COMMUNITY NEWS
Griffin Starts Work at Amah Mutsun Land Trust
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18 / December 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
atherine “Kate” Griffin started work Amah Mutsun people and the cultural and Nov. 15 as the Amah Mutsun Land spiritual stewardship of their Territory.” Trust’s executive director. The Amah Mutsun Land Trust was She spent eight years at California established in 2014, to protect and conserve Indian Legal Services, including two years as sacred sites, restore and steward native ecoexecutive director. systems, and research and share information “She understands the historic trauma about Mutsun history, culture, traditions, Native people have suffered and the and ceremonies that were lost contemporary cultural and political with the brutal removal from their challenges they face,” said Valentin homelands by the Spanish and the Lopez, Land Trust president and genocide that continued during the chairman of the Amah Mutsun Mexican and American periods. Tribal Band. “This combination of AMLT is a 501(c)(3) charitable cultural understanding and nonorganization governed by a Board of Directors, the majority of which profit acumen was exactly what we are appointed by Amah Mutsun were looking for.” Tribal Council. The Land Trust He cited her experience in operKate Griffin holds two conservation easements ating, fundraising, and transforming nonprofit organizations into becoming better and and is currently developing a “Cultural Conmore effective. servation Easement” at the 500-acre Nyland She comes from New Hampshire where Ranch in San Benito County with The Trust she was a network and community builder for Public Land, the Land Trust for Santa for Bringing Theory to Practice, a National Cruz County, and the San Benito Agricultural Higher Educational Initiative hosted by Elon Land Trust. University. She has also held leadership roles AMLT works with the California in rural and urban nonprofit organizations Department of Parks and Recreation on focused on improving internal operations, projects, including at Quiroste Valley State innovation, learning, and transforming big Cultural Preserve, which is dedicated to preideas into on the ground achievements. She has serving Indigenous history and culture. a doctorate from the University of Minnesota AMLT also manages a Native Stewin American studies. Her dissertation was on ardship Corps that reduces fuel loads and “Politics and Place in African American and restores native habitat in the Santa Cruz American Indian Women’s Literature.” Mountains, operates a native plant greenShe said: “I would be honored to serve house at Cascade Ranch, and maintains as AMLT’s Executive Director and to be in native plant gardens at San Juan Bautista partnership with the Tribe, the Land Trust, State Park, Castle Rock State Park, and at Pie its staff and allies in work that promotes the Ranch on the Santa Cruz coast. n
“Plein Air Results” from page 17
Local artist Lupe Santos won an award from Times Publishing Group, Inc., for a painting entitled, “Bougainvilleas.”
Coraly Hanson, “God’s Glory” Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors Lupe Santos, “Bougainvilleas” Times Publishing Group, Inc. Tanvi Buch, “Classic Capitola” Palace Arts ••• Artists’ Choice Duree Waseem “After the Rain in Capitola” People’s Choice Coraly Hanson “Park Avenue Vista” ••• The City of Capitola and Capitola Art and Cultural Commission, which sponsor the event, recognize and thank Capitola Village/ Wharf Business Improvement Area members for offering generous discounts to the artists all week. Very special thanks go to Shadowbrook Restaurant for hosting the midweek Artists’ Reception on their creekside patio. Thank you to additional contributing sponsors: Best Western Plus, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Gayle’s Bakery and Rosticceria and Shadowbrook Restaurant, all in Capitola. n
