Colorado Advisory Council brings local expertise and perspectives to Inside-Out International Conference

The Colorado Advisory Council (CAC) provides local perspectives in the planning and development of the Children & Nature Network’s 2023 Inside-Out International Conference. Our experienced Council includes leaders from diverse sectors of the Colorado region, including education, government, policy and nonprofit, all committed to the children and nature movement. They work alongside Children & Nature Network staff to create an inclusive and culturally relevant event. Council members include:

Renée Chacon 

Renée is Diné/Xicana/ Filipina with ancestors from Southern Colorado and New Mexico. She is a Sahumadora for Kalpulli ColorAztlan and is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Womxn from the Mountain. Renée served on the Environmental Justice Action Taskforce for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Education, and is currently a Councilwomxn for Ward 3 representing northern Commerce City and Henderson.

Louise Chawla

Louise is Professor Emeritus in the Environmental Design program at the University of Colorado Boulder, and an active member of the university’s Community Engagement, Design and Research Center. She serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Children & Nature Network, and the Steering Committee of Growing Up Boulder, a program that involves children and teens in city planning and design. Her research and publications focus on children and nature, children in cities, and the development of committed action for the environment.

Rebecca Colbert

Rebecca Colbert, Senior Director of Design and Engagement, leads the Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) Initiative of the National Wildlife Federation. She holds degrees in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design and completed her Doctorate in Design and Planning at the University of Colorado, where she worked with the Children Youth and Environments Center for Research and Design. Prior to joining NWF, Rebecca practiced landscape architecture and planning with MIG Inc., where she gained 20 years of experience in designing and planning engaging, high-quality, developmentally-supportive environments for children in the U.S. and abroad.

Rosemary Dempsey

Rosemary joined Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) as its Director of Communications in 2016. Before joining GOCO, which invests Colorado Lottery proceeds in conservation and recreation projects across the state, she was creative director and director of storytelling at a Denver-based marketing agency. She oversees GOCO’s mission-driven and public-serving communications campaign Generation Wild, which helps get Colorado kids and families outside more often using ongoing tips and inspiration and an exciting mix of integrated, statewide media.

Lisa Donahue 

A mother and grandmother, Lisa takes the responsibility of being human into action for the quality of life and the sake of the Earth. Since leaving corporate positions with Apple, Time Warner, and DK Publishing, she has worked extensively in leadership positions with local and regional environmental organizations. When volunteering at her children’s school near Lake Ontario, Lisa developed a keen awareness and appreciation of the benefits of deep nature connection for all ages. Today, Lisa serves on the Leadership Circle of the Nature Connection Network and as President of the Board of Directors for the Guelph Outdoor School.  

Alicia Fall

Alicia Fall, Founder and Visionholder of Her Many Voices Foundation, has been a lifelong doer and creator. Fall is a TEDx Talk presenter, a recipient of the New York State Assembly Citation Award, and board member for the Coalition Against Global Genocide and for Tiyospaye Winyan Maka, both as a representative for Indigenous Peoples. Ms. Fall has been on the International Hemp Speaking circuit, speaking on Hemp and Humanity. Ms. Fall is delighted to have been nominated for the Mother Earth Award by the NOCO team in 2022.

Chris Smith 

Christopher Smith is the owner of Flour Design Studio, a small creative company. Chris is an architect and urban planner with more than three decades of experience in professional practice. He has had the good fortune to work in a variety of settings, including traditional private-sector residential and commercial architecture, higher education, local government, and philanthropy. Chris received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Detroit (Mercy), and Master of Architecture and Master of Arts in Urban Planning degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. He lives in Denver with Kelly, his spouse of 35 years, and a rather smallish Labrador/Basset Hound named Jack.

Deryn Wagner

Deryn has spent nearly 15 years working to bring people from all walks of life to nature’s doorstep. As a parks planner and landscape architect, she’s designed nature-based elementary school playgrounds in disadvantaged, urban neighborhoods; facilitated more than 150 community events; and led engagements with children and youth about how open spaces can better support their emotional resilience in the face of climate change. Now a Senior Landscape Architect for the City of Boulder, Colorado Parks and Recreation department, she’s also worked with the National Park Service to design and plan for equitable access to the outdoors.

Follow this link to learn more about the Children & Nature Network’s Inside-Out International Conference and register for the 2023 conference, which will take place June 12-15 in Estes Park, Colorado.

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