Raquel is the Policy Manager and a volunteer steward at the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Illinois. She leads district-wide initiatives that improve work culture, operations and community access to the Forest Preserves. Raquel was named as one of 16 Impactful and Influential Eco-Warriors Making a Difference for the Environment in 2021 according to Marin Magazine.  Raquel has a Master’s Degree in Environment and Natural Resource Management from the University of Iceland in Reykjavík and an undergraduate degree in Animal Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Raquel is from the vibrant south side Little Village neighborhood in Chicago and has visited over 50 countries world-wide.