Into The FUTURE: Outdoor Opportunity Grants in The Spotlight

Tune in to our second episode of Into The F.U.T.U.R.E., Outdoor Opportunity Grants In The Spotlight!

This engaging webinar featured grant Directors and Managers at the forefront of outdoor equity initiatives in their respective states. Gain insights into the foundation of outdoor equity funds, their journey, and invaluable advice for those aspiring to make a difference in their communities. We explored the challenges, triumphs, and impactful strategies developed by outdoor opportunity leaders as they strive to make the outdoors accessible to all.

LIVE ON:

June 5th 12-1pm PT

ABOUT OUR PANELISTS

Andrea Kurth / Outdoor Equity Grant Program Manager · Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Andrea Kurth is a bicultural community advocate who works to increase justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in conservation and on public lands in Colorado. Andrea was born in Colombia, raised in San Antonio, Texas, has lived on four continents, and has called Colorado home since 2018. Andrea is an active member of the Next 100 Colorado, a coalition of organizations and individuals working to ensure that Colorado's public lands and waters reflect the face of the state, and was a part of the coalition that advocated for the creation of the Outdoor Equity Grant program in 2021. As the Outdoor Equity Grant Program Manager at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Andrea leverages her bicultural roots and her connection to communities across Colorado to help traditionally excluded communities access funding to support environmental education, recreation, and outdoor job training experiences.

Director Armando Quintero/ Director - California Department of Parks and Recreation

Armando Quintero was named director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation on Aug. 18, 2020.

An experienced parks professional with expertise in park operations, outdoor education, equity and access, and diversity and inclusion in hiring and retention, Quintero has a degree in environmental science and biology. He was executive director of the Sierra Nevada Research Institute at the University of California (UC), Merced, from 2014 to 2020, and served as director of development at UC Merced from 2008 to 2014. He was an elected member of the Marin Municipal Water District from 2008 to 2020. In 2014, Governor Jerry Brown appointed him as a member of the California Water Commission and served as chair of that Commission from 2015 to 2020.

Quintero held multiple positions at the National Park Service (NPS) from 1976 to 1998, including chief of the Special Park Uses Group and district ranger at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, personnel staffing specialist for NPS, park ranger and supervisory park ranger at the Point Reyes National Seashore, and park ranger at the Sequoia National Park and at the John Muir National Historic Site.

Following his career at the NPS, he was an independent environmental educator and trip leader for a decade, from 1998 to 2008.

Karina Armijo / Director - New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division

Karina Armijo joined the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division with over 27 years of experience supporting small businesses and events in Northern New Mexico in both the public and private sectors. A proud alumna of the University of Cincinnati, Karina holds a B.S. in Design, which paved the way to New Mexico as a graphic designer in the communications department at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

She later continued her career in the private sector, providing creative and web design services for the tourism and outdoor recreation-related industries. Most recently, she spent eight years with the Town of Taos as the first Director of Marketing and Tourism, developing and managing local and regional programs to support businesses and events throughout the Enchanted Circle region.

Outside of work, Karina is passionate about spending time outdoors. Whether she is mastering the art of fly fishing or traversing the trails through running and hiking, the great outdoors is her ultimate retreat and source of inspiration.

Teresa Martinez / Executive Director, Continental Divide Trail Coalition + Member, Outdoor FUTURE Initiative

For over 30 years, Teresa has worked professionally to increase awareness, engagement, access, and stewardship of our entire National Trails System. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Teresa holds a B.S. and M.S from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in the College of Natural Resources. Teresa is a life long outdoor recreationist and from 1987-2007 she worked for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, from 2007 to 2012 she worked for the Continental Divide Trail Alliance and since 2012 she has been the Executive Director (and co-founder) of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. She serves on the Trail Leadership Council of the Partnership for the National Trails System and has served as the Chair of the Federal Advisory Committee to aid the USFS in the development of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Teresa is actively involved in the creation of equitable spaces for all people in the outdoors and currently serves as the acting chair of the Board for the Next100 Coalition. In 2019,Teresa was honored by the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources as the recipient of the Gerald Cross Alumni Leadership Award. When not working on behalf of one of our National Trails, Teresa may be found exploring trails in and around Santa Fe, NM, by bike, horse, and foot and is always up for a discada with friends in cool outdoor places!