By Kelly Sanderbeck, Donor Engagement Manager
Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF) works to fund critical priority projects in Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks, and we couldn’t do it without our dedicated supporters. Our Trailblazers series celebrates these passionate park lovers and all of their reasons for giving. This week, meet Elizabeth Gonzalez, Administrative Manager here at WNPF. Elizabeth manages accounting, human resources, our ‘Big Betty’ of park projects, and is a liaison for the parks for their grants and payments. We had a conversation about what the parks mean to her.
You’d never imagine that a 15-year-old would willingly leave his friends, school and extended family. To move nearly 1,000 miles away. To a remote corner of the Pacific Northwest. That he’d only visited once. But, Emilio Gonzalez is not typical nor is his Mom, Elizabeth, the Administrative Manager at the Fund. Two years ago, the family sat down with Emilio to discuss a possible relocation from their home in California. Without flinching, he said: “So I would have to make new friends? That’s OK. Let’s go!”
Initially, it was Elizabeth’s idea to head to the Northwest. She’d learned about Olympic National Park on the Discovery Channel and through documentaries, and has always dreamed of exploring it. All that green.
There’s something magical about walking through the forest and coming to the ocean.
The family first experienced the area when visiting a friend in Anacortes, and they knew then they would move north. (Even though their visit was in February during a snowstorm – their first snow, their first driving in snow, and in a rental car!) Emilio, always enchanted with nature, loved it – especially all that green.
After all, according to Elizabeth, nature had healed Emilio. One reason they started venturing out in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park was that Emilio was being bullied as a young child.
“He could relax out there and be a kid, with river walking or hiking or exploring. He wanted to go every weekend. Even though it wasn’t super close, we’d make the trip. He was having really bad anxiety issues and it was affecting every aspect of his life and ours. It was rough. I’m still amazed at how powerful nature can be; it literally changed his life and healed him. He is so connected to nature now. He’d rather be there than anywhere else! Now, when he thinks back on that difficult time, he doesn’t remember much. What he does remember is all of our adventures. Now that’s real healing. Emilio’s had a good transition. He’s now 17 – new friends, working and driving — but nature sold him.”
Elizabeth met her husband Erik while working for the city of San Jose, and in 2005 they moved to the Central Valley where the foothills of Sequoia National Park became their playground. Erik has been showing art since he was a teenager, involved in the graffiti and skateboarding scene in LA. He’s built a career over the years, able to leave his traditional job gradually over time, and is now Executive Director of the nonprofit Urbanists Collective. Most of their work is beautification projects, usually community murals with community participation, generating income from grants and commissioned jobs. According to Elizabeth, one of the most interesting jobs that he’s been hired for was to coordinate a community mural for youth using only spray paint on the side of a police department building. Erik continues to coordinate mural projects in California and has since established the Urbanists Collective WA to bring similar projects to his new home state.
Interestingly, the month before visiting Anacortes, Elizabeth attended the Public Lands Alliance conference where she told her colleagues: ‘If you know anyone from Washington, introduce me.’ After working at Sequoia Parks Conservancy for 2 years, she knew she wanted to continue working with public lands groups but was ready to leave California. Synchronistically, and without being aware ahead of time, she ended up at a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion session with the Fund’s CEO, Laurie Ward and (then) Board President Richard Page. Laurie reached out a week later to follow up on a conversation they had had. ‘If you’re ever in the Seattle area, let me know and we’ll grab coffee.’ The rest is history.
Elizabeth majored in Community Studies at UC Santa Cruz, intending to be a social worker. “I wanted to save the world!” She started in community organizing with the City of San Jose helping to revitalize historically neglected neighborhoods. And she did work as a social worker for one year and hated it. “I was not cut out for that type of work. I felt so helpless because I wasn’t able to protect the children on my caseload. It was devastating to witness firsthand just how broken the system is.” She eventually moved into grant writing and nonprofit management. Since nature was always knocking at her door, she applied for the Finance Director position at the Sequoia Parks Conservancy located in Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP. “They were willing to give me a chance and I ended up being really good at it. Unlike social work, working in the environmental sector is rewarding beyond words. Now, instead of serving the community, I’m serving Mother Earth.”
During Covid, the Gonzalez’ found living in Hansville (on the Kitsap peninsula) to be a blessing. “We’re close to Olympic and being outdoors so much has brought us closer as a family. Being able to walk has been healing too, and I’ve gone through 3 pairs of shoes, traipsing 3-7 miles a day to the beach or into the woods!”
Another activity they started during Covid was surfing. None of them had ever attempted it before, but Emilio started watching videos on YouTube and wanted to try. Ever ready for adventure, Erik and Elizabeth joined in. They rented wetsuits and surf boards and loved it. Now they go every chance they get and have all their own gear. “We first started in the fall and it was incredible, but so cold. Our favorite spot is Crescent Beach. There are not as many logs or debris to kill me! I love seeing the silhouette of fish going by; it adds to the excitement. There is a sense of eeriness which leads to awe when being in the water. You realize just how powerful the ocean is. It’s an incredible feeling.” Although Elizabeth has yet to stand up and actually catch a wave, both Erik and Emilio have. Next on Emilio’s list is kite surfing, but both Erik and Elizabeth are not planning to join in on this one.
Emilio is following in his Dad’s footsteps, while charting his own unique course. He’s starting his own website — selling artwork to customers all over the country through Instagram and social media – and specializing in logos, album covers and T-shirts. Says the proud Mom: “He has good business acumen, and wants to have his own business doing graphic design and custom art. Working with his Dad out in the community has helped him develop his social skills as he used to be painfully shy.”
When not working or in the parks, Elizabeth loves travelling and wandering through Mexico, especially ancient sites. Her family is originally from Jalisco, with her grandfather coming to the states as a blacksmith as part of the Bracero Program to work on the railroads.
“I hope that more public lands are established to cover more areas and preserve more land over time. I’d also like to see more community representation out there on the trails. I want everyone to feel welcome and to reconnect with that part of themselves that many have forgotten. We all have a connection to nature, no matter our cultural background; I think people forget this. I grew up being shown that the earth is to be respected and cared for. The understanding that we are all connected to the earth is deeply embedded in Mexican culture, just like many others. Whether I’m in Mexico or Washington, I feel a sense of responsibility to keep the ancient traditions alive to care for our Mother Earth.”
Elizabeth’s biggest hope is to encourage people who are unfamiliar with their public lands to go out and explore to find the peace, healing, and adventure that she and her family have been able to find there.
We are so grateful for the many Trailblazers who help us achieve our mission. Interested in supporting the parks? Give a gift today, and together we’ll ensure our parks remain vibrant and everlasting for years to come.