Michelle Payan is a second-year Community Volunteer Ambassador at Golden Gate National Recreation Area. She served her first CVA term at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. She has previous experience with NPS working with the Santa Monica Mountains Fund as a habitat restoration/seed collecting intern. She was born and raised in East Los Angeles, CA and now resides in the beautiful city of San Francisco.

Her passion for environmental justice came from volunteering with grassroot organizations like, The Regenerative Collective, in her hometown. While she worked alongside indigenous communities seeking to grow and cultivate their own native plant medicine, she learned about the important role of land stewardship and why re-introducing native habitats in urban environments is a critical strategy for combating climate change.

She is also very creative-- she’s been a radio show host and DJ for a community radio station for 3 years. She loves film photography, going to concerts, and collecting vintage clothes and antiques.

This photo is from her first backpacking trip on the Lakes trail in Sequoia National Park after climbing 3,000 ft. in elevation!
Her passion for environmental justice came from volunteering with grassroot organizations like, The Regenerative Collective, in her hometown. While she worked alongside indigenous communities seeking to grow and cultivate their own native plant medicine, she learned about the important role of land stewardship and why re-introducing native habitats in urban environments is a critical strategy for combating climate change.

She is also very creative-- she’s been a radio show host and DJ for a community radio station for 3 years. She loves film photography, going to concerts, and collecting vintage clothes and antiques.

This photo is from her first backpacking trip on the Lakes trail in Sequoia National Park after climbing 3,000 ft. in elevation!