Karla Ramos

Watershed Technician

Karla joined the Watershed Restoration Field Crew in 2024 after graduating from the Rudy Lozito Fellowship at the North Richmond Farm. Karla lives in San Pablo and is excited by the opportunity to care for native plants and the natural spaces here in our community. Outside of work, Karla is an artist and painter, and likes to hike and read poetry. Karla also has experience working on plumbing systems, and will bring this expertise to support our Water Conservation and residential greywater installations.

Leo Ceja

Watershed Technician

Leo joined the Watershed Restoration Field Crew after graduating from the Basins of Relations Training Program in 2021. Leo grew up in Richmond, and has been a key leader of our efforts to care for and restore native habitat and waterways in West County over the last 4 years. Leo has also helped support and teach our Summer Youth Apprenticeship Program (SYAP), helping young people understand and care for watershed ecosystems. In his free time, Leo practices martial arts, and is also studying to become an electrician.

Kaaveh Sirjani

Water Conservation Apprentice

Kaaveh Sirjani joined the Watershed Restoration team as a Water Conservation Apprentice after excelling in and graduating from the Basins of Relations Training Program in 2023. Kaaveh has a long-standing interest in wildlife biology and wildlife conservation, and is excited to bring that interest in and care for wildlife to UT’s work. Kaaveh is currently a student at Berkeley City College, and is a talented artist. Kaaveh received a certification in Laundry-to-landscape greywater recycling system installation from Greywater Action in March 2024. At home, Kaaveh has a cat and 2 snakes.

Katherine Hurtado Rico

Water Conservation Apprentice

Katherine Hurtado Rico joined the Watersheds team as a Water Conservation Apprentice after excelling in and graduating from the Basins of Relations Training Program in 2023. Katherine lives in Richmond and loves the opportunity UT provides to visit, learn about, and care for a diversity of ecosystems across the Richmond community in partnership with other UT staff and our partner organizations like Sogorea Te’ Land Trust. Katherine received a certification in Laundry-to-landscape greywater recycling system installation from Greywater Action in March 2024. At home, Katherine has three cats (Mittens is the best).

Cheryl Lopez-Jimenez

Community Engagement Manager

I’m a Richmond Native whose family immigrated from Mexico and built a life deeply rooted in the city. I’m deeply passionate about empowering my community to celebrate and care for one another while fostering a shared pride for Richmond. I believe in strengthening our bonds to the land and creating spaces where everyone feels connected and supported. With a background in behavior analysis, I’m also a dedicated advocate for autism acceptance. Outside of work, I channel my creativity through arts and crafts and approach every challenge with a “can-do” spirit.

Leobardo “Leo” Ceja

Watershed Restoration Field Crew

Cyrus Gangei

Water Conservation Program Manager

Cyrus Gangei joined Urban Tilth in the Summer of 2023 to expand the Basins of Relation program with the inclusion of a water conservation curriculum. Cyrus works alongside the Watershed crew to offer laundry-to-landscape, drip irrigation, and rainwater catchment systems to low-income homeowners free of charge. Before joining Urban Tilth, Cyrus studied Environmental Design at Arizona State University where he received the Fall 2021 Program award for his work to provide water conservation opportunities to the underprivileged community of Central City South Phoenix. Cyrus grew up in Berkeley with a love for everything nature, food, and sports. He currently coaches and plays for an adult softball league to provide him with that sense of competition and team comradery. Cyrus has been inspired by Urban Tilth’s mission to empower the community through land stewardship. He hopes to educate and inspire others by creating a pathway to economic empowerment by helping families most in need become more resilient to the effects of climate change.

Angelina “Angie” Burkley

Watershed Restoration Field Crew

My name is Angelina Burkley. Born in Oregon but raised in California most of my life! I went to Sacramento State and got my B.A. in Early Childhood Education. I started working with UT when I joined the Basins of relations apprenticeship program and fell in love with watershed work. I work with the watershed crew part time! I love reading, painting, learning new things and acquiring different skills. UT is awesome! Watershed for life!

Jessica “Jessie” Blanquel

Watershed Restoration Field Crew

Lucas Barrera

Watershed Community Engagement Coordinater

Lucas Javier Barrera, the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Watersheds Crew, has spent over a decade enhancing gardens and natural spaces in the Bay Area and L.A. With a background in History, Lucas is grateful for Urban Tilth’s opportunity to serve and steward his Richmond community. Beyond work, he delights in engaging with community members through activities like pool or pickleball, and exploring the Bay Area’s natural treasures. Lucas counts working with local youth in U.T.’s Apprenticeship Program as a career highlight.