How I Fell In Love With Environmental Education

By Safina Center Conservation Videography Fellow Isaias Hernandez

For me, environmental education didn’t begin in a classroom. It began at home with my mother. As a first-generation low-income Mexican-American, I grew up in a world where knowledge was survival and curiosity was my compass. Before public school and textbooks, there was her, my first teacher. Back in her hometown in Mexico, her dream was simple yet glowing: to teach. To make literacy accessible to everyone. She worked her way through college, earned her teaching degree, and carried that fire with her across the border.

Isaias as a child growing up in Los Angeles, California. ©Isaias Hernandez

As the youngest of three, she reminded us that Spanish wasn’t just a language. It was a gift. Learning to write and speak it meant connecting to our roots and understanding the vast beautiful tapestry of languages and cultures across the world.

My early relationship with environmentalism was scattered and formed through small moments. I didn’t grow up going on nature hikes or camping trips. I grew up watching the Discovery Channel and Nat Geo, studying animals and ecosystems I had never touched. I saw biologists, conservationists, and environmental storytellers on screen, people who never looked like me. Still, I admired them. I quietly dreamed of doing what they did. But a part of me believed I couldn’t. That I wasn’t smart enough. That kids like me growing up in poverty weren’t meant to be on screen, let alone in science.

Years later, I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Environmental Science. But I didn’t stop there. I wanted to create something of my own. I built QueerBrownVegan, a digital home to weave together environmental education, storytelling, and cultural memory. What started as one page became a community—a space where people who looked like me, felt like me, and dreamed like me could learn, grow, and reclaim environmentalism in their own voice.

Eventually, that dream I had as a kid came back. But I knew I couldn’t wait for someone to discover me. So I made my own show. I launched a digital web series called Teaching Climate Together—a DIY project with a vision bigger than the budget, fueled by storytelling, passion, and a camera that never stopped recording. An episodic series that was inspired by my earlier educational posts where I delved into subjects of environmental terms.

First ever episode for Teaching Climate Together featuring Dr. elin kelsey. ©Isaias Hernandez

In just two years, we’ve produced more than six episodes covering everything from urban ecology in Los Angeles to the intersection of mental health and climate grief in Finland, all the way to the Mojave Desert. Each episode is grounded in the voices of scholars, organizers, and cultural workers sharing solutions rooted in the now.

And we know this work matters. According to the 2021 Pearson Global Learning Survey, one in four young people today are learning about climate change through social media. That’s why building digital ecosystems of trust, knowledge, and storytelling is more urgent than ever.

Isaias Hernandez at Mojave Desert Land Trust working with their seed lab. ©Isaias Hernandez

We’re now in development for Season 2, which is all about local ecology. We want to remind people that restoration doesn’t have to start with a visit to a sanctuary or a high-tech tool. Sometimes the most glowing thing you can do is look inward. Start in your backyard, your windowsill, your sidewalk. Season 2 is about reconnecting to place, to plants, and to possibility.

Our first episode begins filming on May 1 in collaboration with the incredible team at the Theodore Payne Foundation. They’ve dedicated their work to inspiring Southern Californians through the power and beauty of native plants, and we’re honored to share that story with you.

Isaias at Theordore Payne Foundation, preparing for his upcoming shoot. ©Isaias Hernandez

We can’t wait to share more in the months ahead. Three more episodes are on the horizon. Until then, thank you for following along this journey. Whether you’re new to this space or have been here since day one, your support reminds me that this path rooted in culture, justice, and joy is one worth growing together.