Sonora Poncek-DeLuca

Background & Expertise

Sonora Poncek-DeLuca was born in a small town in Wisconsin, where her grandpa first instilled a deep love for nature – teaching her to pay attention to the land, the seasons, and the quiet beauty of the outdoors. After moving to South Minneapolis, she grew up rooted in community while still holding onto that connection to the natural world. The summer before her junior year, she became involved with YNP/BCM, two environmental justice nonprofits in the Twin Cities, an experience that helped her see environmental work not just as a passion, but as a career path. Since then, she's been studying environmental science, policy, and management at the University of Minnesota, where she's also had the opportunity to work with the Institute on the Environment. She cares deeply about her communities and the people who live around her, and is driven by a desire to support both environmental and social well-being. Outside of school and work, she love exploring nature and expressing creativity through crafting.