Humans of the Redwoods

A former cannabis trimmer who thrived in Humboldt's pre-legalization industry, Kathy now navigates homelessness, part-time work, and years-long housing waitlists while finding belonging and resilience through the inclusive community at Eureka's Jefferson Community Center.

Born and raised on the Hoopa reservation, Pliny now works in Eureka helping justice-involved individuals and people with substance use disorders navigate a local labor market where getting hired often depends more on who you know than what you've applied for.

An artist and educator living with cerebral palsy in Lake County, Alicia has spent over two decades navigating limited transportation, specialist shortages, and inaccessible infrastructure — while finding community and purpose through the region's vibrant arts scene.

A park interpreter at Jedediah Smith State Park, Kyle relocated from Long Beach to Crescent City for a dream job and now champions Del Norte's untapped ecotourism potential and the passionate community of naturalists working to protect it.

A monolingual Spanish-speaking immigrant raising an autistic son in Ukiah, Tania navigates language barriers and a shortage of behavioral and speech therapists while advocating for more bilingual services and consistent care for children with special needs.

A Hmong interpreter and translator in Eureka, Bao bridges language and cultural gaps for monolingual community members navigating healthcare, schools, and courtrooms, while watching a shortage of fluent younger speakers put growing pressure on the few translators still available.

A boba shop owner, business analyst, and Hmong community advocate in Crescent City, Poua is working to bring a Hmong-owned meat processing facility to Del Norte while weighing whether the region can offer the family-friendly opportunities her children deserve.

A Mendocino native living with severe carpal tunnel syndrome, Michael draws on his own experience navigating inaccessible transportation and scarce specialized care to advocate for expanded local nursing programs and more reliable healthcare in rural communities.

A trans woman who has spent her life in Crescent City, Keyara helped organize Del Norte's first Pride event as part of her effort to build safer, more inclusive spaces in a community she loves but finds difficult to fully inhabit.