Brianna Garcia

Urban forestry Communications and outreach manager

Brianna Alyssa Higareda Garcia, is Little Manila Rising’s Urban Forestry Communications Manager, raised in Pacoima, Ca, by Grandma Carmen. Brianna learned her responsibility to care for people and plants from Grandma Carmen. As a young child, Brianna would wake early on Saturday mornings to help clean up the Pacoima Projects with her Grandma and a few other señoras from the neighborhood. Walking through the projects, Brianna the joys of plants by picking off tasty fruit and colorful flowers to taste and smell. Brianna carried those memories and values to Davis where Brianna worked at the UC Davis Student Farm and graduated in Chicano/Chicana Studies. 

Brianna sought out opportunities that strengthened her relationship to both plantitas and people. Whether it was through gardening, developing curriculum, planning events, executing workshops, or gardening. It was clear to Brianna that her role in growing spaces is to bridge people to the natural world. At Little Manila Rising Brianna continues to connect people to the natural world through trees.