Lina O'Bresly is a CivicSpark Fellow with the Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA) through AmeriCorps. Although not a County of Tulare employee, she is part of the Grants & Resources team, working under the guidance of Grants & Resource Manager Denise England and Grants Analyst Doreen Alvez. Lina’s current focus is gaining hands-on experience in environmental governance, project management, and related areas.
One of the key projects Lina is involved in is funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Grant. This initiative aims to build capacity within the Forest Health Task Force by enhancing stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Recently, Lina played a key role in organizing a meeting of stakeholders, which aimed to strengthen the team’s capacity by revisiting shared values and facilitating dialogue among members. This experience allowed her to learn about the logistics of organizing such events, including coordinating stakeholders, identifying key participants, and even handling logistical details like meal planning based on participants' preferences.
Lina is also contributing to public outreach efforts, ensuring that the community is aware of the projects being implemented. During the winter months, when project site access is limited, she is focused on creating educational materials that will be shared through the RMA’s Forest Health website. As an example, the Sequoia National Forest Hazard Fuels Reduction Story Map, has helped her refine her GIS skills to meet professional standards and ensure that the materials she creates reach a broader audience.
Overall, Lina says she is finding her experience at Tulare County RMA deeply satisfying and looks forward to continuing her work with us for a few more months. Interested in opportunities at the RMA? Take a look at our current employment opportunities by visiting governmentjobs.com/careers/tulare or emailing RMA@tularecounty.ca.gov.