My background is like so many other immigrant stories in this country. My parents struggled to raise and educate four children while adapting to a new language and culture. As a child, I often found myself yearning for a peaceful place – where there didn’t have to be so much conflict and so many rules about how to stay safe.

I found that peace in the San Gabriel Mountains, a wild and beautiful place that too many people in Los Angeles take for granted. It’s right there. The mountains rise up from local foothill communities like a beautiful painting. But they are real – and along with our beaches and deserts, we need to protect our forests and streams. Especially now, with a political movement underway to privatize and sell off public lands, it’s important to appreciate these places and defend them.

I was only eight years old when I discovered the magic of the mountains – walking down a forest trail and hearing only the trees and the sound of a stream flowing over the rocks. This was a place where my imagination could run free and my city problems seemed tiny. Now, when I lead a youth group into the mountains, I have that experience all over again through their eyes.

We need to claim our public lands and make sure they remain open to everyone. Any effort you make to protect the land will be like medicine for the mind, body and soul of generations to come.

Nancy Verdin is a Prevention Programs Coordinator at Day One in Pasadena, California. A graduate of UC Irvine, she earned her B.A. in Sociology. Nancy has also worked as a tutor, mentor, academic and behavioral coach with the Americorp organization, City Year. She is a proud graduate of the San Gabriel Mountains Forever Leadership Academy, which teaches civic engagement and leadership skills to advocate for healthier local communities and to help build a new generation of stewards for our public lands. A native of Pasadena, CA, Nancy is still involved in her community and advocating for youth.