Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia King Quick.
Natalia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The journey to where I am today has been a wonderful, long, and twisting one, spurred by the discovery of new passions and opportunities. What started as a love for biology in high school led me to a number of different interests and I have been lucky to have found roles that allow me to explore and work in a number of fields. At first, my interest for the biological as well as astronomy (and the fabulous Jodie Foster’s “Contact”) led me an interest in astrobiology, which translated into my joining NASA’s Ames Educator Resource Center at the age of 16 to act as a docent & lead interactive field trips for 4-6th graders. As fun as that was, it was a bit too much of a commute for a high schooler from my parent’s in Livermore to Moffett Field for a volunteer position, and so it began less regular as the summer ended. Once I graduated from high school, I picked up my first paid job at the local In N Out Burger and prepared to enter the local community college, Las Positas, in the fall.
After four years of the Burger, moving to Berkeley and then to Oakland, three store transfers, a work-related back injury, and then being accepted to UC San Diego (UCSD), I was ready for a change, I had truly enjoyed the experience of working at stores and the friends that I had made (a number of which are still my best friends now, nine so years later) but it was time to get back on track – my original plan had been to pursue a B.S. in Biology and I wanted to find a role better aligned with that.
During my time in community college, I had gained a fascination with Ecology, and the statewide drought of the time had led me to discover the ideals of Conservation and Sustainability. With these new passions found, I knew that was the path I wanted to travel. So when I saw a position open for Science Coordinator of Camp Tzofim, a summer camp ran by East Bay’s Jewish Community Center (JCC), I leapt at the chance, applied, and was subsequently welcomed onto the team. Instead of working at the Burger, I spent my last summer in the Bay working with students K-8 on whatever science experiments or projects I thought would spark their love in science too. And it worked! We formed crystals, tended the school’s garden, looked at anything & everything under my childhood microscope, “wow” ed at the way the Shy Guy plant would close up to touch, explored viscosity, exploded watermelons, and more. It was an awesome experience that I will always appreciate. Getting to introduce that spark for science in as many children as I did make it one of the most fulfilling roles I have ever worked.
In the Fall of 2015, I transferred into UCSD as a major in Ecology, Animal Behavior, and Evolution. My sister, Sasha, had also been accepted as a Freshman with a passion for theatre. We moved down that September, glad to know we’d have each other as neighbors in a place where we wouldn’t yet know anyone.
My time at UCSD was interesting. In short, their education style was not for me – lectures going over the info once and then expecting the students to essentially teach themselves, then regurgitate in exams. Thankfully, while most of the structures of my classes were “meh,” I was grateful when I started to meet other like-minded friends in my ecology classes. Shortly after this, I discovered the sustainability community when I was nominated for & won the year’s “Sustainability Award: Outstanding Undergrad.” After the night of the award’s ceremony and getting to meet as many people with a passion for sustainability as I did, I had found my community.
Before long, I became known on campus for the 150+ succulents potted in front of my door, my passion for environment & water conservation, and then as the “Sustainability RA” when in my second year I joined the Resident Advisors’ team in the Village at UCSD with a platform of environmental education. In this second year, I also took on another role and joined UCSD’s first-ever team of Sustainability Ambassadors. The Ambassadors were made up of myself and about ten other students, who spent a year learning from sustainability professionals of all fields so that we could better share this information with our peers through a “teach-the-teachers” approach. This experience offered me a wonderfully unique opportunity to learn about food insecurity, climate change, water conservation, global health, and more from a number of awe-inspiring experts.
As I met more people throughout my time at UCSD, I eventually made the acquaintance of Michael Mnatsakanian, another member of the sustainability community. Mike had recently founded SustainaBinity, a start-up determined to bring zero waste essentials at a cost-effective price to our peers & community members. I thought he had a great idea and shared my interest in joining his team. We worked hard to grow as a company and I stepped up to do whatever was needed – social media, marketing, photos, website design, you name it. We eventually rebranded to The Sustainable Switch, and my effort for the company was recognized by promotion to Chief Operating Officer.
After graduating in Fall 2017, I began my search for a full time (and paying) job. Truthfully, I had no idea where my path was leading to next – I just knew I wanted to work in sustainability & environment, and other than that, I was open to just about anything as long as it aligned with those interests. I searched for something that could be that job I was looking for and picked up on odd jobs to help pay rent in the meantime – mostly nannying, with a short housecleaning gig of a La Jolla home. At times, it felt like there was nothing right for me, or at least nothing that was right and also accepting someone’s entry-level. But after a couple of months, I saw an open position for “Recycling Assistant” – and it was with I Love A Clean San Diego, one of the most notable environmental nonprofits in the area! I interviewed for the position, eager for the opportunity, and heard back the good news a month later. I had been hired!
The next two years at I Love were a fantastic experience of community involvement, education, providing waste diversion resources, litter abatement, and working with an amazing team. After the first six months, I was promoted to full time, and just before my one year mark, I was asked to take over management of the Recycling Programs Department.
Our Department’s main project was the management of the County’s recycling, donation, & repair database, WasteFreeSD.org, and the corresponding hotline. It was through this work that I gained way more knowledge about waste diversion in our County than I had ever previously thought I would hold. Once I took on the managerial role, I had also begun managing a number of our contracted tasks with the County, including updating the database, promoting recycling events & info to residents, hosting Fix-It Clinics & Swap Parties, community outreach booths, and oil recycling events.
Besides the many County-funded tasks I worked on, there was one other main program we ran – Clean Beach Coalition, or CBC. CBC was a joint effort with the City of San Diego’s Parks & Recreation Department to provide extra trash & recycle bins on the main City beaches & bay fronts during Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends to combat the excess litter from celebrating beachgoers. This, as well as our community cleanups, was one of my favorite programs since it provided us with tangible results & data on pounds of waste diverted from the environment & ocean.
Last year, I was told that a new position had opened up with the County of San Diego’s Recycling Section. Though I had been encouraged to, I wasn’t sure if I should apply – I really loved my position and the team where I was and wasn’t sure that I would want to leave. I struggled with the decision for a couple weeks, but before long, it clicked. This was an awesome opportunity and it would be silly to not even try! I applied, excited at the idea of working with colleagues that I already had there, and waited. And waited. And waited some more.
Just when it felt like I couldn’t wait anymore (and was shopping in Sprouts), I received the offer to interview. Feeling like I was going to burst of excitement, I quickly finished with groceries and ran out to immediately call my partner, Matthew. “BABE, THEY WANT TO INTERVIEW ME!” I semi-shrieked through the phone. I set the interview time and read through the requirements – whoa, they wanted me to present an original PowerPoint in favor or against of Senate Bill 705 and there’s an essay question? How intense, but ok! Ready for the challenge, I spent the following week leading up to the interview, furiously creating & memorizing my presentation.
Three months later, here I am – a Recycling Specialist with the Department of Public Works! It’s been a good past couple of months with the County team, and as always, I’m excited at the new opportunities that this role has to offer. In this role, I am now responsible for making sure that all commercial properties & multi-family complexes in the unincorporated County are properly recycling & diverting their organics – so if you know of any properties in need of free assistance or aren’t recycling, I’m the gal to let know!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest obstacles along my journey have been those of my back injury, supporting myself through community college, finding a job post-graduation (and making rent during that time), and now (go figure) the current pandemic we’re facing. A number of other challenges have presented themselves as well through the years – robbery, loss of loved ones, lack of housing, and more.
The road has certainly had its bumps, but I’m grateful that it’s always seemed to balance out in the end. Though there has been a series of unfortunate events that occurred along the way, the brightest times always seem to come after the worst. That’s not to say that they make the bad times any better. But without the bad times, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the good as much – and so for that, I am grateful.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
As of February 2020, I am a proud County of San Diego employees! Myself and eight others make up the Solid Waste Planning & Recycling Section, which falls under the Department of Public Works. Our Section aims to preserve precious landfill space, conserve natural resources, save water and energy, decrease pollution, increase jobs, and strengthen the economy. We do this by providing technical assistance, resources, education, and outreach to businesses, multi-family complexes, and residents all throughout the unincorporated San Diego region. We work to increase edible food diversion & donation, organics diversion, construction & demolition (C&D) recycling & reuse, and more! We are also responsible for making sure that all covered properties that need to be recycling, as mandated by both the State’s & the County’s standards, are doing so.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are a number of people who I would like to thank for helping to have got me where I am today.
My parents, John & Anastasia, my sister Sasha, and my Bobo, Nadia. You are my longest supporters and have loved and supported me unconditionally. Thank you for the years of encouragement and experiences that instilled the sparks of love for science within me. Thank you for everything you have ever done and everything you will ever do. I am proud to call you my people!
My husband, Matthew. Since the day we met, while I was promoting oil recycling at O’Reilly’s and you were walking dogs for the local animal sanctuary, my appreciation for you has never stopped growing. I am thankful every day for that chance meeting and what has come of it – especially for your interest in my passions and mine in yours, our ability and willingness to grow together, our mutual nerdiness, and our unabashed gushy love for all animals. I’m glad to call you, my partner. Thank you for always pushing me to be my best.
My NorCal family. You are the oldest, most treasured group of friends I have ever had. I am thankful for the experiences we have had and that I had never doubted that we’ll be having experiences for years to come, even if there’s more time that goes by between those than when we were all together in the Bay. And a special shout out to the Burger Fam – you are the sprouts from which my NorCal family truly blossomed! You are appreciated, always.
My SoCal family. I am so grateful to have had your friendships these past few years. Without you, I really don’t know where I would be! You have been some of the biggest ones to push and support me as I journeyed along my career path, and I’m incredibly grateful for the late nights, long conversations, hair styling, outfit choosing, couch crashing, and so much more that helped lead me to where I am now. Besides supporting me in my career, thank you also for the laughs, the games, and the time together. Without you, San Diego would be a lot lonelier! I am forever grateful for all the light and love you all have brought into my life.
My community and colleagues. You are the ones who make this career and journey as enjoyable as it is. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you, to learn with you, to grow with you, and to serve you.
Contact Info:
- Website: WasteFreeSD.org
I Love A Clean San Diego – CleanSD.org, The Sustainable Switch – thesustainableswitch.com, County of San Diego, Department of Public Works Solid Waste Planning & Recycling – R1Earth.org - Phone: 8586943553
- Email: natalia.king@sdcounty.ca.gov
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theecologicallady/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliaking/
Image Credit:
I Love A Clean San Diego
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