Overview
Magali Rojas is an environmental justice advocate and a servant leader at heart. She
was born in Mexico and raised in Kansas City. At an early age, her parents instilled
the values of la familia, la cultura, la comunidad, y la educación. Family, culture,
community, and education have shaped her into the person she is today. She is passionate
about what she does and is a lifelong learner with a background from Donnelly College
and The University of Kansas. Her friends would tell you that she is friendly and
easily makes lasting friendships. Her family would add that she is loving, passionate,
and hardworking.
Her previous roles have made her a Jill of many trades. She has six years of non-profit
experience; Serving the public is her calling, especially when it comes to issues
dealing with social injustice. Her first non-profit job reminds her of the basic care
that her family required growing up, such as establishing a primary care provider
and navigating the educational system. Additionally, providing community assistance
taught her current needs related to health navigation, civic engagement, education,
and social-economic inequities. These inequities became more transparent when the
COVID-19 pandemic started. At that time, Magali was volunteering with a grassroots
non-profit that provided education on the exposure of air pollution and the consequent
health outcomes. That was when she decided to learn more about environmental justice
during a time of the unknown, which made our nation stop and rethink our approach
to daily life decisions. The combination of her personal and professional leadership
makes her a force to be reckoned with as she supports communities in the Kansas City
region with technical assistance.
Magali shares the importance of protecting our natural spaces by connecting to the
values that people hold closely. Afterall, it takes all of us to fight against a global
issue as big as climate change. When she is not working, she enjoys engaging in volunteer
opportunities, connecting with loved ones, and taking long hikes around KC's many
beautiful trails including trails along the Blue River. She also loves to dance to
merengue, bachata, salsa, and other types of music. Lately, she loves spending quality
time with her partner and their beautiful German Shepherd mixed with Husky, Arlo.