The Xerces Society is supported in part by our amazing members who make our work possible. Many of our members, however, are also incredible forces for invertebrate conservation in their own right. Here, we are shining a spotlight on one of them!

Lisa Loving, of Portland, Oregon, is a Xerces monthly donor, who has dedicated her recent years to advocating for butterflies and bees as a Xerces Ambassador. With a deep-seated love for pollinators, Lisa’s story is one of passion and community engagement, fueled by a lifelong connection to the natural world.

A love of nature shaped by special memories of butterflies

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lisa's fascination with invertebrates began in her mother’s vegetable garden. Amidst the vegetables, the garden was also a  nesting site for monarch butterflies — and an early lesson in caring about nature.

“My mom showed my sister and I what monarch caterpillars looked like, and told us to always protect them. I learned the most important things from my mom! She is 93 now and still gardening,” Lisa recalled.

Later in her life, Lisa once again had the chance to learn from a butterfly. While in Mexico, she was lucky enough to observe a  pink-spotted cattleheart butterfly (Parides photinus) emerge from its chrysalis after undergoing metamorphosis. Slowly, the butterfly worked to wriggle its new body free.

The experience has become a metaphor for resilience in Lisa’s life. “I watched it until it was fully out, resting on a stone. Now, when I feel frustrated, I think of that moment and how the butterfly struggled into the world. We are all born to struggle,” she said.  Like the butterfly, we go through unseen periods of growth, with struggle playing a vital role in making us stronger and ready for our next chapter in life’s story. 

Building connections through invertebrate education

While her career has been in journalism, as she approaches retirement, Lisa has embraced a new mission: engaging her community in pollinator conservation as a Xerces Ambassador.

Lisa was drawn to volunteering as a way to foster real connections in her community.  “Now that the world seems to be falling apart, I thought I should pick one simple, doable activity. Also, I felt I'd been in my own political echo chamber, and I want to be around people I might disagree with,” she said. “Tabling for butterflies and bees feeds several birds with one scone!”

Her efforts to bring different people together for a common purpose are paying off. Recently, Lisa gave a presentation about pollinators at a fundraiser for the Grange Hall, a longstanding community center in White Salmon, Washington.

“It was exactly what I had hoped for,” she said. “A room full of people from different backgrounds, all talking about pollinators, not politics. The warmth and sense of community was unforgettable.”

Lisa was not the only invertebrate-focused part of the evening; it also featured toddlers dressed in bee tutus performing a dance. Thanks to the community's efforts, the fundraiser surpassed its goal.

Inspiring passion for conservation

Lisa Loving’s work as a Xerces Ambassador demonstrates how personal passion can blossom into impactful community action. Through her efforts, Lisa brings people from all walks of life together to protect invertebrates, fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world while building bridges.

Rachel Dunham, the Xerces Society’s Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator, knows that volunteers like Lisa are special. “Lisa is incredibly passionate and puts her heart into everything she does. We are lucky to have her as an ambassador. She represents Xerces with enthusiasm and joy,” she said.

Thank you, Lisa, for your dedication to preserving insects and other invertebrates. And for reminding us that, like the butterflies we cherish, we too can emerge from our struggles transformed. 

Volunteer with Xerces and help your community get excited about invertebrates!

• Learn more about the Xerces Ambassador program and how to sign up. We plan to accept applications for new Ambassadors in 2025.
• Subscribe to the Xerces Newsletter to be the first to hear about volunteer opportunities and other Xerces news.
• Request a Xerces Ambassador at your next community event!