Erik Zepeda-Flores comes to the outdoor field with a B.A. Geography/Environmental Studies from UCLA. Through this lens, he has developed a desire to address the social and environmental injustices that affect communities of color as well as the lack of LGBTQ representation in the outdoor spaces. After 4 years of experience of working directly with youth, he is now working to engage communities through the process of creating urban parks across the Bay Area with The Trust for Public Land. He is thrilled to join the Rising Leaders Fellowship and continue growing as a community organizer and parks advocate. He wholeheartedly believes in the power that nature can have in transforming the lives of communities and young people.