Meet Elektra Fike-Data | Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elektra Fike-Data and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elektra, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most critical factor behind the success of Tree San Diego lies in the collective determination and optimism of our team and program partners. Our success is intertwined, with each member inspiring and supporting one another through the complexities of our industry. It’s this shared fire, this unwavering determination to push forward and create positive change, that propels us. Even on the toughest days, we show up, finding positivity in every situation. This outlook, ingrained in both our personal and professional lives, serves as the cornerstone of our organization’s achievements.

What should our readers know about your business?
Tree San Diego has faced the same challenges that any nonprofit would experience in its early years; what sets us apart from that narrative however, is our creative approach to traditional problems. Our mission was rooted in planting trees – this was the foundational service line with which we served our community, providing capacity building to cities while also making space for equitable representation and local voices to be heard. This then grew and evolved into tree-planting with strategic and impactful intention, sustainable growth, and complementary activities that propelled the industry forward. We now provide our communities with a Tree Steward education series, paid workforce development training program, inventory and mapping data, eco-benefits analyses, research, and forestry management planning. We still have room to grow and goals to achieve, but looking back at these past few years of development, I am very proud of what our team has accomplished and the new heights we are preparing to reach. Some highlights from the first half of 2024: We launched Leafing Our Legacy and Tree Treks, and we are well on our way to our 10,000th tree planted – just in time to celebrate our 10th anniversary!

Leafing Our Legacy (1000 tree giveaway): www.treesandiego.org/leafingourlegacy

Tree Treks (park walks with arborists): www.treesandiego.org/treetreks

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Aside from our team’s very long list of parks and forested areas (which we recommend to all!), I would show my friends and family the cultural and historical landmarks of San Diego County, as well as any and all museums.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I cannot speak on behalf of our entire team but I would venture to say that the stories we hear about trees and their impact, history, or significance they have in/on the lives of San Diegans fuel our desire to continue our work. As a team lead, I ask those serving alongside me to consider the “why” behind our initiatives and programs. I was inspired by Simon Sinek’s book, Start With Why, to foster an environment that encourages team members to think critically but also creatively to solve problems – especially in the urban greening sector.

Website: https://www.treesandiego.org/

Instagram: tree.sandiego

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tree-san-diego

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TreeSanDiego

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofitTreeSanDiego/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPs1pWh15IHrpJKOLzpev1Q

Other: Donate: https://www.treesandiego.org/donate

Image Credits
Tree San Diego