Baja Team Update
LegacyWorks group is pleased to announce the newest member of the Baja Team, Alina Breceda-Martos. Originally from Sinaloa, Alina studied Environmental Engineering in Guadalajara and received her Masters in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science from Lund University in Sweden. While in graduate school she focused her thesis research on a fishing community in Sinaloa where she applied the Social-Ecological Systems framework to identify potential leverage points for the improved sustainability of small fisheries. Now, in her role at LegacyWorks, she is the Program Associate for our newest venture, the East Cape Futures Program.
The East Cape Futures Program will address the need for regional regenerative development throughout the East Cape. Our aim is to facilitate the collaboration in sustainable and regenerative development practices to counter the current destructive and exploitive models of growth in the region. We will engage developers, architects, builders, investors, local authorities and local communities through a co-learning process with workshops, seminars and field experiences to delve into the social and technical aspects of regenerative development such as water use and treatment, materials and design, energy planning, and biodiversity protection and management.
The East Cape Futures Program will launch in December 2022 with a three-day East Cape Futures Forum to build the network of essential partnerships and catalyze the tourism and real estate industries towards better practices. Stay tuned for information on this new venture.
As the Program Associate for the East Cape Futures, Alina is optimistic about the work this project can accomplish. Alina was first drawn to Baja for the world class kite surfing, mountain biking, and trail running opportunities. Her love of nature based activities is entwined with her academic and professional path. She is proud to have a job where she sees her personal values are so well aligned and reflected with her professional role. And she shared that while the big picture work of climate activism and conservation can feel daunting, her position with LegacyWorks affords her a window into the day to day successes of regional collaborative projects.
“I regularly see the sparks of inspiration that LegacyWorks can ignite in communities, and they ignite us. In this way, my professional ‘soul’ is fulfilled.”
Alina wants to spread this hopeful message; we are thrilled to have her on board to do so.