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CJ Goulding (he/him) is passionate about facilitating growth in three things: people, community, and leadership. In his work with the Children & Nature Network and Fresh Tracks, CJ trains, mentors and supports a national network of over 330 leaders who are changing systems and creating equitable access to nature in their communities. This work draws from experience leading outdoor trips, conservation crews, and youth internship programs for the National Park Service. He completed a MaED in Urban Environmental Education with IslandWood and Antioch University, where he studied the power of community and its connection to nature in urban settings. CJ has been featured in the Outdoor Industry’s inaugural “30 Under 30” list highlighting game changers in the outdoor industry, and his essay “Why I Wear Jordans in the Great Outdoors” has been published and featured in culturally relevant outdoor curriculum across the country. He is an eager writer, photographer, and lover of sharing and supporting stories.
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Growing up as the only sister to eight brothers in her hometown of Richmond, California, Teresa was determined not to be outdone; spending time in the outdoors became her passion. Fast-forward 30 years later—the outdoors is still her passion; the only difference is the stakes are higher. She now spends time outdoors with the purpose of engaging communities of color in outdoor spaces, in hopes of fostering a shared sense of responsibility for environmental protection. Teresa spends the majority of her time working with outdoor agencies, organizations brands and retailers, on ways to welcome a more diverse audience to their boards, staff and programs. She does this through outdoor events and speaking engagements across the country. She is the founder of the African American Nature and Parks Experience and the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge.
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Representative Angelica Rubio
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Len Necefer, Ph.D. is the founder of Natives Outdoors, an outdoor gear company that works with indigenous artists and athletes to create gear that supports outdoor recreation on tribal lands. He is a member of the Navajo Nation & he holds a Doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Engineering and Public Policy. Dr. Necefer is also an assistant professor at the University of Arizona with joint appointments with the American Indian Studies program & the Udall Center for Public Policy. Previously he worked at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio on supersonic vehicle research and most recently worked for the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs supporting tribes realize their energy futures through research and grant-making. His research focuses at the intersection of indigenous people and natural resource management policy. This has included work from energy and water issues in the lower 48 and Alaska to outdoor recreation management policy.
In his spare time Len is an avid outdoor adventurer using rock/ice climbing, high altitude & ski mountaineering, and bikepacking to convey stories focused on environmental activism & indigenous history. These adventures are documented through his writing and photography which has been featured in the Alpinist, Outside Magazine, the Climbing Zine, Beside Magazine, Patagonia’s the Cleanest Line, and various film festivals. |
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Hare, a former combat Marine, spent many years in the IT sector before a major career change into outdoor, experiential education and then eventually into federal land management. Hare spent several years as assistant director of Outdoor Programs at Dartmouth College and he was also an instructor for Outward Bound Boston Harbor. During this time Hare also worked with National Park Service Director Bob Stanton to understand and remedy the lack of ethnic and cultural diversity in hearty, outdoor recreation and careers.
From there Hare became a career backcountry ranger in the west for the National Park Service where he patrolled the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado and the canyons of Canyonlands National Park in southern Utah, and later for the Bureau of Land Management where he patrolled the Colorado River in western Colorado. Hare retired from federal land management in 2013, but continues to help manage wildland fires. Hare has been on the board of High Country News for 12 years. In 2018 he founded a nonprofit, The Civil Conversations Project, where he and others, through writing, filming, and guided discussions, attempt to change the false narrative that America tells itself about race. In his limited spare time, Hare enjoys road and mountain biking, fly fishing, ice climbing, hiking, canyoneering, exploring southern Utah and the Arizona strip, good food and any cocktail. Hare lives in western Colorado with his wife and three dogs. |
Parker McMullen BushmanParker McMullen Bushman is the Co-founder of Inclusive Journeys. Inclusive Journeys is a company that is working to identify safe and welcoming spaces for all. Their first project is the Digital Green Book. This interactive site will be like Yelp, but for inclusivity. Parker’s background in the conservation, environmental education and outdoor recreation fields spans over 23+ years. Parker has a passion for equity and inclusion in the outdoors. Her interest in justice, accessibility,and equity issues developed from her personal experiences facing the unequal representation of people of color in environmental organizations and green spaces. Parker tackles these complex issues by addressing them through head on activism and education. In Colorado she works with environmental organizations to aid them in building culturally diverse and culturally competent organizations that are representative of the populations that they hope to reach and serve. She is a member of several committees that focus on diversity in environmental fields as well as a presenter and trainer on diversity issues.
TikTok: @kweenwerk Website: https://cparkermcmullenbushman.com/ |
Crystal EgliHaving grown up in rural Vermont, Crystal Egli has always been an avid outdoor recreator. She grew up hiking, biking, camping, boating, and both water & snow skiing. After attending film school at Emerson College, she pursued a career in the film industry in Los Angeles. It only took Crystal 2 weeks to realize Los Angeles wasn’t the place for her, but 10 years to leave. In that time she found her partner Andre, and in 2015 they decided to move to Colorado to pursue a work-life balance that included a much higher percentage of backpacking and fishing. A few years ago, coworkers convinced Crystal to take up hunting. Not only is she now an enthusiastic hunter-- Crystal has also become a Hunter Education instructor, as well as a mentor to a novice young woman. In 2019, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) awarded Crystal the Stephen Kellert award for “outstanding service in advancing connections between humans and the natural world to all peoples in a diverse and inclusive manner”. Crystal is using her platform and voice to continue to help carve out more inclusive spaces in conservation work and outdoor recreation. Crystal is the co-founder of Inclusive Journeys (InclusiveJourneys.com), which is working on creating a modern, digital version of The Green Book. The web-based platform will be a resource for people of marginalized communities to identify safe and welcoming businesses and spaces.
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Taishya Adams is a servant leader with 25+ years of experience at the intersection of education, health, workforce, and environmental justice. As the first African American woman to serve on the Commission of Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Taishya sets policy and provides oversight of Colorado’s state parks and wildlife management with a focus on authentic stakeholder engagement, transparency, and accountability. At Outdoor Afro, Taishya serves as a co-leader in Colorado and as the policy director working with 90 leaders in 30 states connecting Black people to outdoor experiences, reimaging Blackness in the outdoors, and changing the face of earth-tending and environmental justice. At the American Institutes for Research, Taishya collaborates with diverse stakeholders to strengthen educational equity issues related to access, representation, meaningful participation and quality for all. Taishya is committed to dismantling barriers, addressing bias and privilege, and working in collaboration to forge a new legacy founded on liberation and justice for all.
Previously, Taishya worked for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the DC Public Charter Schools Board, United Nations Association’s Global Classrooms, and the Children Defense Fund Freedom Schools. Taishya is a co-founder of New Legacy Charter School – a public charter high school and early learning center in Aurora, Colorado. In addition to the extensive experience in the field, Taishya holds a MA in International Education from George Washington University and a BA from Vassar College in Political Science and Film Production. |
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ELK is a Denver based inclusive non-profit organization that develops inspired and responsible leaders through science education and outdoor experiences for under-resourced, youth. ELK serves 5,000 low-income youth, ages 5-25, and their families in Denver, Adams and Arapahoe Counties. ELK focuses on outdoor experiential field activities and learning experiences such as overnight camping, hiking, snow shoeing and fishing trips to many of Colorado's state parks, national parks, and open spaces. We provide an in-depth study of the environment, eco-systems, conservation, science and team-building and fun. ELK inspires youth to have high expectations of themselves by exposing them to the outdoors. ELK transforms youth by endowing them with increased academic skills, civic and community leadership, environmental stewardship, and employment opportunities.
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Christian Giles is a junior in college currently attending the University of Denver; majoring in Environmental Science and Sociology with a minor in Communications. Christian works for ELK as a College Lead for the Urban Ranger program and has participated in ELK for 7 years. Christian is involved in the sustainability club on DU campus, and the Great Outdoors Wild Youth student council representing the Montbello community. Through ELK Christian has been a leader on camping, back-packing trips, fishing clinics and able to learn about careers in the outdoors and science and technology fields. Through his education, he hopes to cultivate a plan of action to promote more diversity and equity and get more people of color in the outdoors.
“I can remember the first time I was able to visit a National Park and the amazement and bliss I felt, but also at that same moment thought of all my friends and families who didn’t get to share this experience with me because of the idea that that people of color don’t belong in the outdoors, that this is strictly an area of life that belongs to white people.” Christian Giles |
Jackie Radilla -
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Northwest Youth Corps
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Grace Anderson
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