Mecale grew up in California where long days at the beach and afternoons amongst the wildflowers taught her to sit still and watch. That love of simple presence in nature followed her to Idaho when her family moved here when she was 15, and it's part of what drew her to ICL. She believes in honoring and protecting the wild places that remind us who we are and who we’re capable of becoming.

Before joining ICL, Mecale built a career in nonprofit administration, with a hand in everything from membership data to volunteer management. She holds a degree in Spanish from Boise State, which helped shape how she sees the world and the people in it.

Mecale’s favorite spot in Idaho depends on the day and the company. Sometimes it’s alone in the garden, with her hands in the dirt. Other times it’s laughing with her children or neighbors around a table outside, or walking along the greenbelt with a friend. In her free time she enjoys poetry, yoga, gardening, and tea.