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Sustainable Marina

Mission/Goals

Our Mission: 
The mission of CSMC is to help our communities equitably implement sustainable and regenerative practices to slow and adapt to climate change.

Our Goals:   

Provide educational opportunities for the community
Serve as a resource for information on environmental sustainability
Work with the City of Marina and other partners on environmental policy
Create and work on projects that enhance the natural beauty and ecosystems of Marina.

Citizens for Sustainable Marina is one of nine local action groups in Monterey County founded under the auspices of  Communities for Sustainable Monterey County

Unique Characteristics/Focus

The first organizing meeting of C4SM was held on April 20, 2009. We have about 160 members and continue to grow. Our steering committee meets to set goals and plans our public programs.  We were selected to be the the lead planning group for Locke-Paddon Park Earth Day 2010 by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. The Oak Woodland at Locke-Paddon has become one of our major work sites. Our projects and programs are open to the public, and admission is free.

We work on native restoration areas, encourage green building practices and new urbanism, waste reduction and cleanup, water conservation, use of alternative energy, energy reduction, carpooling, pedestrian-friendly urban design, city bike paths and urban parks, protection of endangered and endemic species, and alternate transportation.  We supported the signing and implementation of the Urban Environmental Accords and the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and all sustainability issues.

Who We Are

Karen Andersen
Chair & Earth Day Coordinator
Karen Andersen moved to Marina in 2019 after a lengthy career in Women's Health with Kaiser Permanente in the SF Bay Area. Eager to leave the years as a lab biologist behind, Karen quickly found her way into the local sustainable living scene. Long interested in non-toxic, natural, and minimal-waste living, the programs held by the Monterey Bay Aquarium (where Bea Johnson spoke, and Sustainable Seaside recruited for a zero-waste grocery and household goods coop), and Plastic-Free Sustainable Pacific Grove were appealing. Karen also became involved in the local songbird banding project, the Marina Tree and Garden Club, the local chapter of the CNPS and native plant nursery, while converting her 1296 sq ft front yard to a CA native plant habitat, becoming involved with Citizens for Just Water, and, finally, a volunteer with the MBA as a Sea Otter field tracker (trading the microscope for a spotting scope). With a lengthy background in environmental activism, including newspaper drives with her 4-H club, running the campus Ecology Center recycling program at CSU Fresno, signing up Fresno households for curbside recycling, participating in CA Native Garden and Urban Homesteading tours, and completing the Permaculture Design Certificate, Karen is enjoying being a part of this vibrant community.
Catrina Blair
Treasurer

Catrina moved in 2013 from Sunnyvale California and lives with her daughter in Marina. She loves working with children and has spent much of her career in Early Childhood Education working in Special Education and Primary care classrooms. She also enjoys working in the outdoors and is currently a tree trimmer for Smith Tree Service located in Marina.

Since moving to the area she has enjoyed participating in many local volunteer groups focused on sustainability and community enhancement. Aside from being a member of several local volunteer groups and acting as a board member for Friends of Marina Parks, she is currently the treasurer for C4SM and enjoys participating in their weekly Saturday gardening events.

Bruce Delgado
Neighborhood Clean-Up Coordinator

Bruce began learning about sustainable living in Arcata, CA and attending Humboldt State University (HSU). While at HSU he founded a university club called the Campus Recycling Project(CRP). This began a life of public service for Bruce who is currently Mayor of the City of Marina and Botanist for the Bureau of Land Management on Fort Ord. Since 2011 Bruce has been appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve on the Central Coast Water Quality Control Board. Bruce is a strong believer that we must both slow our population increases and reduce consumption if we want future generations to have access to clean water, air, and natural areas in which to recharge our zest for life. Bruce enjoys time with family and organizing volunteer litter pick up and other community events.

Nick Kite
Vice President

Nick has a strong passion for the environment and his community. Born locally on Fort Ord prior to its closure to a naval officer father and an English mother.  He currently works as the Director of ReStores for Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay. Nick's work has him knee-deep in sustainability and landfill diversion every day. His passion spills over to his volunteer efforts with Citizens for Sustainable Marina.

Joshelyn Martin
Secretary

Joshelyn is originally from the Monterey County area, having spent time throughout California and Vermont, prior to returning to work at California State University, Monterey Bay in 2019.  Joshelyn’s educational background is in sociology and higher education administration, and she currently works at CSUMB within the housing department as their Assistant Director of Residential Life for Care and Support.

For most of Joshelyn’s career, her focus has focused on inclusive efforts to support college and university students as they navigate attaining a college degree.

Joshelyn’s passion for sustainability efforts within the Marina community evolved while completing CSUMB’s Sustainability Leaders Program and volunteering at Locke Paddon Park’s Oak Woodland restoration project. As a direct result of her involvement, she aims to encourage others to become better connected with their community and build relationships through stewardship of the environment they inhabit.

Through Joshelyn's own experience with feeling a stronger sense of belonging through her volunteer work she hopes people, particularly students, of all ages and backgrounds may benefit from a similar outcome while engaging with Citizens for Sustainable Marina.