A Whole-Watershed Approach to Restoration
Urban Tilth’s Watershed Restoration Field Crew is a dedicated team of young adult apprentices who transitioned into permanent roles after demonstrating exceptional work in the Basins of Relations Training Program. These Richmond residents have developed an extensive skill set to restore and steward local ecosystems, specializing in native plant reintroduction, invasive species removal, trail maintenance, erosion control, and stormwater management.
The crew’s work spans critical sites like Wildcat Creek, Fred Jackson Soils, Albany Hill, and Rheem Creek, emphasizing a whole-watershed approach to ecosystem restoration. By consistently returning to the same sites week after week, year after year, the crew fosters a deep, reciprocal relationship with the land. This ongoing stewardship acknowledges that humans belong to — and are a vital part of — the natural world. The result is a transformative process where both the land and the people who tend it are restored and empowered.
Through partnerships with Contra Costa County Flood Control District, East Bay Regional Parks District, the City of Albany, the City of Richmond, and more, the crew provides long-term care and restoration services on public lands. Their efforts ensure the health and longevity of local creeks, including Wildcat, San Pablo, Codornices, and Cerrito Creeks, creating lasting environmental and community impacts.
Meet Paola
One of the driving forces behind this work is Paola, co-manager of the Watershed Restoration Field Crew. Her journey is a testament to resilience, leadership, and a lifelong passion for nature.
Paola first connected with Urban Tilth through the Basins of Relations apprenticeship program in 2019. While working at Target, she enrolled in the program alongside her now coworker Solwazi — who would later become her mentor and colleague. When an opportunity opened, Paola joined Urban Tilth part-time in community engagement, eventually transitioning to full-time during the pandemic. Over the years, she advanced from apprentice to crew member, and now co-manager.
In her leadership role, Paola oversees day-to-day operations at multiple restoration sites. This includes removing invasive plants, pruning, weeding, seed collection, and infrastructure repairs like fixing fencing and retaining walls. The work is tough — especially during summer fire prevention efforts — but Paola thrives in the physical, hands-on environment.
Her approach to leadership emphasizes trust and empowerment. Paola encourages her team to make decisions independently, fostering confidence and personal accountability. Her leadership style includes team-building hikes, friendly competitions, and fostering a family-like environment. “We check on each other, pick up the slack when someone’s having an off day, and keep each other going,” she says.
For Paola, the work extends beyond physical restoration. It’s about healing the community’s relationship with the land. One of her proudest moments came during the 2023 Summer Youth Apprenticeship Program, where she led a group of boys through workshops on plant medicine, herbal salves, and traditional agua florida. What started as skepticism transformed into genuine interest, with the youth creating salves for their family members — a powerful shift in mindset and connection.
Her journey — from a cashier to a co-leader restoring North Richmond’s waterways — embodies Urban Tilth’s mission of creating environmental stewards who understand the land and their place within it. Paola’s work ensures that restoration isn’t just about the landscape — it’s about nurturing a community that learns to care for the land, themselves, and each other.
Urban Tilth’s Watershed Restoration Field Crew continues to embody this vision, blending environmental stewardship with community empowerment, ensuring Richmond’s sacred waterways thrive for generations to come.