I Am TreePeople : Scarlet Sobraine

If you walk into Yurt Village on a Tuesday, you might notice a head of purple hair peaking out from behind a computer. That’s Scarlet Sobraine, one of the fabulous volunteers at TreePeople.

“Keeping the planet alive is my legacy,” Sobraine says. As a third-generation Angeleno, creating a sustainable city is her top priority.

Our Resident Forest Creature

While she playfully refers to herself as a “forest creature” and a die-hard nature enthusiast, Scarlet has diligently sacrificed her time in an unexpected role: data entry. Despite the long hours and arduous work, Scarlet has remained committed. “This is how I contribute to a greener LA,” she explained.

She attributes her early love for nature to camping with her grandfather and trips to the Angeles as a Girl Scout. She remembers feeling a unique connection to the trees, even as a young child. “Each tree had its own smell!” she exclaimed, recalling how certain trees smelled like chocolate, vanilla or even strawberry.

Trees aren’t her only love. She also has a big heart for animals. In fact, Scarlet is often seen humbly filling up bird baths and water bowls for the local wildlife. In light of the drought, she knows they need extra care, too.19173102258_501f665a32_k

Scarlet is also passionate about recycling and increasing our conservation efforts. “Think about it,” she said, “On a daily basis, if we all recycled just one thing, what kind of change would we make?”

For Scarlet, volunteering with TreePeople has offered a sense of satisfaction and peace of mind. She knows she’s contributing to a cleaner city, with less pollution and smog.

When asked what keeps her at TreePeople, she expressed a deep love for the people she’s met. “The world needs more Andys,” she said, referencing our Founder and President, Andy Lipkis.

While we echo her sentiment, we think the world could benefit from more Scarlet Sobraines, too.

Want to give back to your community, and work toward a climate resilient Los Angeles? We need you! Visit our website to find opportunities to volunteer.

By Erika Abdelatif

Erika Abdelatif is TreePeople’s Social Media and Digital Content Manager. When she isn't creating a climate-resilient LA via the Facebook, she's probably writing in a coffee shop, infesting the internet with memes, or watching an open mic.