Speakers |
Clark Tenakhongva
Vice Chairman Of the Hopi Tribe and Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition
Clark Tenakhongva is the Vice-Chairman for the Hopi Tribe and Co-representative of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition. He was born at Keams Canyon, Arizona, and was raised in the small Hopi village of Hotevilla, high atop Third Mesa. After attending a boarding school in Riverside, California, he served in the United States Army.
MUSTAFA SANTIAGO ALI
National Wildlife Federation VP for Environmental Justice
A renowned thought leader, international speaker, policy maker, community liaison, trainer, and facilitator, Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali wears many hats, he is the Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate & Community Revitalization for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and also the Founder & CEO of Revitalization Strategies. Before joining the NWF Mustafa was the Senior Vice President for the Hip Hop Caucus, a national, non-profit and non-partisan organization that connects the Hip Hop community to the civic process to build power and create positive change. As HHC Senior Vice President, he led the strategic direction, expansion, and operation of the Hip Hop Caucus’ portfolio on Climate, Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization.
Jaylyn Gough
Founder & Executive Director, Native Womens Wilderness
Jaylyn Gough is the Founder and Executive Director of the organization, Native Womens Wilderness as well as a freelance photographer. The organization provides opportunities to get Native women, girls, LGBTQ2S, and non-binaries outside, as well as providing the resources to do so. They also work in the Outdoor Industry to elevate the voices of Native people, ancestral land acknowledgements and history, navigating cultural appropriation, and collectively working with brands to acknowledge Native lands and culture. She also work in Washington DC within a cohort of other organizations to work on the Antiquities Act, as well as with Congress, Representatives, and the Senate to elevate the voices and needs of Native People. You can always find her outside wandering with a camera in her hand.
Yesica Chavez
Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK)
Yesica is a first-generation student at the University of Colorado Denver getting her B.S. in Psychology. She was born and raised in the Montbello community of Denver. As a high school student, she joined Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK) Leadership Corps program, where she received the help she needed to get her to her next step in life, which was higher education. Eventually, she joined ELK's Urban Ranger summer employment program. As an Urban Ranger, she taught hundreds of kids to fish, helped supervise camping trips, and began advocating for the importance of getting youth outside. After three years, she became the College Lead for the team. Her leadership since then has grown tremendously, as has her passion to help her community. Currently, Yesica is ELK's Student Coordinator where she helps lead the program that helped her, Leadership Corps. She is also the Youth Ambassador for the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Office, a volunteer for Latino Outdoors, and a Natural Leader with the Natural Leaders Network. In her free time she enjoys hiking, dancing, or binge watching Netflix shows.
Emcee - José Gonzalez
Green Chicano; Founder, Director Emeritus- Latino Outdoors; Partner- Avarna Group
José G. González is the Founder of Latino Outdoors. He is an experienced educator as a K-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. He is also an illustrator and science communicator. His commentary on diversity and environmental/outdoor equity has been featured by High Country News, Outside Magazine, Earth Island Journal, and Latino USA, and he engaged in collaborations with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Park Service during the Obama Administration. He also represented Latino Outdoors in several coalitions including the Latino Conservation Alliance, the Next 100 Coalition, and California Parks Now. He has been recognized with several honors, including the National Wildlife Federation Environmental Educator Award, Grist Magazine “Grist 50”, and The Murie Center Spirit of the Muries, among others. You may have also seen him in various outdoor spaces or read his poetic musings. 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.
