ABOUT REVOLU
The name
REVOLÚ (noun)
[rreh-boh-loo]
Puerto Rican slang for mess, chaos, drama.
Like a hurricane, or the act of dismantling oppressive systems.
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THE MISSION
To build mutual resiliency in North East Los Angeles through the collective stewardship of California native plants.
With the native plants as our foundation and throughline, REVOLU initiatives include installing native gardens, facilitating educational programs and workshops, and fostering professional development.
All our projects aim to deepen the interconnectedness of our urban ecosystem——no matter one’s race, class, age, gender, sexuality or species.
MEET EL CORILLO
Executive Director & Lead DesignerJustin Bonilla
he/him
Justin is a native plant landscape designer, partnering with schools and community spaces to help steward a sense of place, ecological belonging and mutual aid among all beings. Born and raised in Queens, New York City, Justin is and forever will be a city boy. You will usually learn he’s Puerto Rican at least three sentences into any conversation with him.
He formally served as a Community Forestry Fellow with TreePeople’s Community Forestry Team. Today he is a certified regenerative California Native Plant Landscaper with a dark, dark past as a TV writer…
Maybe he’ll tell you about it when you’re older.
Native Plant Specialist & GrowerShou Zhang
he/him
Shou holds an MSc in Tourism, Society and Environment from Wageningen University & Research and a BSc in Hospitality Management from San José State University. Shou was a 2024 California Climate Action Corps Fellow, contributing to post-fire burn scar restoration projects with TreePeople in the Angeles National Forest.
He is the founder of AiniCalifornia, where he leads native plant nursery production.
Dionisia Ruiz
Program & Outreach Coordinatorshe/they
Dionisia Ruiz is an artist and native plant fanatic. She is a certified California Native Plant Landscaper and is currently learning about native plant propagation. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of native plants to connect people to each other and the land, and she aspires to create innovative programming that brings new audiences into the fold.
Fiodor OTero
Development Strategisthe/him
Fiodor is a Content Strategist at Amazon MGM Studios by day and a passionate native plant enthusiast… also by day. He holds an MBA from UC Berkeley and a BA in Film & TV Production from USC, and previously worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company. He supports REVOLU with strategy, finance, and growth planning.