ABOUT US
Meet the officer team and learn what we do!
Elizabeth McCracken
Adult Advisor
Mrs. McCracken teaches chemistry and biology at Monta Vista High School and has been teaching since 1989. She lives in Sunnyvale and enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, singing, and gardening.
Darren Chiu
Co-Founder
Darren is a freshman at Cornell University. As a fan of environmental and biological sciences, he is honored to rebuild California's plant life to the natural way it once was while learning more about modern solutions.
Elise Chiu
Co-Founder
Elise is a high school senior in the Bay Area who is passionate about climate change awareness. Aside from her interests in environmental sciences, she loves to draw portraits and is interested in research!
Shaunak Joshi
Content Creator
Shaunak is a freshman at UC San Diego and has taken AP Biology. He enjoys reading, learning about biology, drawing, and swimming.
Jason Chu
Content Creator
From his experience, Jason discovered a passion for helping youth in his community. In his free time, he loves playing the guitar, coding, and playing volleyball
From the Founders
Darren Chiu & Elise Chiu
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, “It is estimated that approximately 66 percent of California’s endemic [native] plant species will experience decreases of up to 80 percent in the size of their ranges within the next 100 years.” Currently, there are about 6,500 native plant species in California at stake.
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This is one of the most significant challenges that California faces, as not only do these native plants contribute to our environment’s biodiversity, but many animal species depend on them for food and shelter. Passionate about tackling anthropogenic climate change, which has heavily affected California’s wide range of biomes, and the declining plant and animal populations in our communities, we founded Native Cali-Flora in hopes of making a difference.
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Today, looking at nature makes it clear that there is no longer the diverse garden of native plants that there once was. Volunteering for tree-planting in middle school for the first time opened our eyes by revealing the drastic effects of invasive species on the native plants around us. Ever since, we have been dedicated to diminishing its threat and to educating others on how to as well, and hope that Native Cali-Flora accomplishes this goal.
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Through our educational blogs, social media awareness, advocacy resources, legislative activism, and volunteer opportunities, we hope to emphasize the importance of California’s precious native plants and also provide ways that you can help preserve them too.
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