I am a mestiza Chicana (she/her) born and raised on Chumash and Tongva ancestral lands currently known as Los Angeles, California. I live on Arapahoe, Cheyenne and Ute ancestral lands, otherwise known as Fort Collins, Colorado, and teach teenagers to backpack, do math, and discover how to be good humans.
My racial and social justice journey began when I was a little girl in elementary school in a mostly Mexican immigrant neighborhood when I befriended a grand total of two Black kids on my block. Since then, my racial justice awareness developed over my time growing up in my neighborhood: objecting to my parents internalized white supremacy, attending affluent private high schools, and pursuing a career in outdoor education and teaching. I’ve not only learned about systemic racism and injustice, I’ve seen it and lived it.
At 17 years old, on my last rock climbing field trip of my high school experience, I reflected on the things that backpacking and rock climbing had taught me – confidence, risk-taking, determination – and I made a commitment to give these things back to my communities, especially to People of Color. And so began my career in outdoor education.
I have worked in various roles for the High Mountain Institute, Colorado Outward Bound, Eagle Rock School, University of California Santa Cruz’s Recreation program, Experiential Leadership Program, and Wilderness Orientation program, The Chadwick School, Adventure Risk Challenge, and the Ventana Wilderness Alliance’s Youth in Wilderness Program. I have facilitated backpacking trips in the Andes of Chilean Patagonia, sea kayaking trips in Tomales Bay, and climbing days in the Sierran backcountry. I have convinced teenagers to eat macaroni off the forest floor, rappel into slot canyons, and do their fractions.
