The Welcome Week and Beyond-Maria Lopez Vazquez -Landscape Architecture 2026

As a Maharam Fellow with the Tijuana River National Estuary Research Reserve (TRNERR), I hit the ground running. 

After a great intro-briefing meeting with my Mentor, Ana Xochitl Eguarte, the Binational Liaison for TRNERR, I was up to date on the multiple projects and activities on the radar for the next couple of weeks.

One of the first events I attended was a think tank on binational education led by a California Assembly member. I was happily surprised by the efforts and incentives local institutions, private and public alike, are setting up to facilitate transborder education. They acknowledge the rich tapestry of experiences coming out of the region and want to promote and facilitate it. 

In my second week, I witnessed the culmination of years of collaborations with different non-profits to create recycled products sourced from local waste. This project was featured in the 2024 San Diego-Tijuana World Design Capital. 

This week, I am turning a technical trash characterization report into a readable and user-friendly document that everyone can understand. The trash that is affecting the Estuary is the same kind that can be upcycled into these amazing products. This flyer is geared towards raising awareness in the community.  

It has been an amazing start. I’ve met many people who love the San Diego -Tijuana region and are working on improving it, it’s all about collaboration from different fields, and It’s comforting and inspiring.

The Grand Beginning – Alex Hogue, BRDD Illustration 2026

Happy Summer! I am super excited to write about my initial experiences working with The Grand Adventure this summer! 

The Grand Adventure is a non-profit that offers a variety of in-person and virtual programs and support for pediatric and adult cancer survivors in the beautiful natural environment of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. To begin my experience, I have been meeting with the wonderful staff and organizers of organization, and I was able to attend the most recent session of the Boundless program, a virtual interactive program for pediatric cancer patients who are unable to travel or leave the hospital. This program is a way for all patients to be included in the immersive environment of the Grand Teton National Park! Each session is a unique experience in collaboration with one particular aspect of the amazing wildlife and nature in Yellowstone. The session I attended was hosted by the National Elk Refuge. Led by Kari, the Education and Outreach Coordinator, we walked through the elk refuge and saw so much incredible wildlife and nature! It was incredibly engaging, and I too learned so much that I didn’t know before! 

Just a few fun facts I learned:

1. Almost all animals, including bears, love to snack on dandelions!
2. While the majority of bird species have vibrantly colored males in contrast to “duller” females, both male and female geese look nearly identical in coloring due to the fact that they “co-parent” the young geese.
3. The National Elk Refuge gets between 5,000 and 8,000 elk during the winter months! But, during the summer months, they see much fewer because the elk prefer to stay high up in the mountains where it is safer from predators and much cooler.

While we didn’t see any elk during the session, we did see a variety of native birds, many adorable ground squirrels, and so much gorgeous natural scenery. I was also able to meet some of the children, and I was incredibly impressed with all of their insightful questions about the Elk Refuge. 

I feel like this was a wonderful introduction to what The Grand Adventure is all about, and I look forward to being involved in more of the programs and learning more in the upcoming months!

I am also beginning to work on some illustrations! I have been meeting with Bree and Stacey (two of the primary coordinators of the non-profit), and we discussed the importance of capturing the mission and values of the programs through illustrations and visuals since photographs can’t capture the essence of their programs. (Photographs can also not often even be used due to HIPPA restrictions.) Especially for an audience of children, but even for adults too, visuals can be a powerful means of providing an understanding of the program that paragraphs cannot. To begin my work, I will create a visual that captures the Boundless Program based on my experience attending. I am also super excited to create a celebratory illustration for one of the children who is finishing up her cancer treatment soon!

I look forward to sharing what I work on in the coming weeks!