Tara Kwan (she/her) is the proud daughter of Chinese immigrants and a Monterey Park resident. She visited her first National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, with family while in middle school.
However, her appreciation of the beauty and wonder of the National Park system truly manifested during the pandemic and she has been visiting national parks ever since. She believes in accessible green spaces for the community and their impact in improving mental health outcomes. Tara’s favorite national park that she has visited so far is Lassen Volcanic National Park. She currently works as a psychiatric social worker in community mental health. Tara is also currently a ScholarMatch College Coach and involved with volunteering at local nonprofit organizations. Prior to graduate school, Tara served in AmeriCorps VISTA at the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and worked as a program manager for a nonprofit empowering asylum seekers. She obtained her Master in Social Welfare from UCLA and her B.A. in Political Science from Cal Poly Pomona. To practice self care, Tara enjoys reading, crafting jewelry, and exploring national parks.