Conversations with Acacia Parker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Acacia Parker.

Hi Acacia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
My journey with Liberty Wildlife began in October 2019; I’d always wanted to work with birds but never knew where to start. I spent weeks researching different wildlife rehabilitation centers here in the valley and found Liberty Wildlife and applied that same day to be a volunteer. I started in Daily Care (feeding rehab animals, cleaning enclosures) before adding on Medical Services (handling birds and evaluating injured animals) and later adding on Education (handling our permanent animals and speaking to the public about them).

After almost three years of volunteering, I was offered the Public Outreach Coordinator position when Nathan Thrash (former POC) moved to Texas.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part, it has been a pretty smooth road! And honestly, if I hadn’t been offered a staff position, I would have continued volunteering because I love Liberty Wildlife so much.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Even though I have an undergraduate from Grand Canyon University in Business Management, I have always been creative. I have been drawing since I could write, and writing stories not long after that.

Working at Liberty Wildlife still gives me the freedom to draw (I am a digital artist) as well as writing fiction stories.

However, before all this, I did a little bit of everything; I was a server/bartender, a cosmetologist (I still maintain my license), and even a claims adjuster for a large insurance company.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
I have a lot of great memories, but I think my favorite is living in Germany and experiencing a wildly different culture than our own.

Pricing:

• Public Hours: $10/adult $5/student
• Education Programming: varies
• On-site events: varies based on group size and area on campus

Contact Info:

• Website: https://libertywildlife.org/
• Instagram: @libertywildlifeaz
• Facebook: @liberty.wildlife
• Twitter: @libertywildlife
• Youtube: @libertywildlife6907

Image Credits
Liberty Wildlife