Ayanna's work continues this weekend and beyond, as she gears up to manage upcoming volunteer days on September 6 and October 18. Under Ayanna’s leadership, some 40 volunteers have pulled up 85 large trash bags and an additional 110 cubic yards of invasive non-native plants, enabling the native plants at the site to emerge and thrive.

 

To meet the Gold Award requirement for sustainability and lasting change, Ayanna has been making presentations, networking with community organizations and businesses, obtaining sponsorships, and recruiting leaders to form a community advisory board for Friends of the LAX Dunes (FOLD). Due to her efforts, companies and organizations large and small have committed their time, resources and talents in support of Ayanna’s commitment to restore the Dunes.

 
LAX Dunes Preserve Manager Peggy Nguyen, Environmental Services Division, stated, "Ayanna’s timely involvement, her leadership and her courage have been a blessing for the LAX Adopt-a-Dune Program, which just began earlier this year. We are grateful to all of her sponsors and volunteers for their contributions, and are thoroughly amazed at her organization-building efforts with the Friends of the LAX Dunes and its advisory board.”