Zee Zetino (they/them) is Trans-Queer Afro-Indigenous to the lands of Kuskatan (El Salvador). They were born and raised in South Central LA—a city of diverse culture and pockets of home gardens. Inspired by their grandma’s sacred tending to her fruit trees and medicinal tinctures, Zee was taught about the wealth in nurturing connections to the land, water, and air; and most importantly to the self and those around them. Following the steps of Fannie Lou Hamer’s organizing work, Zee brings 10 + years of community organizing and popular political education with a focus on community self empowerment and climate resilience. They are currently a part of the LA Black Worker Center, serving as a member through the Steward Council—a peer-to-peer program where Black workers develop the skills and knowledge to address workplace issues confidently—and leading the Wellness Committee. Zee has launched several trips to local parks, the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains, providing bus transportation, food and water, art materials, and community science tools, with the goal to promote culturally-informed wellness, safe recreation, and a sense of belonging for Black workers and their families. It is their fervent commitment to increase access, knowledge, and professional development for the Black community within the outdoor and conservation field.
A few activities that Zee finds pleasure in are: cooking and baking tasty vegetarian meals, intentionally stretching and breathing during yoga, birding near the coast and in the mountains, hiking at their own pace, and nature journaling with watercolors and soil paint.