Logistics Coordinator

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, AJ enjoys taking their time when wandering the forest. She is a firm believer that it's not about how many miles you hike or the intensity of the trip but rather, how much joy you find on the trail and the intentional connections made while outside. With a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, AJ is dedicated to help build up spaces where folks of all identities can thrive outside. When not outdoors you can find AJ enjoying time with their cats, making art with their best friends, or fixing up some outdoor gear.

Programs Coordinator

Ana is a trans, non-binary, Spanish American person with interest in anything from sewing to aggressive roller skating to playing violin. They have a background in biology, science education, performance theatre, and communications. Their favorite outdoor destination is easily the Denali National Park and Reserve in Alaska. They are beyond elated to get to know everyone in the Wild Diversity community, and to find new wonderful people to involve in our programs.

Co-Executive Director

Chrisha is an outdoor enthusiast, educator, land steward, gardener, forager, influencer, and naturalist with an extensive background in education, program coordination, and community building. She initially began her career in music education, but over the years, she transitioned into environmental education to promote the importance of nature in our lives. She's dedicated to creating inclusive outdoor communities through outreach and education. In her free time, Chrisha enjoys gardening, foraging, backpacking, hiking, camping, volunteering with local nonprofits, and caring for her property in Eugene, Oregon.

Operations Coordinator

Kaïa loves the outdoors, particularly anything involving water, and is passionate about sharing that love with others. Whether they’re helping someone build their first fire, sharing stories around a campfire, or ensuring that a trip goes out with the right safety gear, Kaïa feels most aligned when they can create a comfortable and safe container for people to connect with nature and each other.

They grew up in rural Missouri, where the highlight of their summers were float trips down the Current River. After moving to Portland in middle school, she quickly fell in love with the mossy forests and hot springs of the Pacific Northwest. When not in the office, you can find them involved in community organizing, paddling down a river with their niece, baking up a storm, or making pottery.

Grant Writer

Michele has a lifetime of experiences and fond memories of being in nature – beginning with an elk hunting trip high in the snow-covered mountains of Colorado when she was just 3 months old. She loves spending time outdoors in any form and has been known to seek out remote adrenaline inducing activities. Her friends often joke that she’s often the first to raise her hand for any outdoor activity that requires a helmet or a liability waiver.

Michele leverages her skills and experiences from a career as a climate change, sustainability, and environmental professional working in local government to help secure grants and funding to advance the work of Wild Diversity.

Michele believes deeply that everyone deserves ample opportunities to have a lifetime of healing and fulfilling outdoor experiences. She understands that white, cisgender, straight, able-bodied individuals such as herself have designed and continue to perpetuate the systems, institutions and biases that have resulted in a diversity gap in the outdoors. She is committed to using her power, privilege, voice, and resources create greater and safer access for all.

Founder & Co-Executive Director

Mercy’s drive to form Wild Diversity came from the desire to support a robust community of POC & Queer outdoorists and be an architect of much needed change for diversity in the outdoor industry. They want a welcoming and safe place for their communities to thrive. Mercy not only wants to diversify the outdoors, they want to diversify the activities that folks do in the outdoors.

Mercy has over 15 years in community leadership as an educator and facilitator directly serving community. They have also traveled to over a dozen countries training and leading workshops as a roller derby coach to empower women to realize their potential. They bring that passion to the Wild Diversity community and are proud to be a part of community growth.

She/They

Āish, originally from Sacramento, CA, has a passion for exploring the outdoors and spending time in solitude. She graduated from San Jose State University in 2022 with a focus on Environmental Education. Since then, she has been experimenting with various outdoor activities, discovering backpacking and hiking as her sweet spots. In 2023, she became an instructor with NOLS and successfully assessed in the US BIPOC IIT program, motivating her to further develop her skills and find a supportive community. Alongside her outdoor pursuits, Āish is an artist who enjoys integrating her creativity into her adventures, sharing her poetry wherever she goes. Recently, she has taken up climbing and looks forward to exploring this new interest in Portland.

She/Her/Hers

Kaylee is a backcountry sports enthusiast with a passion for sustainability. She currently resides in the wonderland that is the Pacific Northwest. She always loved the outdoors, but when she moved to Oregon from the Midwest in the summer of 2019, she quickly fell head over heels for the mossy forests and snowy mountains. When COVID hit in 2020, going to remote trails became a must and a weekly routine. This routine inspired her to follow her dreams by changing careers to accommodate her love of the forest and adventure deep into the backcountry. She recently completed her 2023 sustainably focused thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail and is now using her platforms and knowledge to spread awareness and educate others on how to make their time spent outside more sustainable.

I grew up playing outside, climbing trees, gardening with my mom, and searching for bugs and creatures. This was my first connection with the outdoors, and has grown into a deep love for the natural world and its inhabitants. Originally from near Chicago, I love to explore the forests, mountains, lakes and rivers, and coasts of the PNW. I've been studying up on the local plant and wildlife -- salal is one of my favorite plants now! I relate to the outdoors as a teacher and healer. I see the sun, winds, waters, and everything they touch as ancestors. To walk in the woods or pass a while by a river is a spiritual experience, it connects the deepest part of me to the world. And its a political experience as I process my being here as a settler, striving to be in right relationship with original inhabitants of this place while honoring my own lineages.

Al is Diné (Navajo), born for the Karuk tribe. Originally from the Southwest, they are a lover of sunshine, heat, and desert sunsets. They grew up herding sheep with their cousins, exploring their homelands to learn about traditional foods and medicines, and learning how to grow corn with the matriarchs in their family. Now based in the Pacific Northwest, they enjoy frolicking in meadows, watching the sunset along the coast, and car camping with friends. Al is excited to help lead adventures that help folks develop a better relationship with the land and foster community spaces for storytelling.

In their free time, Al enjoys running, making block print art, playing banjo, weaving, and writing poetry.

Ashley "Ash" has a great appreciation for the outdoors; particularly for the water and sunshine as they, in tandem, bring her the most happiness and healing. Oregon and Hawaii are both home to Ash. In her free time you can find her swimming, road-tripping with friends, stargazing, or laying on the beach eating a spam musubi.

I feel a strong connection to the Earth and all her inhabitants, and enjoy just BEING, while outdoors–feeling, smelling, observing, listening, and experiencing all that the wild has to offer. I like to take it slow and easy when out on an adventure; most of the time just watching animals do their thing, napping in the sun, picking up litter, feeling up on trees, being near or in water, and relaxing. I didn’t explore outside very much at all in my childhood, and as life went on, I just didn’t “fit in” with the people that did spend time out there. But the thing is, the outdoors are for everyone! No matter how you show up, and I wish I knew that sooner. I strive to empower others to go out, try something new, and represent. I want to see more BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ being nurtured by nature and having access to the diverse benefits she offers; like reducing stress and the promotion of healing, mentally and physically!

I am a baby naturalist, a full-time wildlife rehabilitator at Portland Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center, with a goat care side hustle, and am now learning to be a paddling guide!

Bea Yeh is a multiracial child of refugees and immigrants, proud to carry the lineage of her ancestors, and grateful to call the PNW home for over twenty years. She is a transformational leader, radical dreamer, creative mystic, outdoor adventurer, urban farmer, and participatory educator. They have been adventuring outdoors, teaching workshops, and working for non-profits for many decades. Bea is excited for upcoming adventures and invites participants to be curious, get creative, observe, and have fun!

Camelia grew up surrounded by Joshua Trees in the high desert of Southern California, with the majority of her life never exploring the outdoors. This changed in 2015 when she began learning about the natural world around her, especially birds. Camelia currently works as an Educator with Portland Audubon. She is passionate about changing the cultural norm of what it means to be/look like a “birder.” You can usually find her on leisurely bird walks and occasional sunset kayaking trips.

Candace is an avid birder, mycology geek, and native plant enthusiast, with a passion for the diverse ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest. Candace leads domestic and international tours, with a focus on bird biology and habitat preservation. She also works as a Field Biologist in Portland Audubon’s Conservation program, helping statewide partners meet their avian conservation goals.

My favorite way to get outside is one foot in front of the other... preferably with my dog Rodney on an early morning . I try to drop the pressure of “how” I should get outside and instead call on the gratitude I have when the opportunity presents itself-- whether it’s 10 minutes or a few days at a time. My dream adventure is an epic couple of days off grid connecting with new and old friends in the queer/trans community where we impress each other with outdoor cooking, tent building and nature knowledge. I'm a nerd about aviation and I’ve worked as a commercial aircraft mechanic for the past 13 years. I’m always game for a convo about your fear of flying! Also, I mostly hike in jeans.

Growing up by the sea in the Philippines, I have a deep fondness for bodies of water and food. My favorite outdoor activities are expedition sea kayaking, outdoor cooking and relaxing by rivers and waterfalls. I am also a dancer and a board game nerd and I look forward to share my other indoor interests to the outdoors!

Harmonee was born and raised in Portland and grew up spending summer days at the beaches, water falls, and camping in the forests. Harmonee began teaching swimming lessons in 1999 at Matt Dishman Community Center. She has experience in teaching both water safety and skill development with all ages as well as coaching swim teams and training lifeguards and swim instructors.

Born and raised in Chicago, Jabri didn’t do much outdoors besides going to the beach and the playground. It wasn’t until Jabri moved to Minnesota for college that he began to build a new relationship with the outdoors. Through photography and with friends, Jabri has explored the outdoors through hiking, camping, kayaking, canoeing, and biking. He enjoys creating more spaces for Black queer trans folks like him to connect with one another, to connect with the outdoors, and to be able to feel safe doing so. You can also find him gardening, hanging with his pup Solstice, and geeking out about food. His favorite camping snack is a larabar and dried mango. You might catch Jabri rocking a hat (to keep his locs protected) and a smile.

It wasn’t until moving to Portland in 2014, that I realized my love for the outdoors. Growing up in the South, the humidity felt as oppressive as the antiquated and racist ideas that surrounded me. Since my first camping trip in 2015, I have been steadily increasing my time outdoors, which has paralleled my own practice of mindfulness and compassion. There is so much beauty in the world around us and I believe that nature provides the best antidote to the modern-day ills of late capitalism. I want to shepherd this experience for others, as a means of building this beautiful community and finding liberation. Currently, you can find me taking long, slow walks in St. Johns with my dog Yoshi, staring up at the trees and listening to all the different bird songs.

I grew up on Lenape land (aka New Jersey, aka The Garden State), in a valley along the banks of the Musconetcong River. My grandparents were farmers, and in my earliest memories, I am always outdoors, playing among trees and encountering other animals. After living in many other places, I came to Oregon in 2016 and have been renewing my relationship to the more-than-human world ever since. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, camping, forest bathing, canoeing, bird noticing, gardening, romping with my dogs—Comet and Dash—and almost any other excuse to be outdoors. I spend much of my indoor time writing or teaching, and my current writing projects focus on experiences of people of color and queer folks in natural and wilderness spaces.

I’m a West Coast native and moved from NYC to the glorious PNW a few years ago. I’ve always been fascinated with the outdoors but never really embraced the outdoors the way I wanted for fear of being labeled an imposter. But you know what, the right way to recreate is the way that feels best and true to yourself! I told myself it’s never too late to get out there and with that in mind I went on my first camping trip in my 30s and haven’t looked back. I have a very demanding job in the medical field and being outdoors is my favorite way to unwind and remember we’re all connected by nature. When I’m not working you can find me driving my jeep into the off-road abyss (preferably desert) for camping, backpacking, hiking, climbing, or skiing adventures. (I honestly could never pick a favorite activity but I love camping because it can be as stripped down or full of comforts as you want!) Fun facts, I am training for my first ultramarathon so you might find me hitting the trails on foot and I fancy myself a backcountry gourmet cook.

Hello there! I'm Li, a tech professional and a passionate outdoors enthusiast who loves nothing more than exploring the great outdoors through activities such as hiking, biking, bouldering, camping, and more.

One of the primary reasons I was drawn to apply for the role of an adventure guide was the opportunity to connect with a community that is both similar to and different from myself. I believe that there is something truly special about sharing experiences in nature with others, and I am excited to help others discover the beauty and wonder of the outdoors. Additionally, I'm thrilled at the prospect of refining my camping skills and learning new ones along the way.

Finally, I must say that I am deeply impressed by Wild Diversity as an organization, and I am excited to be a part of a team that is so dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors. I am eager to contribute my skills and experience to this mission, and I look forward to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve.

Growing up in Seattle with parents who often took him on camping weekends and road trips, Louis knows his way around the PNW in every season. Whether he's on his favorite hiking trails, a paddle board or on his bike, Louis is always eager to get outside. One of his favorite things is sharing the places he loves (the Olympic Peninsula and ol' Loowit, among many others) with his friends and family.

Public health policy wonk, cat lover, gardener, mutual aid supporter, apt to break out into song or dance at moment’s notice. Always up for a giggle. Curious about people, justice and culture. What’s your story?

Mafe grew up playing outside with her friends and spending full days at the beach in Venezuela. She moved to the PNW in 2017 and discovered that exploring the outdoors in different ways really gave her a sense of being in this world and in her own body. Mafe feels most like herself when she is backpacking, hiking, running, and biking. Living authentically, she has realized, is being open to new never before imagined possibilities – exploring, trying new things, meeting new people, and offering/receiving support from the community.

Maryan (she/her(s)/they/them) grew up in the Dominican Republic. As for activities, they enjoy hiking, biking, rock climbing, and (new!) snowboarding. They can’t sit still, are a little reckless, and like to be around others. Maryan thinks soccer was the sport that helped them be a team-player and prioritizes collectivism. Their favorite trail snacks are dried mango.

I’m passionate about creating equitable and inclusive access in the outdoors. I receive so much nourishment from spending time outside and love supporting others in finding their own ways of finding joy outside. I especially love sunset hikes, camping by alpine lakes, wildflowers, foraging and exploring tidepools.

ridhi d’cruz (they/them) is a gender queer Malayali who grew up in the city of Bangalore in southern India and moved to Wapato Valley (Portland) in 2010. they fondly identify as a facilitator, artist and peer mentor. they locate the roots of their life artistry in the intersections of place, healing, design and creative justice(s). they have dedicated over a decade of their life to designing community processes that cultivate liberatory and healing senses of place. they know firsthand the deep healing they experience belonging to themselves, to each other and to the more-than-human world.

Robin grew up in Austin exploring the maze of trails and creeks in a nearby park. Portland’s been home for nearly 20 years, and I can’t get enough of nearby parks, natural areas, the mountains, and the coast. I love sharing the outdoors with others, exploring new places, and returning to favorite spots in different seasons.

Sima grew up in the PNW and enjoys hiking, camping and bikepacking. You'll find her on two wheels as much as she can manage. Through her degree in natural resources, she has come to love birdwatching, wildlife surveying and PNW plant identification. She's a firm believer in unpadded bike shorts and an abundance of fanny pack snacks on the trail.

The outdoors, especially in the sunshine, is such a healing space for me. Over the years, I've grown to appreciate how much nature grounds me. I am happiest when I'm outdoors with my dog and loved ones. Good snacks help, too.

Tara grew up in Miami, spending countless weekends swimming, lounging, and playing in the ocean. She loves the feeling of coming home slightly sunburnt, skin salty, and fully exhausted, basking in the afterglow of spending the day by the water with people she loves. Tara brings to Wild Diversity a passion for creating more equitable communities, building connections between diverse people, and a great love for the outdoors.

Turtle Niveen Farahat (they/she) grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, IL, and Cairo, Egypt, and has been in Portland for since 2009. Turtle loves the feeling of being at water level, loves watching waterbirds and the reflections of plants in the ripples, loves breathing with the strokes of their paddle and clear night skies. In their land-life, they practice bodywork and acupuncture and enjoy singing, old trees, and hugs. They are delighted to be a part of Wild Diversity and look forward to paddling with you!

Queer entomologist who loves being in, on, under, or near the water. I've lived all over the US but in 14+ years in Oregon I've experienced the beauty of the Northwest through kayaking, river swimming, scuba diving, camping, and hiking. One of the great things about being a WD Paddle Guide is seeing the joy on participants' faces when they get to experiences those things as well.

Mercy’s drive to form Wild Diversity came from the desire to support a robust community of POC & Queer outdoorists and be an architect of much needed change for diversity in the outdoor industry. They want a welcoming and safe place for their communities to thrive. Mercy not only wants to diversify the outdoors, they want to diversify the activities that folks do in the outdoors.

Mercy has over 15 years in community leadership as an educator and facilitator directly serving community. They have also traveled to over a dozen countries training and leading workshops as a roller derby coach to empower women to realize their potential. They bring that passion to the Wild Diversity community and are proud to be a part of community growth.

Alyson Day has leveraged her extensive background in business to develop her consulting and coaching business in Portland, OR. Her years of experience working with high power teams and individuals gave her the insight and empathy to help others to deliver purpose driven results. Prior to launching her own business, she was the Global Director of Digital Marketing at Nike, handpicked to manage Purpose driven projects.

Before this role she held positions at Nike in Integrated Retail Marketing and Global Merchandising of Performance apparel and footwear. She joined Nike working for the Jordan brand after over eight years with luxury fashion brand, TSE, where she was Vice President of Marketing.

City girl turned Nature Enthusiast, Chrissy grew up and spent time in major metropolitan cities such as Nairobi, London, NYC, Chicago and more. Her passion for the outdoors was spurred on during a road trip across the US in 2019. What she experienced during her first time camping, backpacking and hiking outdoors all over the rural areas in the states, opened her eyes to the absolute lack of diversity with the BIPOC & LGBTQ+ community, and the racism experienced completely changed her outlook in how she viewed the rural outdoor spaces.

Chrissy hopes that this amazing community will continue to spend more time playing and exploring the outdoor spaces and hopes to inspire people to learn new skills for the outdoors, go hiking and participate in all kinds of outdoor sports. Chrissy is what we these days call, a digital nomad, this allows her to spend lots of time outdoors and will hopefully allow her to live a sustainable lifestyle that will be kinder to the environment.

While getting her degree in Organization Systems Renewal at Seattle University, Heather came to the realization that embracing both the light and dark sides of being human can lead to more meaningful connections. Her search led her to defining her purpose — unleashing the world's love. She is an accomplished leader with diverse business experience. Her expertise is in creating the conditions necessary to foster connections and bring about transformational shifts in organizations and people.

Though she studied leadership and organizational development theories in school, the outdoors have shaped her the most. In today's ever-changing work climate, Heather serves as a trusted guide and people partner through uncertain times.

She enjoys biking in dirt after a fresh rainstorm, Nordic skiing across frozen lakes, cooking and hanging with her wife, dog, family and friends.

Lauren is an outdoor lover who grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Biking, hiking, skiing, and camping are just some of her favorite ways to be in the wild.

With a strong track record in financial planning and budget management, Lauren has had a consistently successful career with a world-class retail organizations known for excellence in quality, service, results, and professional development.

Lauren is passionate about her community and is committed to nurturing those connections. Wild Diversity allows Lauren to live into her mission of experiencing growth and aliveness with every new adventure.

Sarah Cloud is currently the executive director of the Deschutes River Alliance which focuses on protecting and preserving the lower Deschutes River. Her career in the non-profit sector spans more than thirty years. It has included a position as part of the mediation firm that worked with the Hanford Advisory Board, developing and executing outreach campaigns for organizations such as the Citizens’ Utility Board and working in development. In her position prior to DRA, she was instrumental in creating and executing a strategic plan focused on growth.

She enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest and National Parks, especially flat waters via kayak and her vintage travel trailer. Her recent obsession is fly fishing. Her two teenage daughters enjoy joining her on many adventures.