Meet Summer 2025 Albuquerque Intern:

Diana Chavez

Diana’s primary responsibilities as the Water Quality and Extractive Industries Policy Intern at Amigos Bravos focus on water policy, regional water planning, mining work, and water reuse regulations across the state. Diana is also taking a course on Earth Law and applying her knowledge to her work at Amigos Bravos. She is a junior at Tulane University studying Environmental Studies and Political Science. In the future, Diana hopes to attend law school with the aspiration of practicing environmental law, continuing her work in protecting waterways in the Southwest. When she is not doing work or studying, she loves reading, journaling, and going on long walks with her dog Tula.

Meet Amigos Bravos Summer 2025 Taos Intern:

Peyton Frady

As a Field and Watershed Outreach Intern for Amigos Bravos’ Taos office, Peyton utilized research best management practices to develop skills in watershed experiential field work and watershed ecology by collecting water samples around Taos County to test for water quality. Her water quality sampling  field work will help Amigos Bravos update our water quality data for Taos County.

“When I learned about Amigos Bravos and their mission to protect and restore the waters and watersheds of New Mexico, through a foundation of environmental justice, science, and law, I knew it aligned with my values. This internship felt like the perfect opportunity to give back to the place that sparked my passion for the environment and to contribute to something meaningful for the future,” said Peyton about her internship.

Meet Amigos Bravos 2024 Intern:

Chilton Tippin

Chilton Tippin, an anthropology Ph.D. student focusing on environmental anthropology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. was the Community and Water Relations Intern for Amigos Bravos from January to June 2024. Originally from El Paso, Texas, he worked on several campaigns with Amigos Bravos while conducting his dissertation field research in cultural anthropology for the University of Colorado Boulder. These efforts included writing public comments for the hexavalent chromium plume spreading beneath Los Alamos; helping with drone flights for restoration work along the Rio Fernando; gathering information and setting up community connections with La Cieneguilla residents impacted by PFAS in their drinking water supply; tabling at the roundhouse, the Taos Center for the Arts, and Taos Pueblo; generating an infographic for the Protect NM Waters campaign; moderating a community discussion in Las Cruces about the Interstate Stream and Water Commission’s Regional Water Planning efforts; and gathering data from EPA’s ECHO Database on expired permits and permit violators in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett Decision. Most importantly, Amigos Bravos was instrumental in facilitating his Ph.D. research. The team offered their expertise, connections, and friendship, all of which put him at the heart of the grassroots struggle to protect clean water in the state of New Mexico. He remains incredibly grateful to “the Amigos” and will be sure to mention as much in writing when he (someday) finishes his dissertation.

Meet Amigos Bravos 2023 Summer Intern:

Georgia Blue Simmons

As a Field, Policy, and Watershed Outreach Intern, Georgia (or “Georgia Blue” as she preferred to be called) applied research best management practices to develop skills in watershed experiential field work such as mitigating illegal dumping, learning about watershed ecology and functioning, and assisting in outreach to the general community on the importance of keeping watersheds free of illegally dumping. Georgia also learned about monitoring the health of waterways through water quality sampling and how pollutants affect and negatively impact the community, agriculture, and environment. Georgia Blue is currently in her senior year at Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, majoring in The Environment and Sustainability with a focus in Environmental Justice and a minor in Economics.
“I grew up in a home that fostered a love and care for the environment. This internship provided me with an opportunity to embrace my passion for environmental protection while flexing my data analysis and communication skills,” said Georgia Blue about her experience working Amigos Bravos.

Meet Amigos Bravos 2022 Summer Intern: 

Jaimie Ritchie

Jaimie plans to become a Civil Engineer with a Masters in Water Resource Management. She is currently studying Civil Engineering at UNM in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with minors in Music, Mathematics, and Honors. Jaimie graduated from Vista Grande High School in her hometown of Taos, New Mexico, with an Associate of Science degree in Pre-Science from UNM-Taos. That degree allows her to take advantage of the fun classes at UNM, including a video production class, which Jaimie plans to use to produce a short video about Amigos Bravos. She is incredibly grateful to be one of the 20 Regents Scholars in the UNM Class of 2025, allowing her to take advantage of all the remarkable opportunities that UNM has to offer.  Jamie is thrilled to be working for Amigos Bravos the summer after her freshman year, and she looks forward to learning about creative solutions to the environmental threats we face.

Meet Amigos Bravos 2022 Summer Intern:

Kayl Rainer

In addition to Jaimie Ritchie, (above), Amigos Bravos welcomed Kayl Rainer to our 2022 internship program. Kayl is a recent graduate of UNM-Taos from Taos Pueblo. He plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Land Management at Highlands Universityin Las Vegas, New Mexico in the Fall. He enjoys being outdoors and has a love for the environment. He would like to help protect it through his work and actions.

Meet Amigos Bravos 2021 Summer Intern:

T’ika Viscarra-Wood

T’ika Viscarra-Wood was born in Taos, New Mexico, but was primarily raised and educated in Peru. She spends a portion of every summer in Taos to spend time with her maternal grandmother. For her senior project in Water Chemistry from University in Cusco, Peru, T’ika analyzed data from several years of of water quality sampling in Taos County rivers. Some of the data was input to create graphs that are presented in a brochure printed in 2022 called Water Quality Sampling Data in Taos County. Further data analyzed by T’ika will be posted online at www.amigosbravos.org/

Meet Amigos Bravos 2020 Summer Intern:

Alexes Albillar

Alexes was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is currently a student at UNM Taos in the Climate Change Corps (CCC) program. Alexes is working toward an Associate’s degree in Pre-Science with plans to pursue a B.S. in Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Ecology from NMSU. Alexes is passionate about protecting rivers and riparian ecosystems, and for that reason she is very grateful for the opportunity to intern with Amigos Bravos.

Meet Amigos Bravos 2019 Summer Intern:

Maya Forte

Last summer, high school senior, Maya Forte, created a PFAS Fact Sheet as part of a two-week internship with Amigos Bravos.

MAYA FORTE:
“I enjoyed working for Amigos Bravos and learning about the complexities ofworking for a nonprofit that covers water protection for an entire state with suchdiverse issues. I especially enjoyed going out into the community and talking to people in the community and talking about their particular needs. Overall, the experience gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation of the big impacts that a small office can accomplish.”

Request for Proposals:

Amigos Bravos is not currently seeking any proposals. Please check back later.