CPW Announces Four New Board Members to Advance Outdoor Equity Across Colorado
2/6/26
DENVER- Today, The Department of Natural Resources and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced four new members of the Outdoor Equity Grant Board. The board, created by the passage of House Bill 21-1318, increases access to Colorado’s outdoors for youth through investments in organizations that provide outdoor recreation, conservation education, and career opportunities.
We welcome the following newly appointed board members:
- Ashton Haslam (One-Year Youth Seat)
- Raquel Cabeza-Lemus (Two-Year Youth Seat)
- Mackenzie Maher (Disability-Accessible Outdoor Programming Seat)
- Modesta McGrath-Martinez (Outdoor Education Seat)
These Board members were selected through an open and public application process. After careful consideration in partnership with the outdoor equity community, the four new Board members were formally appointed by CPW and the Department of Natural Resources.
“We're excited to welcome the new members of the Outdoor Equity Grant Board and thank the inaugural board members for their dedicated service to Colorado's youth and underrepresented communities,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “The incoming members bring incredibly varied personal and lived experiences, and their diverse viewpoints will bring fresh energy and new insights that strengthen our commitment to ensuring all communities have equitable access to Colorado's outdoors.”
The Outdoor Equity Grant Board awards up to $4 million of Colorado Lottery proceeds annually to organizations that serve youth up to age 25 and their families by providing equitable access and reducing barriers to Colorado’s outdoor spaces. These communities include racially and ethnically diverse youth, American Indian and Native American youth, LGBTQ+ youth, youth with disabilities, and low-income individuals.
“I’m very impressed by all the members on the Outdoor Equity Grant Board and their approach to supporting Colorado youth and their families,” said Laura Clellan, Acting Director of CPW. “With over $10.5 million already awarded to make Colorado more equitable, inclusive and accessible, I know the additions to the board will continue to grow the impact brought to communities across our state.”
Meet the New Members
About Ashton Haslam:
Ashton is a passionate advocate for the outdoors who is a Colorado Springs resident and computer science student at Colorado State University. As a member of the LGBTQIA2+ community, they believe the most meaningful part of nature is the opportunity to experience it together. With experience in youth development, outdoor recreation, and software development, Ashton is most fulfilled when sharing and stewarding outdoor spaces with their community.
About Raquel Cabeza Lemus:
Raquel’s childhood was shaped by outdoor experiences on her family’s farm in Venezuela. After moving to Denver six years ago and realizing that nature was not as accessible as she was used to, she fell in love with the mountains and found purpose in connecting her community with the outdoors. She is passionate about bridging communities from different backgrounds and creating inclusive, intentional and welcoming spaces that empower people to explore the outdoors as their own.
About Mackenzie Maher:
Mackenzie Maher is a Ph.D. candidate in Applied Developmental Science at Colorado State University. Her research examines how physical activity affects motor and cognitive development and underscores the importance of equal access to healthy environments for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mackenzie brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her advocacy for inclusive outdoor recreation, adaptive physical activity and equitable access to nature. She is committed to supporting community-based programs that expand outdoor opportunities for youth with disabilities and their families across the state of Colorado.
About Mackenzie Maher:
Modesta McGrath-Martínez has nearly a decade of experience working in nonprofits focused on education, the environment, and outdoor equity. Her work centers on increasing equitable access to outdoor recreation and strengthening environmental policy through community-driven approaches. She has previously worked in environmental education with Colorado Trout Unlimited and in public lands policy with the National Wildlife Federation. Modesta has also spent several years leading and organizing with the Colorado chapter of Latino Outdoors, where she continues to support outdoor and environmental programming for the Latine community. In addition, she serves as Co-President of the Community Roots Art Festival, which works to expand access and visibility for creatives of color across Colorado. She is currently a Senior Project Manager with the Keystone Policy Center and is based out of Westminster, CO.
Spanish Version
2/6/26
DENVER - Hoy, el Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW por sus siglas en inglés) anunciaron a cuatro nuevos integrantes de la Junta de Subvenciones para la Equidad al Aire Libre (Outdoor Equity Grant Board). Esta junta, creada tras la aprobación del Proyecto de Ley 21-1318, aumenta el acceso de la juventud a la naturaleza de Colorado mediante inversiones en organizaciones que ofrecen recreación al aire libre, educación sobre la conservación y oportunidades profesionales.
Damos la bienvenida a los miembros de la junta recién nombrados:
- Ashton Haslam (Asiento para jóvenes, periodo de un año)
- Raquel Cabeza-Lemus (Asiento para jóvenes, periodo de dos años)
- Mackenzie Maher (Asiento para programas al aire libre accesibles para personas con discapacidad)
- Modesta McGrath-Martinez (Asiento de educación al aire libre)
Estos integrantes fueron seleccionados mediante un proceso de solicitud pública y abierta. Tras una cuidadosa consideración en colaboración con la comunidad de equidad al aire libre, los cuatro nuevos miembros de la junta fueron nombrados formalmente por CPW y el Departamento de Recursos Naturales.
"Estamos entusiasmados de dar la bienvenida a los nuevos miembros de la Junta de Subvenciones para la Equidad al Aire Libre y agradecemos a los miembros fundadores por su dedicada labor al servicio de la juventud y las comunidades subrepresentadas de Colorado", dijo Dan Gibbs, director ejecutivo del Departamento de Recursos Naturales de Colorado. "Los nuevos integrantes aportan experiencias personales y vividas increíblemente variadas; sus diversos puntos de vista aportarán una energía fresca y nuevas perspectivas que fortalecerán nuestro compromiso de asegurar que todas las comunidades tengan un acceso equitativo a los espacios naturales de Colorado".
La Junta de Subvenciones para la Equidad al Aire Libre otorga anualmente hasta $4 millones de dólares de los ingresos de la Lotería de Colorado a organizaciones que sirven a jóvenes de hasta 25 años y a sus familias. El objetivo es brindar un acceso equitativo y reducir las barreras a los espacios al aire libre del estado. Estas comunidades incluyen a jóvenes de diversidad racial y étnica, jóvenes indígenas estadounidenses y nativos americanos, jóvenes LGBTQ+, jóvenes con discapacidades y personas de bajos ingresos.
"Estoy muy impresionada por todos los integrantes de la Junta y su enfoque en apoyar a la juventud de Colorado y a sus familias", comentó Laura Clellan, directora interina de CPW. "Con más de $10.5 millones ya otorgados para hacer que Colorado sea más equitativo, inclusivo y accesible, sé que las nuevas incorporaciones a la junta continuarán ampliando el impacto positivo en las comunidades de todo nuestro estado."
Conoce a los nuevos miembros:
Sobre Ashton Haslam:
Ashton es un apasionado defensor de la vida al aire libre, residente de Colorado Springs y estudiante de ciencias de la computación en la Universidad Estatal de Colorado (CSU). Como integrante de la comunidad LGBTQIA2+, cree que la parte más significativa de la naturaleza es la oportunidad de experimentarla en conjunto. Con experiencia en desarrollo juvenil, recreación al aire libre y desarrollo de software, Ashton encuentra su mayor satisfacción al compartir y cuidar los espacios naturales con su comunidad.
Sobre Raquel Cabeza-Lemus:
La infancia de Raquel estuvo marcada por las experiencias al aire libre en la granja de su familia en Venezuela. Tras mudarse a Denver hace seis años y darse cuenta de que la naturaleza no era tan accesible como estaba acostumbrada, se enamoró de las montañas y encontró su propósito en conectar a su comunidad con el entorno natural. Le apasiona tender puentes entre comunidades de diferentes orígenes y crear espacios inclusivos, intencionales y acogedores que empoderen a las personas para explorar la naturaleza como algo propio.
Sobre MacKenzie Maher:
Mackenzie Maher es candidata al doctorado en Ciencias del Desarrollo Aplicado en la Universidad Estatal de Colorado. Su investigación analiza cómo la actividad física afecta el desarrollo motor y cognitivo y subraya la importancia de la igualdad de acceso a entornos saludables para niños con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo. Mackenzie aporta tanto experiencia profesional como vivencias personales a su labor de promoción de la recreación inclusiva, de la actividad física adaptada y del acceso equitativo a la naturaleza. Está comprometida con el apoyo a programas comunitarios que amplíen las oportunidades al aire libre para jóvenes con discapacidades y sus familias en todo el estado de Colorado.
Sobre Modesta McGrath-Martinez:
Modesta cuenta con casi una década de experiencia en organizaciones sin fines de lucro enfocadas en la educación, el medio ambiente y la equidad al aire libre. Su trabajo se centra en aumentar el acceso equitativo a la recreación y en fortalecer las políticas ambientales mediante enfoques impulsados por la comunidad.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
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