José González
|
José González is a professional educator with training in the fields of education and conservation while engaging in different artistic endeavors with art and messaging—often exploring the intersection of the environment and culture. He is the founder and director emeritus of Latino Outdoors, a non-profit that connects and engages Latinx communities in the outdoors, and a partner at the Avarna Group.
José plays with design, words, science, and education—engaging in the interdisciplinary intersections of how we view and engage with the world. Be it a piece of art, poem, or scientific fact, José likes to weave ideas with people while appreciating the beauty of it all. José navigates through a self-created identity of a "Green Chicano" in a professional sense. In particular he self describes as weaving through the roles of Conservationist/Environmentalist, Chicano, and Educator. He received his B.A at the University of California, Davis, and his M.S at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment; you can connect with him on social media @JoseBilingue. |
Senator Martin Heinrich
|
|
Vasu Sojitra
|
When Vasu was only nine months old, he was diagnosed with septicemia, resulting in the amputation of one of his legs. Since then, Vasu has not looked back; with the help of his parents, brother, friends and so many other resources and opportunities, Vasu has gained access to the confidence needed to face new challenges with grace, courage, strength, humor, and unwavering determination.
Vasu witnessed extreme poverty growing up in India, and has been living most of his life with a “dis”ability. He looks at these experiences as a blessing; they have allowed him to truly hone in on his ability to empathize with others. He continues to strengthen his vigor through his work in advocacy for those who are historically marginalized. Vasu will continue to embolden others to be a positive influence in their own communities by pushing personal limits, putting others first, and encouraging people to believe in themselves and in their own unique abilities! With the motto of “ ninjasticking through the wood to bring intersectionality to the outdoors” Vasu continues to challenge the biases that go with being a Disable person of color with a through his intersectional work which include being the first adaptive athlete for The North Face, a founding member for The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E Initiative, the co-founder of Inclusive Outdoors Project, and a Disability Access strategist for The Avarna Group, In Solidarity Project and independently. |
|
Representative Leslie Herod (HD-8) was elected in 2016 as the first LGBTQ African American in the Colorado General Assembly, while receiving the highest number of votes of any candidate running in a contested election. She serves as the Chair of the House Finance Committee, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Vice Chair of the Committee on Legal Services. Rep. Herod also chairs the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus and the Arts Caucus.
Rep. Herod sponsored HB21-1318- Create Outdoor Equity Grant Program. HB21-1318 ensures that outdoor access is provided with justice, inclusivity, and equity in mind. It increases access and opportunity for underserved youth to experience Colorado’s open spaces, state parks, public lands, and other outdoor areas through programs with a focus on outdoor or environmental education. |
|
PATRICIA ANN CAMERON
|
Having been born and raised in Prince George's County, Maryland, Patricia moved to Colorado Springs in 1994. Colorado ( and specifically southeastern Colorado Springs) has a special place in her heart and she has devoted all of her energy into making the nationwide hub for the outdoor industry an equal and equitable place for all.
Ms. Cameron spent the 11 years prior to founding Blackpackers in healthcare as an EMT and then as the Practice Manager of multiple clinics in the Colorado Springs and Denver metro area. Further, Ms. Cameron has worked as a volunteer firefighter and in the ICU at Memorial Central--all in positions serving her community. A student of philosophy from UCCS she also has a degree from PPCC for Emergency Medical Services. Patricia founded Blackpackers in 2019 to address the gap in representation in the outdoors. As a single mother she struggled with the means and knowledge to take her young son on outdoor adventures. Patricia saved up money working weeks of overtime as an EMT to buy her initial set of backpacking/gear and took herself on her first overnight backpacking trip--alone, and in a snowstorm. Mostly self-taught, she hopes to make it easier for families to access the outdoors by making the initial investment for them. She is a freelance writer and photographer, her work appearing in Backpacker Magazine, The Denver Post, Elevation Outdoors, The Colorado Sun, Sensi Magazine, The Voice, and others. A single homeschooling mother of an amazing teenage boy, Patricia balances home life with leading the Blackpackers Board of Directors. Patricia is a 2020 fellow and on the board of the New Leaders Council, a nationwide nonprofit that trains and supports progressive leadership and millennial entrepreneurs (newleaderscouncil.org). In the summer of 2020, Patricia successfully hiked the entire 486 mile Colorado Trail while writing a trail diary for Backpacker Magazine. She is a Wilderness First Responder, NOLS graduate, Certified Interpretive Guide, and a Leave No Trace Master Educator. |
New Mexico Outdoor Equity FundAfter spending countless days and hours with New Mexico youth on public lands: hiking, fishing, rafting, hunting and talking about cultura and conservation, we realized a dire need for New Mexico youth and its communities: public and private funding to make these programs independent and sustainable. The Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project led the charge to create the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund during the 2019 New Mexico Legislative Session. The New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund was signed into law by New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham, and went into effect July 1, 2019. In 2020, the first round of Outdoor Equity Fund recipients were announced, a truly transformational moment for our state and for the future of outdoor equity programs. However, only a fraction of the applicants were funded, and Nuestra Tierra continues to work with youth, a community of equity advocates, outdoor educators, and state government to ensure that the Outdoor Equity Fund is implemented and administered in a truly equitable way and is fully funded.
|
|
        |
