Connecting Communities to Refuges& the Outdoors

Conservation happens on the ground, in the communities and landscapes where people and wildlife live side by side.

Join the Refuge Association’s Urban Wildlife Refuge Program team for a look at how local partnerships are bringing conservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental education into urban communities.

From Southern California to South Florida and the Northeast, discover how youth programs, habitat projects, and community connections are making nature more accessible and helping build the next generation of conservation stewards. The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Presenters

• Angie Horn is Director of the Refuge Association’s Urban Wildlife Refuge Program and brings more than 20 years of experience in outreach, programming, partnership development, and urban environmental issues. Before leading the program, she served as the Refuge Association’s Southern California Regional Refuge Partnership Specialist and spent nearly 10 years with City Parks Alliance, helping build partnerships among public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and communities across the country.
• Natalie Balaguer is the Refuge Association’s South Florida Regional Partnership Specialist. Born and raised in South Florida, Natalie combines a background in business administration, marketing, and communications with a deep connection to the region. She works closely with Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and community partners to expand engagement and create opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature.
• Stephanie Menendez is the Refuge Association’s Northeast Regional Partnership Specialist and an environmental professional with experience in climate research, environmental education, and community outreach. Before joining the Refuge Association, she served as a Climate Fellow with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Hispanic Access Foundation and worked as an environmental educator, developing programs that connect people with wildlife, watersheds, and conservation.

Sign Up!