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Danielle Zoe Rivera

@danielle-rivera.bsky.social
9.4K followers 596 following 364 posts

🇵🇷 Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture + Environmental Planning at UC-Berkeley | Just + Equitable Environments | Disaster (and Disastrous) Research | Occasionally gardening + a dog

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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
These scenes capture so much about the histories of our families: both the pains we've experienced as Puerto Ricans, but also the bonds that carried/carry us through. That they were shown on such a powerful national stage, and in solidarity with other communities with similar pains, is so moving.
Photo of Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show: holding the Puerto Rican independence flag.Photo of Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show: in a simulated sugarcane field with jíbaros.Photo of Ricky Martin at the Super Bowl halftime show.Photo of Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show: in a Puerto Rican wedding and family celebration.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
As a result, posts that appear as solidarity are often not: there is not enough awareness of what Black and Latinx peoples have and continue to deal with, what we hear in our communities is rarely reflected in the news... The post below makes this point, and those are just recent names too...
X post screenshot explaining how current outcry focuses extensively on the white folx killed by ICE, but not any of the Black/Brown/Asian folx.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Life is chaotic right now, but watching this little Swallowtail caterpillar on my fennel plant grow and transform has been so thrilling this past week!
A series of three photographs showing a Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar grow and turn into a chrysalis.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Garden updates for mid-summer! Already prepping for the fall and winter, the time has flown by this year!
Photograph of snap peas and plant in a garden.Photograph of daisies and rudbeckia in a garden.Photograph of ayote squash and plant in a garden.Photograph of tomatoes and plant in a garden.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
If you are at the Natural Hazards Workshop this week, come to my lab's session on Wednesday at 8:30am! We are discussing the Quick Response Award program, and how it provided critical support for our research in the Pajaro Valley, and essentially for disaster research over its time!
Information about the timing of our NHW session, on July 16 at 8:30am in Centennial E.Screenshot of slide showing the title of our Quick Response project and report.Screenshot of slide showing the cover of our community report that resulted from the Quick Response Award.Screenshot of slide showing the spreads in our community report from the Quick Response Award.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
My latest article arrived in the mail! It's a reflection on new studio pedagogy approaches reflecting innovative theories and practices of engagement. Following the issue's theme, it emphasizes non-extractivist practices for "community-engaged" pedagogy. Open access here: doi.org/10.1080/1046...
Photograph of the title page of the journal article "Designing through Social Critique."Four photographs of four different spreads from the journal article "Designing through Social Critique."Photograph of the cover of the JAE journal issue "Architecture Beyond Extraction."
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
The report is intended for government agencies involved in the 2023 floods recovery process and for local organizations; however, we hope the lab's procedural and historical methods might inspire other communities to undertake similar studies! 4/4
Spread from our report showing the Introduction section and a collage of historic flood photos we collected as part of our study.Spread from our report showing the Conclusions and images from a long-forgotten set of floods in 1982/1983.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
We draw several conclusions. First is the region has suffered from a major flood on average once every five years between 1870 and 2023. Second, in studying past flood recoveries we note the same mistakes, mainly not recognizing the needs of unincorporated areas. @climatedaddykqed.bsky.social 3/4
Spread from the report showing results from our Flood Risk Timeline analysis.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
We visited eight archives in California to assemble a Flood Risk Timeline comprised of four eras of flood risk creation. From this, we found a systemic lack of recognition of the region's unincorporated areas in past recoveries despite their more vulnerable peoples and higher risks of flooding. 2/4
Spread from our report showing the Flood Risk Timeline and the frequency of flood events by decade.Spread from the report showing part of our spatial history, examine how the region's four major water systems have changed over time.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Went to Capitol Hill with an AMAZING contingent of nonprofit leaders at the NLIHC to advocate for not just keeping FEMA and HUD CDBG-DR but strengthening them. We met with four California reps and stopped by the offices of six more we wished we had time to meet with. The discussions were positive!
Photograph of the U.S. Capitol Building through trees.Photograph of a courtyard with a fountain.Photograph of a plaque on the wall outside of Representative Valadao's office.Photograph of a picture on a door of Representative Valadao's dog Benji, which notes Benji is available in the office!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
Gardening to calm today! Such a gorgeous Easter weekend!
Photograph of a raised bed garden.Photograph of succulent plants in an outdoor garden.Photograph of geraniums, daisies, and lavender.Photograph of a strawberry plant.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Being in my garden is such an immense gift!
Photograph of lots of lemons in a bowl in the garden.Photograph of a white flower blooming in the garden.Photograph of fava bean flowers in the garden.Photograph of cut flowers on a table.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Last week was the third most stressful week in my career, so I took the weekend to make recaito, which always helps me feel connected to the loved ones I've lost. It was extra special this time, because I used the (monster) cilantro from my garden!
Photograph of cilantro plants in the garden.Photograph of the enormous cilantro with a hand for scale.Photograph of the garden cilantro in a colander.Photograph of a bowl with arroz con gandules inside!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
From the NLIHC: DHS may be developing a plan to dismantle FEMA. Please contact your representatives and encourage them to oppose this or any similar actions.
Screenshot of text from the NLIHC which says: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reportedly created a plan to dismantle critical disaster response, recovery, and resilience operations at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The plan comes after the administration paused $700 million in resiliency funds released by the agency and sought to claw back funds released last year. Media reports indicate that the agency will be “decimated” with the Atlantic Hurricane Season just 6 weeks away.  

The country’s disaster response and recovery system continues to be broken and needs major comprehensive reform. Low-income communities continue to be the most at risk yet receive the least amount of assistance. However, dismantling FEMA or its ability to respond to disasters addresses none of these issues. FEMA still provides crucial aid to states and communities before, during, and after disasters. Support from the agency is crucial to the function of state and local emergency management agencies, assisting in disaster response coordination and assisting communities in rebuilding more resiliently after disaster strikes. The expertise and capabilities of the agency save lives every day, and its dismantling directly places people in danger.  

TAKE ACTION 

While a plan exists to dismantle FEMA, it hasn’t happened yet. We urge disaster recovery advocates to contact their members of Congress—across the political spectrum—with a focused push to engage Republican senators and representatives.  

Contact your members of Congress and tell them that dismantling FEMA won’t fix disaster recovery but prevent your community from responding and recovering from disasters.   
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
Been working on a small portion of an upcoming exhibit at UC Berkeley! My doctoral student and I have been experimenting with ways to communicate complex timelines of environmental phenomenon. The exhibit opens Monday evening!!!
Photograph of exhibit boards on a wall.Photograph of exhibit boards on a wall.Photograph of exhibit boards on a wall.Photograph of exhibit boards on a wall.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
California folx: I saw this odd insect behavior in the garden and am unsure if this parasitic behavior should concern Alameda County or California environmental authorities. Is this concerning and, if so, who should I report it to?
Photograph of two insects in a potentially concerning parasitic situation.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
We also examined the local agricultural fields which are increasingly threatened by flooding in California's winters. Surprisingly, given the lack of rain last week, we saw widespread flooding in fields.
Photograph of a strawberry field near the Pajaro River levee in Monterey County.Photograph of students examining the Watsonville Slough, and floodwaters in its adjacent agricultural fields.Photograph of the "slough gate," and flooding from the Watsonville slough in the distance.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Spent Saturday with my studio students! We met with our community partners to tour their wetland restoration sites, visited sites along the Monterey Bay coast, and documented the Pájaro River. It was such a lovely day, always grateful to the Watsonville/Pájaro community for being so welcoming!
Photograph of two students documenting one of the wetlands reconstructed by our community partner.Photograph of a harbor seal in the waters of the Elkhorn Slough near Moss Landing.Photograph of students (and Cal Dog!) discussing a newer reconstructed wetland with our community partner.Photograph within the Pajaro River lagoon, with a resort in the distance that has faced extremely high flood risks.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
I’ve been a little absent on this app, I’m going up for tenure this summer and working hard in preparation! So here are some garden flowers I planted, forgot about, but are doing great!
Photograph of a tulip that is blooming super early!Photograph of hellebores!Photograph of beautiful daisies.Photograph of a terracotta pot with flowers.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Taking a break from the chaos to appreciate my garden in the California winter rains! 💕
Photograph of terracotta pot holding violas.Photograph of hellebores in the garden.Photograph of dinosaur kale in front of a lemon tree.Photograph of flowers in a terracotta pot.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
After a stressful week, some garden time was long overdue! Planted seeds for five different chilis/peppers this year, got the peas and fava beans started, and harvested cold weather herbs and greens!
Photograph of sweet alyssum and viola growing in a terracotta pot.Photograph of lemon, kale, cilantro, and parsley plants in a garden.Photograph of rosemary, broccoli, and chard plants in a garden.Photograph of hellebore and daisy flowers in a garden.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
One of the challenges as an East Coaster gardening in California is there is no “break” in the gardening calendar! I’m still getting used to it!
Photograph of several plants in pots which are green and thriving in January.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
Beginning the (gardening) year! One of my favorite times for its hopefulness: watching plants return, seeing seeds germinate and grow on, and making plans for the year to come!
Hellebores “Penny’s Pink” emerging and budding!Tulips emerging from the ground.Nasturtiums growing through some leaf cover.Crop rotation in the raised beds and prepping the terracotta pots for the year to come.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Wishing you all a Happy New Year from the Just Environments Lab!!! The lab produced so much great work in 2024 and laid the groundwork for even more exciting works in 2025!
A photo collage of our lab’s publications from 2024.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
It’s here!!! Can’t wait to read it!
Photograph of the book “Crisis by Design” written by Jose Atiles
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Took a break from working towards a writing deadline to play with blueskyroast.com/roast I love these results, not sure why it's obsessed with my fig jam though!
Screenshot from Bluesky RoastScreenshot from Bluesky Roast
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
We started growing as much as we can for the holidays, including gifts like jars of saffron, fig jam, and lemon curd! Or pressed garden flower art! Our pumpkin for pie. Shallots, garlic, green beans, rosemary, and oregano. It’s my favorite time of year! 💕 Grow your holidays! 💕
Photograph of a bowl of fresh herbsPhotograph of figs on a kitchen counterPhotograph of green beans on its plantPhotograph of saffron crocus in a terracotta pot
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
The joys of gardening in California: I’m still getting a few tomatoes and cucumbers because I hadn’t gotten around to planting the winter garden!
Photograph of tomato plant with tomatoesPhoto of cucumber on plant
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
YAS!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
It's arrived! Our book chapter explores community resistance to imposed space facilities on Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. We discuss how fallacies of "unstewarded" space continue to lead to the dispossession of Indigenous lands. www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/1...
Photograph of the book cover for Confronting Climate ColonialityPhotograph of Chapter 10 of the book Confronting Climate Coloniality
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 08/11/2023
It's important to reflect this in academia and note who ISN'T freeing others, but using the language of justice and equity to prop up themselves. They are the scholars not advising and mentoring, eating up resources meant for collaboration, centering themselves and their work...
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 04/11/2023
Bay Area sunsets in the fall!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 19/10/2023
Bumpy landing in rainy Chicago, but we are here! Rushing to the ACSP conference because I just learned I’m the new Co-Chair for POCIG and I’m in traffic at the airport! Then it’s Michigan reception time!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 15/10/2023
Took a family day! Pumpkin patch, apple orchard, flower picking, all along the coast near Santa Cruz! 💕
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 09/10/2023
A Puerto Rican friend just shared this with me, the best chancleta!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 09/10/2023
Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Hoping all those under occupation can achieve liberation.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 08/10/2023
Closed the summer garden today and prepped for planting out the fall/winter garden tomorrow. We got a lovely last harvest for summer, but why was it almost 90-degrees outside today!!!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 04/10/2023
The Lower Río Grande Valley Wildlife Refuge is an incredibly important and ecologically critical space.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 04/10/2023
The Biden Administration is suspending two dozen laws to push the border wall through critical wildlife refuges in the Río Grande Valley. These spaces are among the last green spaces in these communities. This is an astronomical violence to these communities. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 30/09/2023
I’m doing this with my trace paper in my graduate level studios: “come on guys, where is Tracey?”
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 30/09/2023
Eating homegrown strawberries is a religious experience.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 23/09/2023
Moving from Summer to Fall in the garden, so the tomatoes are going and the summer carrots too! (And, that type of carrot wasn't great anyway, trying a new type this fall!) Pea shoots, kale, broccoli, beets, and turnip seedlings are going strong!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 16/09/2023
Sending you positive vibes from my garden!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 21/08/2023
Proud of my garden: after two years of attempts, my plants are growing enough aji dulce to make recaito! 💕 It’s a small thing, but will be immensely comforting.
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 13/07/2023
Had a fantastic time at the Natural Hazards Workshop in Colorado, and got one last glimpse of Boulder and the Flatirons before returning to the Bay Area!
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Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 06/07/2023
Visited the Tulare Lake Basin to see the recently filled lake. It was incredible to see sea birds, dragonflies, and tadpoles and fish in the waters, when the land was just recently monoculture agricultural fields.
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