Griffin Starts Work at Amah Mutsun Land Trust

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COMMUNITY NEWS Griffin Starts Work at Amah Mutsun Land Trust

Catherine “Kate” Griffin started work Nov. 15 as the Amah Mutsun Land Trust’s executive director.

She spent eight years at California Indian Legal Services, including two years as executive director.

“She understands the historic trauma Native people have suffered and the contemporary cultural and political challenges they face,” said Valentin Lopez, Land Trust president and chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. “This combination of cultural understanding and nonprofit acumen was exactly what we were looking for.”

He cited her experience in operating, fundraising, and transforming nonprofit organizations into becoming better and more effective.

She comes from New Hampshire where she was a network and community builder for Bringing Theory to Practice, a National Higher Educational Initiative hosted by Elon University. She has also held leadership roles in rural and urban nonprofit organizations focused on improving internal operations, innovation, learning, and transforming big ideas into on the ground achievements. She has a doctorate from the University of Minnesota in American studies. Her dissertation was on “Politics and Place in African American and American Indian Women’s Literature.”

She said: “I would be honored to serve as AMLT’s Executive Director and to be in partnership with the Tribe, the Land Trust, its staff and allies in work that promotes the

Amah Mutsun people and the cultural and spiritual stewardship of their Territory.” The Amah Mutsun Land Trust was established in 2014, to protect and conserve sacred sites, restore and steward native ecosystems, and research and share information about Mutsun history, culture, traditions, and ceremonies that were lost with the brutal removal from their homelands by the Spanish and the genocide that continued during the Mexican and American periods. AMLT is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization governed by a Board of Directors, the majority of which are appointed by Amah Mutsun Kate Griffin Tribal Council. The Land Trust holds two conservation easements and is currently developing a “Cultural Conservation Easement” at the 500-acre Nyland Ranch in San Benito County with The Trust for Public Land, the Land Trust for Santa Cruz County, and the San Benito Agricultural Land Trust. AMLT works with the California Department of Parks and Recreation on projects, including at Quiroste Valley State Cultural Preserve, which is dedicated to preserving Indigenous history and culture. AMLT also manages a Native Stewardship Corps that reduces fuel loads and restores native habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains, operates a native plant greenhouse at Cascade Ranch, and maintains native plant gardens at San Juan Bautista State Park, Castle Rock State Park, and at Pie Ranch on the Santa Cruz coast. n

“Plein Air Results” from page 17 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

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