Maria Muriel Remo Marasigan has an international background in environmental studies, education, youth/women leadership, and sustainable community development. Most recently, she has done consultancy and volunteer work in the Philippines for the past five years with environmental education and leadership, post disaster community rehabilitation, community based eco tourism, and permaculture. Prior to Maria’s work in the Philippines, Maria worked with a youth arts and activism leadership program in Brooklyn, New York, worked with the Peace Corps in El Salvador as an Agroforestry and Environmental Education Volunteer, and was a NYC elementary school teacher. Maria currently works part time at Rise and Root farm in Chester, NY, with the Global Ecovillage Network of Oceania and Asia, and volunteers with the Stony Point Center in Rockland County, NY. Maria is Malate, Philippines born with Cuenca, Batangas roots, New York raised, Filipina American.