IRMA R. MUÑOZ

“My love and deep appreciation for parks comes from the wonderful childhood memories of having a paradise where I could play, dream, run, laugh and explore nature. I want the same ‘paradises’ to always be available, especially to children and youth.” --Irma Muñoz

Irma Muñoz is a community builder, activist, advocate, and instiller of confidence and hope. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Irma is one of seven sisters. She was brought up in a home with strong family values, an unwavering commitment to education and a deep respect for their Mexican heritage and cultural traditions. She is the Founder/President of Mujeres de la Tierra, a non-traditional environmental non-profit in Los Angeles. Mujeres de la Tierra inspires and teaches women and their children to take ownership and leadership of neighborhood issues and challenges. One of the main goals is to identify holistic and practical approaches to solving local environmental issues by balancing efforts to address environmental woes with the needs of family survival.  Mujeres supports the building of healthier and sustainable neighborhoods through public engagement and individual participation. Irma is an avid supporter and advocate of open space and a state park advocate; inspiring hundreds of park users to take an active role in restoration and beautification efforts. As a member of the Latino Coalition, her advocacy work contributed to the passage of the statewide ban on plastic bags, an accomplishment finally realized after eight long years. She also serves on the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Board of Directors, serving as Board Chair in 2013. Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Board where she serves as Vice Chair. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, Irma was named a “community champion” by the Annenberg Foundation for excellence in leadership in Los Angeles County and honored by Senator Curren Price as a “SheHero” for her role in improving the health of families in Senatorial District 26. In 2011, the California State Parks Foundation named her “Park Hero” in their 2011 Annual Report. Her work with Mujeres de la Tierra has been featured in Newsweek Earth Day 2009, the November 2008 issue of O, Oprah Magazine and was named in Hispanic Business Magazine’s 100 Influential Hispanics in October 2008 and La Opinion’s Mujeres Destacadas 2007 community award for leadership. Irma Muñoz attended El Camino Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego and a Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.