Our Team.
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Parker McMullen Bushman (she/they), Founder + Board President
Parker McMullen Bushman, MS, is the founder of Summit for Action, a nonprofit organization bringing people together to advance environmental justice, equity, and community driven action. With more than 24 years of experience in conservation, environmental education, nonprofit leadership, and justice focused work, Parker has built a career around creating spaces where people can move from conversation to meaningful change. They are also the founder and CEO of Ecoinclusive Strategies, Executive Director of BWEEMS, and Board President of the National Association for Interpretation.
A nationally recognized speaker, facilitator, educator, and TEDx speaker, Parker’s work explores the intersections of environmental justice, race, identity, belonging, and access to nature. Through Summit for Action, Parker brings together advocates, practitioners, community leaders, educators, and everyday people to imagine what is possible, build relationships across movements, and develop tangible actions that protect people, place, and planet. Parker believes that the challenges facing our communities and our environment require more than awareness. They require courage, collective imagination, and people willing to act. |
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Basil Binkley (he/they), Vice Chair
Basil Binkley is passionate about community and endlessly fascinated by the power of stories to create empathy and shared understanding in unexpected ways. They spend most of their time as a queer naturalist and consultant creating safe spaces for queer folks in nature and facilitating conversations about difficult topics. They are co-creator of the Out in Nature program at City of Boulder and founder of their business Growth Point, both of which strive to create connection in the outdoors. In their free time, you might find Basil gardening, hiking, or starting yet another creative project. They look forward to a lifetime of learning about and caring for the stolen land that has always taken care of them, and endlessly loving their people.
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Fioletowa Ksenyak (they/them), Secretary
I am a queer nonbinary neurodivergent disruptor striving to create a better reality so everyone and every body can feel a sense of belonging and thrive at work, in the outdoors, all ways. My mission is to influence progressive and systemic change through a human resources practice guided by justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (JEDIA), that centers antiracism as foundational to this work. My approach focuses on intersectionality, authentic relationship building, and unlearning to enable growth. My HR career spans 20 years, prior to consulting, working in the areas of environmental restoration and stewardship, youth leadership and conservation, international development/water, sanitation and hygiene, and outdoor recreation and environmental education. Previously, I was a newspaper reporter and a copy editor. I am bilingual in Spanish and certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). The journey continues one day at a time.
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Casey Bries (they/them), Treasurer
Casey works closely with local, state, and federal land management agencies and environmental organizations to foster trust within and between communities and guide collaboration and participation in environmental decision making. Casey is the Founder of Systole Consulting and serves as a Program Partner with CDR Associates. They have over 15 years of experience in public lands, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation. Casey has helped plan and organize Summit for Action's annual convening since 2022 and now serves on the inaugural Board of Directors. They also serve on the board for Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. Casey holds a MPA in Environmental Policy & Management from the University of Colorado Denver and a BS in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies from the University of Minnesota.
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Julia Cheng (she/her)
Julia Cheng is a sustainability enthusiast, writer, and advocate for reproductive healthcare rights. Originally from California, Julia grew up summer camping and became enchanted with the diverse California environment of deserts, forests, mountains, and beaches. Julia is an avid learner who has a habit of showing up and asking questions; as a result, she signs herself up to do things unexpectedly. Previously, this has included phone banking and writing hundreds of “get out the vote” postcards, coordinating climate conferences, sorting clothes for mutual aid distribution, and organizing neighborhood trash cleanups.
Currently, Julia volunteers and works with a variety of climate-focused organizations to help inspire people to take action in their local communities and advocate for intersectional environmental justice. At any point in time she can be found either at home reading romance books with her cats or doing too many fun things: touring a recycling center, co-facilitating a book club focused on dismantling white supremacy, or attending a clothing swap. |
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DaZha Creal (she/her)
DaZha is a black social researcher, policy analyst, community organizer, and amateur nature photographer, originally from Northern California. She currently works as the Policy and Government Affairs Specialist at The Denver Foundation, promoting civic engagement and community-crafted policy solutions. She completed her master's degree in International Human Rights and a certificate in Global Health Affairs at the University of Denver. She is passionate about expanding the research base and action potential at the intersections of health, agriculture, and climate. DaZha aspires to raise awareness about DEI and amplify the voices of all marginalized individuals.
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Nelson Holland (he/him)
Nelson Holland is a Colorado-based outdoor advocate focused on showing people why they should get outside and then why they should help protect these spaces. Whether he’s showcasing a beautiful location on social media, leading a group hike or trash cleanup, or bringing people camping for the first time, Nelson prides himself on creating access and strengthening people’s connection to nature and their communities. If there's one thing Nelson wants you to know, it's that the outdoors is for everyone.
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Tykee James (he/him)
Tykee James has been a prominent figure in the birding community for more than a decade, advocating for equitable access to the benefits of nature. He earned recognition as an organizer of the first Black Birders Week in 2020 and is the co-founder of Amplify the Future, which seeks to amplify opportunities for equity in higher education, careers in conservation, and joy in outdoor recreation. Tykee is committed to sharing his passion for birds to foster trust, build coalitions, and create a positive impact. He is a highly motivated visionary leader. He co-founded Birder’s Fund and the Freedom Birders project, two feature programs of Amplify the Future, and serves on the board for Justice Outside. In his personal time, he loves to cook, dance, and is a producer for Wildlife Observer Network, a media project he started with wildlife-friendly friends, and co-hosts two podcasts: Brothers in Birding and On Word for Wildlife.
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Chris Talbot (they/them)
Chris is a queer, trans nonbinary, mixed race, and autistic artist, storyteller, and nonprofit laborer trying to build community and spaces ready to celebrate when they turn up authentically. Chris grew up on a street book-ended by a slaughterhouse that burned methane and a dump that burned garbage all summer, and has spent their adult life fighting for environmental and social justice.
Chris is the founder and owner of Global Majority Press, a co-founder of the podcast Them's Wild, the executive director for Trans Continental Pipeline, the Editor for Community-Centric Fundraising, a co-organizer for Community-Centric Fundraising — Denver Chapter, a member of Everyone Outdoors Colorado, and the author and illustrator of the book, Why Must the White Cis Nonprofit Workers Angry React to All My Posts? |