I would like to introduce Pedro Garcia as a 2015 Pipeline Program mentor!
My name is Pedro Garcia and I was born in Cruz Quemada, Guerrero, Mexico. Although I only lived there for a few years, I take pride in knowing that my first breath, steps, and words were on the lands of my ancestors. Because of the steady increase in violence and drugs in my home state, my parents believed a life away from Mexico would be the best option for raising a child. I received all of my K-12 education in Paso Robles, Ca, and it was there, in Georgia Brown Elementary School, that my love of birds blossomed. I still remember that sunny evening, on the walk back home from another 4th grade-filled day, coming face to face with my first raptor, a Red-tailed Hawk.
That curiosity I had in raptors, and later birds overall, would eventually lead me to obtain my B.S. degree in Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal science at CSU, Fresno. Currently, I am finishing my Master in Biology: Urban Ecology, researching the effects that urban noise and socioeconomics have on local bird populations. Through this type of work, I hope to add to the knowledge that is currently known about the effects of urban development to our natural surroundings.
Apart from Biology, my other passions include working with minority/Native American youth, helping them keep a firm grasp of their culture, and merging that knowledge with biology and conservation. I am an active Aztec dancer and drummer here in Fresno, CA and use both my teachings in Native American culture and knowledge in the field of Biology to reach out to our young and growing leaders. In 2007 I became involved with the Peace and Dignity Journeys, an Indigenous run that lasts 7 months and spans all of North and South America. As an organizer and core runner, I do my best to help bring awareness of our people’s struggles, one mile at a time.
nativeyouth2college.org 