Our Team
Our team is composed of passionate individuals that have worked in a variety of environmental and sustainability fields. We started Together for Nature because we want to help our community improve their social and environmental impacts in holistic manners.
Community Specialists.
Alondra Velazquez
Education Specialist
Alondra is a recent graduate of Lake Forest College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Biology and Visual Science Communication and a Spanish minor. She began her involvement with Together for Nature during its founding after completing her involvement with the first Youth Mentorship program cohort and has since continued volunteering for the organization as part of the Education, Mentorship, and Events team. Alondra is passionate about conservation work and finding ways to involve and bridge gaps for underserved and underrepresented communities. As such, she hopes to help expand the organization into other communities such as back in her hometown, Chicago. In the near future, Alondra also plans to continue her academics and seek out graduate education either in ecology/conservation field research or scientific illustration. She believes visuals are an important tool for education and hopes to someday work to illustrate material that can be used to teach science. In her free time, Alondra likes to hangout with friends, draw, play music, hike, and explore the city.
alondra@togetherfornatureil.com
Katia Pilar Carranza
Administrative Specialist
katia@togetherfornatureil.com
Katia Pilar Carranza is a sustainability researcher, strategist, and organizer focused on improving the reciprocal interconnections between people and nature while increasing equity for multicultural people. Sustainability became her passion over fifteen years ago when she learned that climate change is threatening the health of our people and environment. Since then, Katia became impassioned to take action, and she has directed transdisciplinary initiatives focused on advancing the environmental and social vision of her communities. In 2020, she founded the Together for Nature nonprofit in her hometown that is working on connecting underserved people and youth to nature and sustainability leadership. Katia obtained Master of Science in Natural Resource Sciences because she wants to better prepare for advancing the vision of her communities in sustainability and climate solutions. Katia is committed to continue collaborating with her communities to advance our visions for equitable sustainability that heals our social and environmental relationships.
Board.
Bianca Bellino is a dedicated advocate for leveraging education, business, and innovation to advance environmental and social impact. As National Program Director at Resilience Education, she led operations, strategy, and the expansion of in-prison educational programs in collaboration with universities and businesses. At Columbia Business School, Bianca co-founded and co-chaired the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Social Justice (IDEAS) Committee for staff members, spearheaded the school’s first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report using GRI standards, co-founded the Directly Impacted Group supporting formerly incarcerated individuals, and helped launch the ReEntry Acceleration Program (REAP) and multiple mentorship programs. Her sustainability expertise includes conducting Greenhouse Gas emissions inventories, leading materiality assessments, and providing ESG recommendations to organizations across sectors, from real estate to direct-to-consumer goods, ensuring alignment with sustainability goals. Previously, as a FEMA Corps Disaster Survivor Assistant, Bianca earned the Congressional Medal and the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her disaster recovery work from President Obama and the US Congress. Bianca holds an MPA from Columbia University, specializing in Advanced Management, Finance, and Sustainability Management, and a BA from Goucher College in Public Policy. She brings her expertise in sustainability, advocacy, and program management to Together for Nature’s mission of improving social and environmental conditions in northeastern Illinois.​
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Bianca Bellino
Board Member
bianca@togetherfornatureil.com
coming soon!
Citlalli Trujillo
Board Member
citlalli@togetherfornatureil.com
coming soon!
Erikka Adams
Board Member
erikka@togetherfornatureil.com
coming soon!
Laura Magana
Board Member
laura@togetherfornatureil.com
Lindsey Nystrom is a climate resilience professional with 8+ years of experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Specializing in equity-driven vulnerability assessments, Lindsey leverages data analysis and localized insights to empower communities in the face of climate change. Currently serving as a GIS Manager at Fernleaf, Lindsey collaborates with local governments to develop climate resilience strategies that address increasing climate impacts, particularly in underserved and marginalized communities. With a background in Environmental Equity and American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Lindsey brings a deep understanding of the systemic and intersectional challenges posed by climate change to the team. Driven by curiosity and compassion, they have championed campaigns for fossil fuel divestment, coordinated institutional sustainability initiatives at their alma mater UNC Asheville, and worked alongside local governments & Indigenous communities to support culturally-informed climate action. Lindsey’s expertise in GIS, science communication, and compassionate stakeholder collaboration helps to create meaningful advocacy for a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future. In their free time, Lindsey enjoys petting dogs, eating snow cones, and walking along the lake in Chicago.
Lindsey Nystrom
Board Member
lindsey@togetherfornatureil.com
coming soon!
Robert Zuniga
Board Member
robert@togetherfornatureil.com