Hi there!
I’m a product of Monrovia. I went to Wildrose, Clifton, MHS, and played in our parks, visited our lovely library, and spent every year in K-12 walking/marching in our holiday parade. My childhood and adult life have greatly been influenced by Monrovia, my neighbors, and our special slice of the Foothills. If you really want to know something about me, it all starts with our community and programs that imparted my personal and professional love for sharing information and resources with others. I have fond memories of visiting Canyon Park’s Nature Center and Monrovia Public Library where naturalists and librarians shared their passions and interests with a smile, I remember our city historian, Steve Baker, sharing the profoundness of a landmark in a tour, and I can’t shake memories of the amazing city staff that hosted programs and events that inspired a sense of volunteerism and dedication to serving our town. My distinctly Monrovian experience has been integral to how I see myself as a member of our community and as a useful sharer of information.
Now, professionally and as a volunteer, I share my love of nature, plants, bugs, soil, gardening; the list goes on and on and on…, with my community. It has led me to train as a Master Gardener, become a certified UC Climate Steward, California Naturalist, Master Herpetologist, and, hopefully very soon, Master Composter. In my “free time” I also play brass instruments like the French horn and tuba, and was the director of the Monrovia Young Musicians Ensemble for six years. I hope to be useful in our community, serving as a community services commissioner, board member of the Monrovia Parks, Wilderness, and Recreation Foundation, as a member of the garden leadership team at Monrovia Community Garden, and as a Monrovia Area Partnership MAP leader. If you see me and my wife hiking Hillside Wilderness Preserve or poking around the soil at our community garden, please say hi. I love meeting my neighbors and sharing anything I learn.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My wife Amanda and I are Monrovia High School sweethearts and met in marching band 13 years ago. Amanda is a vet tech in town, and whenever we are out, she can name all of the dogs she’s ever helped. We have a sweet pup named Charlotte, and a plethora of other critters have lived with us. In March we will be expecting another “critter,” aka Baby Leos.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Currently, I am the Community Initiatives and Program Director at Food ED – Food Exploration and Discovery-, which is a non-profit in town that partners with cities and schools in the San Gabriel Valley to bring creative learning, healthy living, and innovation to community and school gardens. I love seeing the moment when learners, both young and seasoned, have that “aha!” moment where whatever we are talking about clicks and makes sense. I love empowering learners to take what is important to them and help them turn their interests into action. Whether it is composting, growing food, raising worms, or, as one of my 3rd grade students shouted recently, “I want to raise bugs and be the bug queen!” I am here for it!
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Big fan of MoonCat Ramen; I proposed to Amanda in their patio! *which is also where we shared our first kiss in high school* And who doesn’t love Rudy’s?
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I’ve lived in Monrovia nearly all of my life. Short hiatus during college, but even then, we still worked in Monrovia, and now we can’t see us not raising our family here.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
There are so many delightful people in Monrovia, but I think the next person that I happen to meet at our community garden that is just interested in meeting neighbors and talking about shared interests will be the most interesting person in our community at that moment and time. I’ve met amazing people at our community garden from every walk of life with such diverse stories. I have to mention Judy Gomez and Kristin Ritzau, who transcend being gardening friends and are truly friends for life. If you don’t know them, stop whatever you are doing and meet them. They are the best our community has to offer.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
New Zealand. I have no issues with being a Lord of the Rings tourist.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
…Lord of the Rings and The Dark Crystal *weird one, but I love it.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Listen. Lots of folks talk, but not many listen. I wish I was told this so many years ago. I’ve found that the most profound moments of my life have been when I was silent and listening. On a hike, I can just trudge through loudly and miss so much. But when you stop, sit patiently, and just listen outdoors, magic happens. Birds will find you, you can see tiny millipedes eating fallen leaves, and other easily missed experiences exponentially increase. Between people, listening first instead of speaking first keeps me out of trouble.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Grow gourmet mushrooms in So Cal weather in my garden!
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
I’m a sucker for classical and brass music, so my playlist is full of Canadian Brass.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I spent a lot of time at B&C Teriyaki when I went to MHS. I haven’t been back since high school and recently I decided to stop by. Same people and they totally remembered me. It was a blast.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, and Levar Burton were ,and in many ways still are, my north stars for curiosity. I would love to take them to the waterfall at Canyon Park and just listen to their stories over sandwiches from Gene’s Grinders. And then I would force them to share what they love about our canyon and document it. An absolute dream!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
A new colleague that doesn’t live in Monrovia recently shared that he has never been to a community where the people that live there actually identify with the city, and in our case, call themselves Monrovians. Our diverse community does come together and will rally around our neighbors. We might not be perfect, but we have something special going on in Monrovia.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Still living in Monrovia, still talking about plants, and still learning. I don’t think an individual can make profound change, but I want to be a part of positive change in our community and see that through in 5-10 years time.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
My pandemic hobby was raising isopods, roly polys, and relatives. Just google “Rubber Ducky isopods” and “Zebra isopods.” They are so cute and great educational ambassadors!
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Kaua’i. I’ve had dreams about becoming a plant and growing on the most beautiful island I’ve ever seen.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
My favorite month is November, and I love eating together with family at the end of the month. It’s starting to get chilly, so I get to plant all of my favorite winter veggies, and it’s the season for soup!
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Easy and cheesy answer: my wife! She is an amazing partner, brilliant, and going to be an excellent mom. 10/10 would marry again.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My dog, Charlotte. She loves unconditionally *well not squirrels*, can be patient *again, not with squirrels*, and always makes us smile *the squirrels don’t smile when she is out, however*. She is also boundlessly curious and loyal. I want to be just like her. I love the quote “Be the person your dog thinks you are.”
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
My favorite California native plant is Cleveland Sage – Salvia clevelandii. It is amazing. I’ve been known to stuff a few leaves under my mask for easy aromatherapy throughout my day.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need” -Cicero
