The Trust For Public Land Promotes California State Director to Vice President-Pacific Region

Trust for Public Land has promoted California State Director Guillermo Rodriguez to Vice President-Pacific Region.  

Rodriguez is a respected statewide leader in the movement to create climate resilient communities and equity champion who joined the organization in 2017. He has since developed and led the organization’s efforts throughout California—one of Trust for Public Land’s largest program areas.  

Rodriguez spearheaded efforts to bridge the park equity gap by transforming heat absorbing and treeless public school campuses in Oakland into natural and vibrant green schoolyards open to the public during non-school hours, and launched a goal of converting 28 schoolyards in Los Angeles by the time of the Olympics in 2028. He was also pivotal in diversifying the Trust’s conservation partners and aligning the California land conservation portfolio to support the state’s bold climate action strategy of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.  

Rodriguez will stay on as California State Director in addition to taking on responsibility for the organization’s work in Oregon, Washington, and Hawaiʻi. Priorities across the Pacific Region include the vital work of expanding community schoolyards, conserving forests, protecting Hawaiian cultural heritage sites, and building more parks for people within a 10-minute walk of their home. Under Rodriguez’s leadership, TPL will help expand Hawaiʻi’s Volcanoes National Park, finish a community schoolyard in the capital of the Klamath nation, and make the vision of a 100-mile Mountains to Sound Greenway stretching from Seattle to Central Washington a reality.  

“Advancing natural based climate solutions like increasing the number of local parks and open space are the some of the most equitable ways to advance the health and wellbeing of our communities across the country,” Rodriguez said. “I’m excited to work with the dedicated staff across the Pacific region, and our community based partners, to build strong, vibrant and resilient communities centered on community lead engagement.” 

Diane Regas, CEO and President of Trust for Public Land, said: “The impacts of the climate crisis compounded by the pandemic on our vulnerable communities only highlights the need to invest in park equity and integrate natural climate solutions in our land conservation program. We’re excited to see Guillermo building on his success in California across the Pacific Region. Wildfires, heat and flooding do not end at our state borders, strategies and efforts that look holistically at a region are needed to scale successful solutions. Guillermo’s successful nonprofit policy and advocacy work and his extensive experience managing government programs make him the ideal choice for this important role in our organization.” 

About Trust for Public Land 

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where it is needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 3 million acres of public land, created more than 5,000 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $84 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected more than 9 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.