Justice Outside

For Brenda (she/her), after pairing her environmental studies with a feminist lens while studying at UC Santa Barbara, the importance of explicitly making the connection between environmental issues and social injustice began to become clear. After graduating she pursued internships that focused on engaging the Latino/e community around equitable access on public lands. Since then,… Continue Reading Brenda Ramirez Romero

Asia(she/her)’s love for the outdoors began in 2014 when she became a crew member on a backcountry chainsaw crew removing invasive Russian olive trees in Escalante, Utah! She led a chainsaw crew in Montana where she first fell in love with mountain landscapes. This love brought her to Colorado where she led wilderness character monitoring… Continue Reading Asia Pfeifer

Sutara (they/them) is a water child with a passion for increasing ocean equity. They identify as mixed-race, Asian American, queer, and a snack enthusiast. Sutara is currently passionate about language as a tool for inclusivity and empowerment, the intersectionality of “mixedness” in race and gender, and actualizing safe and inclusive ocean/surf spaces! They are constantly… Continue Reading Sutara Nitenson

Michelle Nguyen (she/her) is committed to joy by decolonizing her mind, speaking her truth, and cultivating community. She embraces love and leads with vulnerability in order to create brave spaces. Through the Rising Leaders Fellowship, Michelle is excited to shift power dynamics, share stories, and develop projects alongside the Fellows!

Kyla(she/her/hers) is originally from the Philippines but has spent more than half of her life in Southern New Mexico. Kyla graduated from NMSU in 2021 and is excited to be working with her community, and to connect more people with the outdoors after learning more about public lands through her job with Friends of the… Continue Reading Nichaela Navarro

Ethan(he/him/his) comes from the Pacific Northwest, having grown up in Western Washington. He now resides on occupied Duwamish territory, also known as Seattle and works as a program manager for The Mountaineers. Part of his work includes managing the gear library program, which provides affordable outdoor equipment for individuals, families, and partner organizations. He also… Continue Reading Ethan Metzger

Margarita (she/her/ella) currently lives and honors the ancestral land of the past and current Tongva and Tataviam people. Her mother Maria de la Paz is originated from Otomi ancestral land Ticoman, Mexico City. She migrated at the age of six to Pacoima. She is a proud mother. As a child, her passion for social justice… Continue Reading Margarita Lopez-Pelayo

Michelle (she/her) grew up in Petaluma, California and works in agriculture and ecological land stewardship, specifically centered in Sonoma and Marin Counties, the ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo. She currently works as the Agroecologist at Marin RCD and this fall will be starting her Master’s in Rangeland Management, specifically focusing on… Continue Reading Michelle Katuna

Born and raised in Zimbabwe and later Kentucky, Joy (she/her) found a passion for the outdoors when she moved to Utah in 2012. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Geography, she started working in wildlife management and is an avid hiker, snowboarder, hunter, and road and mountain biker. Often finding herself an “only” in… Continue Reading Rufaro Joy Sekesai Kays Kaseke

Rhea (she/her) is from upstate New York just south of the Adirondack State Park. She studied Interdisciplinary degree in Psychology and Environmental Studies from Naropa University in Boulder, CO. After graduating, Rhea served two years with AmeriCorps VISTA in Denver, CO and Fairbanks, AK. After leaving AK, she moved onto a sailboat and sailed the… Continue Reading Rhea Johnson