Black Conservationist Lead the Way Locally and Nationally in Environmental Action

In celebration of black history month meet 15 inspiring black leaders in the Colorado's environmental and outdoor movement. These leaders are igniting lasting change in their communities and beyond. From trail runners to environmental justice activists, black people are making a huge impact in the environmental movement. Celebrate Black History Month any time of year by taking a closer look at some notable black environmentalists and outdoor leaders working in Colorado today.

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CRYSTAL EGLI

COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE

Crystal Egli (she/her/hers) is a videographer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Having grown up in rural Vermont, Crystal 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 took her 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. They both now work for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and a few years ago coworkers convinced Crystal to take up hunting. She filmed the video series “My First Big Game Hunt” to encourage people from all spaces in life to give hunting a shot, and not let anything get in their way. Although she hates being in front of the camera, Crystal decided to feature herself so that people could see a female, minority millennial who is terrified of firearms giving it a try. “If I can do it,” she says, “literally anyone can.” Crystal is using her new platform and voice to help carve out more inclusive spaces in conservation work and outdoor recreation. 

https://www.youtube.com/c/ColoradoParksandWildlife  
Instagram: @CrystalEgli

"I grew up feeling more comfortable going to the bathroom outside than inside, so it was shocking to learn outdoor spaces weren't truly welcoming for everyone. I'm working to undo that."
-Crystal Egli
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C. PARKER MCMULLEN BUSHMAN                  ​

Colorado State University / ECOINCLUSIVE/ KWEEN​ Werk

P​arker McMullen Bushman (she/her/hers)  is the Colorado State University Director of Extension for the City and County of Denver. She is also the CEO and Founder of Ecoinclusive and KWEEN WERK. Parker’s background in the conservation, environmental education and outdoor recreation fields spans over 22+ 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. Locally and nationally she works with environmental organizations to aid them in building a 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.
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Parker is also the CEO and Founder of an online resource forum called Ecoinclusive and the creator of EKWEEN WERK and Summit for Action. 

​“A basic principle of ecology is that diversity in an ecosystem fosters strength and resilience. The same is true in our organizations and communities. When we talk about environmental conservation issues we need everyone at the table and engaged in the conversation.  Our hope for tomorrow is each other. So we must work together to make change happen.”
​-C. Parker McMullen Bushman

KWEEN WERK is dedicated to disrupting the narrative that only able-bodied people from dominate culture care about the environment and participate in outdoor recreation activities. KWEEN stands for Keep Widening Environmental Engagement Narratives. KWEEN WERK challenges traditional representations of what it means to be outdoorsy by showing a variety of bodies engaged in outdoor spaces. 

​Summit for Action. is a gathering for thought-provoking discussions and solutions-based recommendations for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Nonprofit Organizations. Summit for Action brings together leaders and key stakeholders and will features a mix of planned and open space conference sessions intended to help organizations build diverse workplaces and increase community impact. 

​Ecoinclusive Website   Facebook
KWEEN WERK Website Facebook   Instagram 
Summit for Action  Website Facebook

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​JASON SWANN

​​RISING ROUTES

​​Born in Atlanta, GA and raised in Sparta, GA, Jason now lives in Denver, Colorado.  Jason is the Co-founder of Rising Routes.  His love for nature began in his childhood years when home and fun were mingled with the outdoors.  After personally experiencing the inequalities of our judicial system, Jason began to build a bridge of understanding of the sufferings of others.  It was through his own traumatizing experience where he found his path. It’s where the spark of Rising Routes was lit.  
 Rising Routes is, at its core, is a community-building organization.  They are primarily focused on cross-cultural, intersectional, collaborative healing between humans and the mental health that’s intrinsically tied to that process.  And that’s not to say that they're a therapy program, while that is their long-term goal, right now they are focused on gathering groups of people from different backgrounds, with different life lenses, who have the emotional and physical energy to educate and be educated, to listen, to speak, to be heard, to lift and be uplifted.  ​​

 "The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven" - John Milton 

Rising Routes is aiming to normalize uncomfortable conversations around social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and mental health, to lift the veil of “normal” and disempower stigmas and perceptions, erasive and appropriative history, and empower a future of people capable of celebrating and finding strength in their differences while working to affect sweeping systemic change.  
 Working across cultures and identities requires us to expand our comfort zone, owning our power and privilege, and engaging in active self-reflection that interrogates what we hold to be true. The outdoors is their medium, the trail is their guide. ​

Instagram - Rising Routes
Facebook - Rising Routes 
Meetup.com - Https://www.meetup.com/Rising-Routes/
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​PATRICIA ANN CAMERON

 BLACKPACKERS

​Patricia is the Executive Director and Founder of Blackpackers. In the months since first announcing Blackpackers in 2019, Patricia has turned it into a Colorado charity and a 501(c)(3) organization with the help of a talented and resourceful Board of Directors.  The purpose of Blackpackers is two-fold: 1.) to create economic equity in outdoor recreation and 2.) to connect underrepresented communities with jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities, and mentors to establish a pipeline between recreation in the outdoors and careers in the outdoors.  Personally, Patricia really enjoys lightweight backpacking, fishing, and being a homeschool mother to her teenage son.  This summer, catch her on the Colorado Trail as she hikes 486 miles on behalf of Blackpackers.

"Yeah, it was cold, I still can't feel the tip of my right toe." ​ -Patricia Cameron

coblackpackers.com

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​TAISHYA ADAMS

COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSIONER/ OUTDOOR AFRO/ AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

​In 2019, Taishya was appointed by Governor Jared Polis to serve on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission – the first African American woman in the Commission’s history – which sets regulations and policies for Colorado’s 41 state parks and wildlife management. Taishya also serves as the Outdoor Afro Colorado Co-Lead.  Outdoor Afro is a national non-profit organization with leadership networks (80 leaders in 30 states) from around the country connecting thousands of people to outdoor experiences and changing the face of conservation leadership.  Taishya works at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) as a Senior Education Consultant laser focused on equity, diversity and inclusion. At AIR, Taishya works with state education agencies, districts, public schools, and community partners to strengthen access, representation, meaningful participation and quality for educators, students, families and community members by ​acknowledging historical barriers, challenging assumptions, confronting bias and privilege, and identifying strategies that forge a new legacy. 

“It is time for us to reclaim our space in the outdoors, in the board room, in the C-suite, in the classroom and beyond.  All our ancestors contributed to the world we live in now.  We all have earned a seat at the table and have a responsibility to learn, unlearn, relearn, and act collaboratively to heal ourselves, our communities, and our planet.” - Taishya Adams

  Previously, Taishya worked with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the DC Public Charter Schools Board, Global Classrooms Washington, DC, and the Children Defense Fund Freedom Schools. Taishya also co-founded New Legacy Charter School – a public charter high school and early learning center for teen parents and their children in Aurora, Colorado.  Taishya holds a MA in International Education from George Washington University and a BA from Vassar College. You will find her on the trail, slopes, crag, yoga mat, conference room, garden, and in the presence of those who love and cherish life.

@​ taishyasky

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KRISTE PEOPLES

BLACK WOMEN'S ALLIANCE OF DENVER / LIFES2SHORTFITNESS / CITYWILD / WOMEN'S WILDERNESS

Kriste Peoples is a Denver-based writer, trail running coach, outdoorist, and meditation teacher. Her work combines her passions for public speaking and facilitating affirming experiences that connect underrepresented communities to new, empowering narratives of wellness.
 ​"The outdoors has always been an extension of who I am. I have always loved to move in the outdoors. When I was a child my mother would say I 'ran the streets' with my friends, playing in backyards and playgrounds, climbing trees and riding bikes 'til the streetlights came on. These days my playground is the mountains, and I run and climb the hills nearly every chance I get. It's a simple and profound gift to be able to share my excitement for the outdoors with others, whether it's in the form of a talk or workshop, or guided outing with families, or participants in running clinics. It's all the same to me: nature is for every body and we're the better for it. Plus, we get to be the adventure any time we choose!"

kristepeoples.com

"We'd do well to follow nature's example by being who we came to be, make the most of what we have, live peacefully together, and bloom where we are planted. "   - Kriste Peoples

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MISHA CHARLES

AMERICAN ALPINE CLUB / OUTDOOR AFRO

​Misha is an organizational effectiveness and impact wonk, outdoorist, writer, photographer, and wannabe mountaineer. She has more than 15 years of experience in the social and commercial sectors, partnering with boards and CEOs to help organizations do their best work. As the Chief Programs Officer for the American Alpine Club (AAC), she is responsible for a portfolio of the AAC’s major programs, including: membership, marketing, public policy, education, and volunteerism. Founded in 1902, the American Alpine Club is working toward a united community of climbers and healthy climbing landscapes. Misha is also a Colorado co-leader for Outdoor Afro, a national organization committed to celebrating and inspiring African American leadership and connections in nature, and a brand ambassador for locally-owned independent gear shop Feral Mountain Company. Misha is an avid hiker and backpacker, having summited a number of Colorado 14ers and Mt. Kilimanjaro. She is learning to climb. Mt. Everest Basecamp and Mt. Whitney are in her near future.

"​For more than a decade, I have pursued congruence between my work and life, only to discover that what I sought was not a destination, but an ongoing process--one of decline and rebirth, instability and balance, growth and perseverance. Kind of like nature." - Misha Charles

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LEANDER R. LACY ​

LACY CONSULTING SERVICES, LLC

​Leander Lacy founded Lacy Consulting Services to provide a combination of social science, strategic planning, and diversity, equity, and inclusion thinking to conservation organizations to help them stay relevant and reach their human wellbeing targets. He began his career with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission as an Urban Interface Wildlife Biologist with a focus on Florida Black Bears. He worked to change behaviors of communities that had a perception of what they called “nuisance bears” that rummaged through unsecured garbage and generally frightened people with their presence. This provided Leander the opportunity to sharpen his conflict management skills and highlighted the need for effective communication. With a focus on the people side of conservation he obtained a M.S. in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. His thesis looked at how to improve the quality of life of the urban poor through environmental action in Chiapas, MX.

“I’ve heard it said before and I take it to heart: conservation happens at the speed of trust" - Leander Lacy

​Leander went on to work 8 years with The Nature Conservancy. His final role before starting his own business was as the Global Methodology Learning Coordinator where he assisted teams throughout the world with strategic planning on large-scale conservation issues and ensuring that social science principles were incorporated. Now he takes his extensive experience and is helping environmental organizations accomplish their goals in innovative and people-focused ways. He recently facilitated a strategic planning process for a 5-state collaborative to save the Southern U.S. shortgrass prairie, he is helping an organization understand their need for diversity, equity, and inclusion in their North America agriculture approach, and recently his company became international as he was sought out by a conservation group in the Bahamas to conduct focus groups to understand and begin mending the breakdown in trust between fishers, law enforcement, and conservation groups. 

​www.lacyconsultingservices.com
Find his organization on Facebook and LinkedIn

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​KRISTINA OPRE GRAY

ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOR KIDS (ELK)

Kristina Opre Gray is the Director of Corporate Relations and Marketing for Denver-based nonprofit, Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK). Going on its 24th year of working in-depth with youth and families within the far northeast Denver community, ELK serves to immerse youth of color in conservationism and natural resources education and introduce historically underrepresented young people to careers in the STEM fields. After personally experiencing the lack of encouragement to explore both professional sectors and personal areas of interest that society has worked to exclude young people of color from for far too long, Kristina dedicated herself to fighting against the systems of poverty and inequity that weigh on the shoulders of minorities, and work to unjustly prevent them from reaching their highest potential.

​www.elkkids.org

​In order to ensure that our next generation of stewards reflect the diversity of our communities and our neighborhoods, bringing folks from all walks of life together to protect our public lands and open spaces from over development and corporate greed, we must first uplift the whole person. Only when we have our hierarchy of needs met are we then able to ponder the question of “what do we owe each other?”  - Kristina Opre Gray

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​SID WILSON 

A PRIVATE GUIDE, INC.
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​ Sid Wilson is president of A Private Guide, Inc., a licensed group charter transportation and touring service company headquartered in Denver, Colorado since 1991. Utilizing a network of preferred suppliers and staff professionals, A Private Guide, Inc. also arranges a wide variety of custom designed regional group excursion packages. These include heritage tours, city and mountain sightseeing, skiing, hiking, horseback rides, river rafting, narrow gauge railroads, factory outlet shopping and dining, high country festivals, and other optional tours. 

 Sid Wilson’s has made large contributions to the outdoor tourism industry. Sid revels in sharing with clients the inspiring tales of Colorado's early pioneers whose resourcefulness enabled them to survive and prosper in the Rocky Mountain's volatile "boom" and "bust" economic cycles of the past. Sid is very active in his community. He has served as a Past Chairman of the Board of directors for the Black American West Museum and Heritage Center; Director Emeritus for the Center of the American West, @ CU Boulder; member board of directors for Colorado Historical Society’s African American Advisory Council; past board member and vice-chair of Historic Denver; past member of Historic Preservation State Review Board; Founding member and past Board Chairman of the James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club; Commissioner for Denver Mayor’s African American Commission; former member board of directors Colorado Scholarship Coalition; member board of directors Denver Zoological Foundation; Current member and past Board of Directors Chairman of both Lincoln Hills Cares, and Lincoln Hills Cares Foundation, and as an instructor for the International Guide Academy / USA & Mexico. 

​https://www.aprivateguide.com/

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​ JESSICA "JESS"  NEWTON

VIBE TRIBE ADVENTURE

​Jessica "Jess"  Newton is the owner of Vibe Tribe Adventures. Vibe Tribe Adventures (VTA) is a  global outdoor adventure company that was created to encourage Black women to explore the great outdoors, practice conservation of our planet, educate on health and wellness and to inspire one another to be authentically who we are naturally.  We have created sisterhood on the trails, on waterways and in our local communities across the globe. VTA teaches outdoor awareness, health and wellness, mindful practices and we even have a STEM education platform for the youth. VTA connects Black women who already love the outdoors with Black women who have lacked the opportunities to explore. We aim to fulfill our mission through the continuous practice of exploration, education and of course tons of sisterly outdoor fun.

Website: www.vibetribeadventures.com

​Let's all learn how to play in our own backyards! Think about it. It's a win - win situation. It's fun, healthy and healing all at the same time. Let's all push ourselves to be our very best and nature is here to help us all with doing just that! - Jessica Newton

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​MONTICUE CONNALLY 

JIRIDON APOTHECARY

Monticue Connally is a Colorado Medicine Man/ Herbalist who resonates with the sounds of African Drums, Rhythmic Chanting and Afro-Caribbean Folklore. Herbal Men’s Health, Herbalism Basics, Blessing with Herbs and many other esoteric/ nature related topics are subjects that you can find Monticue providing around town a places like Ruby Hill Tiny Farm and Woodbine Ecology Center. He teaches several classes for the Denver Botanic Gardens Herbal Certification Program and is also co-owner of Jiridon Apothecary, a business specializing in loose leaf herbal tea remedies. He leads community herb walks and offers both herbal and spiritual counseling to the community. He’s a drummer for the annual Kwanzaa celebrations where he is often asked to speak to the children and rap songs about the many wonders of plant medicines. He has also made himself available to come to the homes of Colorado residents with his holy prayers and plants to get rid of negative energy or spiritual entities that make residents feel uncomfortable. Herbs, the outdoors and alternative healing methods have been a lifelong interest for the Denver native who plans to continue to use workshops and music to teach people in urban areas how to access the many esoteric tools within along with the earthly medicines growing around them. He received the Preventative Care Leadership Award from the Be Well Health Initiative in 2019 for being of service to a community that is learning to appreciate these ancient medicines and have more faith towards the services of local healers. 

"The misconception is that the more spiritual we become, the more "far out" we become. this couldn't be further from the truth. The more spiritual we become, the more rooted we become. Through deeply growing inward our capacity to powerfully connect outward brings the humility to see both the teacher and the human within the trees, shrubs, waters, animals and lands..." - Monticue Connally

Website: JiridonApothecary.com
Instagram: @a_root_aw8kening
​Facebook: Monticue Connally
Patreon: Patreon.com/arootawakening

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​ANDREA DANCY AUGUISTE 

 NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION

​Andrea credits her passion for equity and justice to her upbringing in Memphis, Tennessee and as a product of the Civil Rights Movement of the ‘60s. It is the fundamental reason why she chose the field of philanthropy as the ultimate way to claim her place towards societal change. Andrea has built a career in philanthropy over 30 years at both large and small organizations, raising transformational gifts and training social change leaders in fundraising and leadership skills that ultimately result in more than just the bottom line of money, but rather the true success of making connections and building relationships for lasting social change. 
“Getting in nature is my sanctuary. It’s where I think and where I solve problems; it’s where I escape, and where I imagine. It’s also where memories of my childhood in the south come flooding back. And while life looked very different back then, my time outdoors truly shaped my appreciation for life and all of its wonders. Fishing with my parents, brothers and sister, picking strawberries in my grandparents’ garden, tasting honeysuckle while playing with my neighborhood friends—these are experiences I can still feel.
They make me appreciate that the environment is everywhere, whether in the city or in open space. And, it’s more urgent than ever to protect it. It’s the reason I work at the National Wildlife Federation .”

"Getting in nature is my sanctuary. It’s where I think and where I solve problems; it’s where I escape, and where I imagine." - Andrea Dancy Auguiste

https://www.nwf.org/Rocky-Mountain-Region

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TASHMESIA MITCHELL

cityWILD, MY OUTDOOR COLORADO COLE COALITION, PROJECT BELAY

​Tash Mitchell is a learner and thought partner who values, encourages, and supports inclusive collaboratives working to empower community.  She is the coordinator for the MY Outdoor Colorado Coalition in the Cole Neighborhood aimed at increasing youth access to nature and the outdoors.  She is also the co-founder of Project Belay, a community-based organization in Northeast Denver working to build the capacity of resident leaders to navigate systems of change resulting in the community they want to live in.  

​For more than 15 years, Tash has been focused on working alongside community through environmental education, health equity and community design and the built environment. As a learner and thought partner who has worked to increase community and youth engagement in environmental issues through education and advocacy, Tash promotes community and youth voice.   She focuses her capacity-building and authentic community engagement expertise on community initiatives that aim to increase and improve Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) and the built environment, expand youth access to nature and the outdoors, and support residents in their civic engagement efforts to achieve thriving communities.
  
She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Spelman College, with additional training in Anthropology from the University of Colorado.  Tash is a fellow of the RIHEL (Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leadership) Healthy Community Design Program, a trained coach for the Center of Cognitive Coaching, and a National Service-Learning Partnership Emerging Leader Fellow. She lives, works, plays, and prays in Northeast Denver with her three children and dog, Sunday. 

 "Authentic community and youth engagement honors the lived experience of those most impacted by involuntary environmental change in their communities" - Tash Mitchell

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KIA M. RUIZ

RIGHT TO KNOW/ GIRL TREK/ MEOW WOLF

​Kia is an environmental and economic development consultant plus yoga instructor. She is a biologist that has worked for USGS research, USFS research, USFS operations, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Florida International University, and for private companies with a good portion her work being in the backcountry when she was in the field. Her work in food politics began to help connect scientific ideas with how consumers came in contact with their food systems and she transitioned to become a food politics strategist. She is currently advising Meow Wolf with the environmental pillar of their corporate social responsibility plan. 

​When the environment does not have intrinsic value to be held sacred Kia approaches ways people can connect with it through economic and consumer impacts these days. Her passion is in connecting people to their interdependency with themselves, each other, and the environment. The yoga teaching is a tool to balance her brain and elevate others with how they show up in the world. She has been teaching for over ten years with specialities in prenatal, postpartum. yoga for healing, corporate, and hatha where she is now also a teacher trainer. Kia volunteers with Girl Trek as an Adventure Squad Leader. Girl Trek is the nation’s largest public health non-profit serving Black women. She has trained with the Sierra Club as a Hike Leader to support how people get on the trails at the annual Stress Protest and around the greater Denver area. You can find Kia on instagram at @kiamruiz where she posts about getting outside, her Denver life with her family, food, and how these all tie into to her personal thread of interdependency and connection.

​@kiamruiz

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