The Park People
Sunday, March 26, 2023

Our Staff & Board

 

The Park People's work is a team effort of residents, volunteers, supporters, and community partners. Leading the charge, our staff works tirelessly every day to support and improve our parks, city trees, and neighborhoods, and a dedicated Board of Trustees guides our organization's strategy and development.

WE'RE HIRING! Join our team as Development Manager or Workforce Development Manager.

Kim Yuan-Farrell, Executive Director (she/her/hers)

Kim has been a “Park Person” for 13 years. Kim oversees and guides all aspects of The Park People’s operations and activities. She works with our board on strategic organizational development, shapes programmatic goals, and develops partnerships in the community. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Kim served as Program Manager for four years, directing The Park People's urban forestry programs. She has a master's degree in Environmental Management (Yale University's School of the Environment) and a bachelor's in Anthropology and Environmental Studies (Santa Clara University).  She was Colorado-raised and has more than 18 years of nonprofit experience with organizations in Colorado, California, and Connecticut.  Kim is an alum of the Denver Community Leadership Forum and has served on Community Shares' Board of Directors, the national Arbor Day Foundation’s Alliance for Community Trees Advisory Committee, the Trust for Public Land's Climate Smart Cities Denver Technical Advisory Team, and the City of Denver’s Emerald Ash Borer Steering Committee.  Kim is passionate about the power of urban forestry, parks, and community-driven efforts to cultivate resilient, sustainable communities. Contact Kim.

Laura Prickett, Office Manager (she/her/hers)

Before becoming Office Manager, Laura proved her commitment to The Park People by being an enthusiastic volunteer for nearly a year both in the office and during planting events. Laura earned her Master of Science degree in Global Technology & Development from Arizona State University where her focus was the impact that nonprofit organizations have on the global conservation movement, especially through community-based initiatives and empowerment. Laura additionally earned a Graduate Certificate through ASU in Nonprofit Operations & Program Impact and has previous experience working with local environmental improvement and renewable energy organizations. As a nature lover and avid hiker, backpacker, and snowboarder (as well as animal lover…especially her three cats!), she is excited to continue down a path of conservation, tree planting, and doing her part to help biodiversity thrive in the outdoor spaces she enjoys so much! Contact Laura.

Lindsay Cutler, Program Director (she/her/hers)

Photo of Lindsay Cutler, Program ManagerLindsay joined The Park People in 2019, bringing with her 20 years experience in ecology and landscape design for private and government clients. Lindsay works hand-in-hand with the Programs Team, Urban Forestry Committee, and Executive Director to strategically guide and direct our core urban forestry programs, including Denver Digs Trees, Community Forester, and Treeforce. She earned her Masters in Landscape Architecture from UC Denver (2008) and a Bachelor’s in Geography and Environmental Studies from UCLA (2001). A life-long hiker, backpacker and self-described ‘plant nerd’, Lindsay is committed to advancing tree equity and working with communities to beautify, shade, and plant for our future. Contact Lindsay.

Hayley Kwasniewski, Development Manager (they/them/theirs)

Hayley is from the Chicagoland area and went to Indiana University-Bloomington for their undergraduate education, majoring in Biochemistry with minors in Geology and Gender Studies. Their time road biking through the hills of southern Indiana sparked a passion for the outdoors with an understanding that not everyone has access to these wonderful outdoor landscapes. Since then, Hayley has been focused on providing outdoor experiences for communities, including work with school garden learning laboratories in the Four Corners region and now their work with The Park People. Hayley is remotely pursuing an MS in Environmental Science and Policy (Johns Hopkins University) to further research the social, economic, and environmental benefits of parks, trees, and outdoor spaces in communities. As the Development Manager, Hayley works with partners to support The Park People’s resiliency, mission, and impacts, involving Denver residents, organizations, and corporations in the critical environmental work The Park People accomplishes. Contact Hayley

Morgan Wolfe, Program Coordinator (she/her/hers)

Photo of Morgan Wolfe, Program AssociateMorgan grew up in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains where she began to cultivate a lifelong love for exploring nature, tending gardens, and promoting conservation. She holds a BAS in Sociology & Anthropology from Shippensburg University and after graduation taught early-childhood special education. She moved to Denver in 2011 and began volunteering with The Park People in 2016. Participating in Community Forester and Denver Digs Trees inspired her to make a career change and earn an AAS in Horticulture & Landscape Technologies from FRCC. During an internship with the Denver Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Morgan participated in sustainability panels, helped implement a ‘Parklet’ for the 2019 Greater, Greener Parks Conference, and assisted in park planting projects across the city.  Morgan now leads Mile High Tree Champions, the corporate partnership arm of The Park People while supporting all other programs seasonally. She enjoys collaborating with The Park People staff, volunteers, community participants and partners, and is thrilled to be doing the important work of supporting strong, resilient communities and diversifying our urban forest. Contact Morgan.

Madeleine Hooker, Workforce Development Manager (she/her/hers)

Madeleine grew up in Bellingham, Washington, sandwiched between the mountains and the sea in the upper left corner of the country. She has always been interested in complex ecosystems and how people relate to their surroundings. Her love for forestry took root while exploring tree and plant identification during her work with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association in the PNW, and grew through her tree crew and inventory work at the City of Salem, Oregon. Madeleine’s degree in Environmental Science & Spanish from Willamette University and time spent studying in Ecuador and Scotland have fostered her passion for work at the intersection of humans and the environment. Through liaising with partners in the sector, conducting public outreach, and developing the program curriculum, Madeleine is thrilled to pilot Treeforce, The Park People’s first pre-apprenticeship program in urban forestry. Outside of work, Madeleine enjoys spending time outside, traveling, playing rugby and soccer, cooking, playing the piano, drinking tea and coffee, skiing, and climbing. Contact Madeleine. 

Loriee Evans, Community Engagement Coordinator (she/her/hers)

Loriee joined The Park People in 2022, moving to Denver from the South, where she organized Arkansans to self-advocate for better healthcare and access to voting. A writer by trade, she once published on topics like climate change and recycling, and was thrilled to get paid to hike and backpack into the woods. At The Park People, Loriee has found the perfect home to combine her decade of experience in community and volunteer organizing with a passion for moving our communities toward climate resilience. She holds a Master's in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and a BA in Speech Communication and an Environmental Studies minor from Trinity University in San Antonio. Loriee loves meeting new people, listening to their stories, and integrating their ideas and energy into our community solutions. Contact Loriee.

Amanda Westendorf, Field Crew Supervisor (she/her/hers)

Amanda is originally from rural Illinois and spent much of her youth wandering around fields, forests, and creeks before moving to Indianapolis to obtain a BA in English Creative Writing from Indiana University. Then, after an extensive backpacking trip among the dogwoods, redbuds, and rhododendrons of the southern Appalachian Mountains in 2017, her love of and connection to nature was rekindled, and thus began her dive into horticulture, volunteering with the University of Illinois’ Master Gardener program, working in the green industry, and pursuing her BS in Horticulture from Oregon State. Amanda moved to Colorado in 2021 and focused on landscaping and cultivation before eventually finding a place as Field Crew Supervisor for TreeForce with The Park People. When not out digging holes with her crew, you can find Amanda tending to her many plants, traveling, hiking, camping, and telling her friends and family (and anyone else within earshot) about trees! Contact Amanda.

Community Connectors: Evon Lopez (she/her/hers)

My name is Evon Lopez, and I am a native of Colorado, my family has 200 years of rich culture and history in Denver. I have been married for 42 years to my awesome spouse, and we have 3 well accomplished daughters who all hold numerous degrees. I have three amazing grandchildren, one of which I am fortunate to help raise. I recently retired from HR as a Human Resource Specialist after 25 plus years, I was known as the “go to person,” due to my vast institutional knowledge. I have always loved helping people, solving problems, and building lasting relationships.

Currently, I am a volunteer involved with the neighborhood I grew up in Valverde & raised my family, and now my daughter purchased my mom’s house after she passed, which is 60 years in the community. The community and I were able to name a park named after my mom and my dad, as they were community activist and always helping those in harm’s way. My dream is to continue the work my parents started by building up this neighborhood which has been widely marginalized and suffered unfair redlining and disinvestment during the 1960s and 70s. In my spare time I like to read, sew making masks, do puzzles, and I like to garden, and make scrap books.

I identify as Mestiza, which is Spanish, Mexican, and Native American. My identity is deeply rooted in my beloved community Valverde. My mom taught me and all that her parents taught her, and the backbone is our deep faith in God, and prayer is miracle of community. We also love our land and exist in the Valverde community for over 60 years, as we care deeply for the land and nature.

Board of Trustees

Executive Committee
Lynne Brown
Laurie Chahbandour, President
Laurie Choi-Brochu, Vice President
Melissa Crowley
Susan Eslick
Sue Fry
Mark Lauriha, Past President
Caroline Rassenfoss, Secretary
Andy Shopneck, Treasurer
 
 
Bill Cook
Laurel Davies
Teddy Douglass
Chris Fisher
Lauren Grass
Bonnie Gross
David Hammond
Allegra "Happy" Haynes, Ex Officio
Michelle Lippitt
Michael Naes
Hank Saipe
John L. (Larry) Wiberg, MD
 

 

 

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