José G. González is the Founder and Director Emeritus of Latino Outdoors. He is an experienced educator as a K-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. As a Partner in the Avarna Group and through his own consulting, his work focuses on Equity & Inclusion frameworks and practices in the environmental, outdoor, and conservation fields. He is also an illustrator and science communicator.
His commentary on diversity and environmental/outdoor equity has been featured by High Country News, Outside Magazine, Earth Island Journal, and Latino USA, among others. He engaged in collaborations with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Park Service during the Obama Administration. He also represented Latino Outdoors in several coalitions including the Latino Conservation Alliance, the Next 100 Coalition, and California Parks Now.
Why are you a strategist for good?
“We get the opportunity to have some agency and influence in our respective slice of a wondrous universe. As the saying goes “what you focus on grows” so why not for good?”
What’s your superpower?
“I like to think of it as creative weaving.”
Who is your intellectual crush?
“Ah…too many good options that vary from different states of life. At the moment it’s Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer and Dr. Rachel & Stephen Kaplan.”
