New AmeriCorps: Community Forestry Corps Member!

The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is excited to be a part of the Community Forestry Corps! This new program engages a team of AmeriCorps members in the preservation and protection of Minnesota’s forests. Community Forestry Corps Members serve at a nonprofit or public agency with a mission to preserve and protect Minnesota’s environment and strengthen communities, with a focus on preserving and increasing tree canopy. Meet the park’s newest member for 2021-2022: Kaisy Jo Nuñez (she/her/hers)!

Hi y’all! I am from Brownsville, Texas and grew up near the Rio Grande River and the Gulf of Mexico. I attended Macalester College in 2015 and graduated with a Bachelors in History in 2019. At Macalester, I expanded my interest for the environment in a range of ways! I was able to hone woodworking, explore urban biking routes, and learn the history of urban environmental spaces. I started living in Saint Paul full-time in 2019.

The most impactful class I took in my undergraduate had us think about the boundary between what we, as people, think of as the exact start/stop of nature and the city. Seeing the relationship between the city and nature looks like going forward seems like a worthy quest! I am eager to see the people and stories I’ll meet, and I’m thrilled to see how I can support and bring some good to the environment and community!

Nature has always been a part of my life. As a kid, I would take walks to search for roly-polys (pillbugs, Armadillidium vulgare). My family also liked taking walks around nature reserves and beaches in South Texas. In Minnesota, I gained a new relationship with nature. My experiences with the Minnesota biome were different to the subtropical biome of South Texas, but I found new ways to enjoy the world around me!  My college helped to grow these relationships by getting me out in nature as well as having me think of nature and the environment in new ways. Now I hope to expand my experiences and knowledge while helping along the Mississippi River! 

When I’m not working, I usually watch television with my cat. I like to window shop at malls, do small arts-and-crafts, and frequent bars/grills in search for the perfect burger!