Anka is ethnically South Asian but was raised in post-British Hong Kong. As a result, she is a hodgepodge of several cultures, many of which are underrepresented in the outdoors community. As someone who loved nature her entire life but lacked people to share that with, Anka is enthusiastic about exposing folks to the outdoors… Continue Reading Anka Rashed
Nieves Vazquez has interned with the National Park Service (Grand Canyon) and the NPS-RTCA (Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Programs – Inter-Mountain Region) to develop strategy plans that encompass difficult dialogues on engaging local Tribal Nations, Indigenous youth broadly, and rural community / communities of color with public lands. Nieves previously worked on urban farms… Continue Reading Nieves Vazquez
Nick Fowlks (he/him) was born and raised in the San Francisco-Bay Area. He earned a B.A. in History from San Jose State University and an M.A. in Global History from the Freie University Berlin. Currently, he works for California State Parks at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area as a Community Engagement Interpreter, where he makes… Continue Reading Nicholas Tristan Fowlks
Negina is a Black and Native Hawaiian person who is currently based in Maine. They developed her passion for environmental justice through friends and colleagues, and exploring and appreciating the outdoor spaces around them. Having access to these spaces and this knowledge lit a flame in them to preserve them for generations to come. Living… Continue Reading Negina Lowe
Hello! My name is Monica. My pronouns are she/her/ella. I am a lover of the sun and the moon. I enjoy cooking, hiking, camping, rock climbing, and sharing quality time with loved ones.
Lilli Y. Garza is a proud Mexican-American from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Various life experiences have led her to believe in grassroots led movements, environmental justice, and the power of storytelling. Lilli is passionate about increasing access to the outdoors for communities of color and ensuring that there is representation in our industry. In her current role… Continue Reading Lilli Y. Garza
Laura was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is proud of her multi-ethnic roots, with her dad’s side from Oaxaca, Mexico, and her mother’s side with Polish/Slovak roots. She received her B.S. in Zoology from Michigan State University and her Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Connecticut (UConn). Today, Laura is an… Continue Reading Laura Cisneros
Kenjah O’Donnell (they/them) currently resides in the unceded homelands of the Mohican Nation past and present, otherwise known as The Berkshires of Massachusetts. Kenjah recently moved to this area in April of 2022 to pursue a career with The Venture Out Project; a non-profit organization that is run by queer folks, for queer folks who… Continue Reading Kenjah O’Donnell
Jonatan Salinas was born in a small mining town, Zimapán, in the state of Hidalgo, and immigrated with his family to Austin, Texas, in the late 1990s. As Austin developed, he began to notice the effect on natural spaces, which caused him to become curious about the impact of urbanization on native fauna and flora… Continue Reading Jonatan Salinas
Jennifer Yip is Project Manager for the 10-Minute Walk Program at Trust for Public Land, supporting the program’s research and policy work. Prior to joining Trust for Public Land, Jennifer worked at City Parks Foundation, a local New York City parks organization that provides programming in parks around the city. Jennifer fell in love with… Continue Reading Jennifer Yip