About | Refugia Marin

About us

Refugia Marin sprouted its roots in 2021 with a vision: to revive an area of Corte Madera's Town Park by eradicating invasive plant species and cultivating a haven for local pollinators.

As a nonprofit, our mission extends beyond conservation; we strive to educate the community about the myriad benefits of native plants while creating thriving wildlife habitats.

By forging strong partnerships with schools, community leaders, and like-minded organizations, we work together towards our shared goal of enhancing the natural beauty of our community and creating spaces for people to enjoy.

Founder & Executive Director

Dana Swisher

dana@refugiamarin.org

Dana, a 20-year educator in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District, has transformed the Neil Cummins Elementary School Hawks' Garden into a thriving native habitat.

Her innovative approach to environmental education earned her the prestigious Presidential Innovation Award, inspiring students and staff to connect with nature through hands-on learning and community partnerships.

As the founder of Refugia Marin, Dana continues to expand this vision beyond the classroom, championing the use of native plants, creating wildlife habitats, and enriching community learning.

Our Staff

Deputy Director

Helen Jenkins

Helen combines her expertise in geography, marketing, and communication to champion environmental protection and build meaningful community connections.

Project Manager

Catherine Wolfers

Catherine is an educator, school and community garden champion, and certified Master Gardener dedicated to conscious living and environmental stewardship.

Our Board

President

Jill Rea

Jill is a business leader with expertise in operations, skilled at building and scaling organizations, and devoted to fostering California's native tree canopy.

Vice President

Kristina Wilson

Kristina is a biotech leader, a certified Master Gardener and sustainability advocate, promoting California native gardens for a thriving ecosystem.

Secretary

July Johnson

July, an environmental scientist, promotes environmental education for all ages, passionately championing California native plants, gardens, and habitats for a greener, sustainable future.

Treasurer

Kristen Gregoriev

Kristen has an extensive background of 40+ years in nature-centric small businesses, and revels in transforming her own backyard into a pollinator paradise.

Director

Dawniele Pasha

Dawniele is an experienced garden education specialist, certified Master Gardener and native and pollinator habitat enthusiast.

Director

Gretchen LeBuhn

Gretchen is professor of Biology at SFSU. Her research and publications span the fields of ecology, biodiversity and conservation biology.

Get in touch

EMAIL US

See our work in action

From our expanding Native Habitat Garden to our partnerships with schools.

OUR WORK