Whether working for State of California or for nonprofits, Faustino, who was born in Boyle Heights, has fought to protect the environment. She was recruited in 1999 by Hilda Solis, a member of the LA County Board of Supervisors, to serve as the Executive Officer with the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, a California conservancy with a goal to preserve open spaces for recreation and educational uses. Additionally, Faustinos served as the Deputy Director for 17 years with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. And that’s just a small part of her resume.