Amber provides direction for projects, staff, advisory council, and strategy. With Nature in the City as an advisory council member since 2006, she co-founded innovative projects, such as the Green Hairstreak Corridor, the SF Crosstown Trail, Tigers on Market Street, and the Green Connections Plan.

Amber is an advocate, artist, naturalist, educator, gardener, and founder of Wild SF Gardening, which designs and maintains gardens for private Bay Area clients. Her artwork includes Art on BART, the Angel Island Art & Ecology Festival, the Mission Greenbelt Project, and Tigers on Market Street. She has exhibited her work in San Francisco, Chicago, and Kansas City. In 2017, Sierra Club’s The People’s Power List featured Amber and other activists across the US. 

amber@natureinthecity.org

Ken is passionate about innovation and hopes to bring more nature and beauty to San Francisco. He loves designing, building, and maintaining gardens, focusing on local native landscapes. He founded Jungle Stairs, leading the community and neighbors to rehabilitate two city blocks on 22nd St. in Noe Valley.

Before gardening, Ken founded and directed an SF social justice documentary filmshop called Truth Be Told. His films focused on economic justice, racial equality, democratic governance, and the climate crisis — challenging audiences to think about solutions. Before this, he was a creative director and brand strategist for a few big SF agencies. He graduated from Georgetown University and Oxford with a degree in business. He lives in San Rafael, where he loves to garden in his Eichler’s atrium and backyard with his wife and two children.

ken@natureinthecity.org

Amelia is an artist and a gardening student. She has experience leading creative workshops in various communities and is now expanding her landscaping, leadership, and teaching skills. She is happy to be working with a talented team of other eco-enthusiasts!

amelia@natureinthecity.org

Precious is a student at San Francisco State University studying Computer Science. He aims to become a backend software engineer to improve legacy computer software. He hopes to work for a tech company that improves the lives of everyday people. He enjoys playing guitar, jiu-jitsu, and video games.

He says, “Working for Nature in the City has allowed me to come in contact with the delicate ecosystems of San Francisco. Whether caring for native plants or office work, I go where needed! I have always wanted to be in service of people and the planet. Nature in the City’s mission is powerful. Every bit of progress is celebrated; it's an honor to work here.”

precious@natureinthecity.org

Claire is a University of San Francisco student studying politics. She is passionate about environmental justice and aims to work in environmental policy. Claire has experience gardening, doing fieldwork, and volunteering with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy as a Habitat Steward. Claire loves being outdoors and working with people to better our environment. She enjoys walking in Golden Gate Park and finding new restaurants in her free time!

Claire is excited to join Nature in the City, work with individuals who love nature, and take action to empower local SF communities. From doing policy work to joining in on volunteer events, Claire looks forward to using her skills to uplift the team and Nature in the City.

claire@natureinthecity.org

Laura is the Sustainability Coordinator at the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area. She has been involved with Nature in the City since its beginning in 2005. She has a background in aquatic and wetland ecology and is slowly learning her dune plants by participating in the Backyard Natives Nursery Network. Laura also plans our nature walks that explore natural areas around the city.

Helen is a dedicated educator and inspiring leader with experience in public, K-12, and higher education in formal and informal settings. Certified California Naturalist with deep understanding of the natural environment and commitment to education for the preservation of beautiful places and precious resources. Proven ability to build and lead collaborative teams and to develop and implement strategic plans. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Extensive people, project, and budget management experience. 

Emil is a former science teacher at George Washington High School and lifetime educator. His focus and interest on marine biology and population studies helps him to understand the Bay Area on an intimate level, which is pivotal in his role with Nature in the City. He's been leading fun & engaging NTC nature walks for the past couple of years. He also spends his time volunteering at the California Academy of Sciences Rocky Shore Naturalist Program and partners with the National Marine Sanctuary Educational Programs and the Aquarium of the Bay to create and implement relevant curricula surrounding climate change.

Falling Achovies, Dancing Butterflies: Emil's insights as told to Helen Doyle

Zahra is a Waste Analyst for Tesla North America. She loves all aspects of composting and the resulting multi-layer benefits that create healthy soil. As former Advocacy and Project Manager and now Advisory Council member with Nature in the City, Zahra is fully committed to conserving our natural resources and enhancing native habitats. She has a background in environmental management, economics, policy, and public community advocacy. As a member of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Advisory Committee, she works to spark and facilitate in-depth conversations about open space preservation and improving accessibility to the wild lands and watersheds of San Francisco. Zahra lives in SF and loves to share the magic of nature in the City with everyone.

Tom is a landscape architect who assists landowners and non-profit organizations with conservation planning and transactions. His training includes regional planning, land management, land-use regulation and real estate finance. He assists family landowners, conservation organizations and municipalities with conservation easement and fee acquisition projects, as well as strategic plans for entire regions.

A leader in sustainable and net-positive design, Kirstin works with interdisciplinary teams to create regenerative, resilient built environments where people and ecosystems thrive together. 

After 12 years as an energy and building ecology specialist at Arup, Kirstin started Bio Studio in 2021. She provides innovative, collaborative, climate-positive consulting, all driven by her dedication to living systems and enhancement of well-being and environmental justice through a connection to nature for all. Kirstin joined Nature in the City’s Council in 2015 and acts as design community liaison, helping to raise awareness of the opportunities for biophilic design and integration of ecological function in the built environment.