and explaining his relationship to Debs Park:  "My connection to Debs started before I was born.  My parents met down the street at the bus stop on Griffin Ave."  

Rose discussed the importance of Debs Park to Audubon California.  The Center serves as an important window into Los Angeles and Southern California for Audubon.  Rose mentioned how vital the Audubon Center at Debs Park was in helping to pass Proposition 68, the parks and water bond on the June ballot..  Trinidad and the Center made it possible to help create a strong coalition of advocates for the Proposition.  Rose referred back to the night's prompt and asked guests to reflect with each other how they connect to the Center.  Community member Carmela Gomes noted, "As a teacher at Nightingale Middle School, I was interviewed in relation to the vision for this Center at its inception.  Students from my classes became some of the formative youth volunteers."

We had a blast at this event and it was a great opportunity to continue building Audubon California's mission in Los Angeles.  The night was also a great opportunity to connect our community to the greater project of bird conservation and habitat restoration nation-wide.  We were very excited that Sarah Rose had the chance to meet our community and our partners.

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