Brenda brings experience from her career in journalism and a passion for the outdoors to the Children & Nature Network. After working for over ten years in broadcast journalism, her love for nature led her to pursue a career in supporting cities to adopt multiple strategies that connect children to nature. Inspired by her childhood experiences, she is committed to helping young people connect with the outdoors. As Program Manager, she supports city teams nationwide to develop action plans and engages in funding, design, policy, and programmatic discussions around connecting children to nature. Brenda also co-leads the Green Schoolyards Peer Learning Network and helps develop research-based tools & resources that aid communities across the globe. Brenda has a master's degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from the University of Illinois and a BA in Communications from the Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico. Brenda was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and often travels there to visit friends and family. She currently lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.