Rising Stars: Meet Kristen Jespersen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Jespersen

Hi Kristen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Born in the urban environment of Berkeley, California. Eldest of seven kids. Was into music, acting, dance and art.
Went to Reed College in Portland, OR to study Anthropology. Studied abroad in Paris, France.
After a few years went to Monterey Institute of International Studies to study French and International Policy with a focus on counterterrorism. I wanted to better understand the event of 9/11.
Did an internship with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in The Hague, Netherlands where I learned about multilateral negotiations.

In my second year of grad school I took an internship with the Fort Ord Economic Development Authority that was working to help ensure a positive economic transition after the closure of the army base Fort Ord. This internship inspired me to want to work locally with multi-stakeholder groups to develop economic recovery and growth plans and helped me secure a Presidential Management Fellowship with the Department of Defense in Sacramento, CA after graduating with my Masters. At the DOD, I worked with communities surrounding military installations throughout the country to help them plan for and fund economic recovery and infrastructure planning in response to military base closures and expansions.

In 2009, after 3 years with the DOD I got married and joined my husband in Steamboat Springs, CO. I worked for a land use consulting firm for two years and then was hired as the Development Director for a nonprofit call, RiversEdge West, whose mission is to advance the restoration of riparian lands. I helped to build and establish public-private partnerships that develop shared restoration plans for Southwestern Rivers to remove invasive plants.

After 10 years with RiversEdge West I felt ready to take on a leadership position and applied and was selected to serve as the Executive Director of Yampatika a small non-profit with a large footprint working to inspire environmental stewardship through education.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My path has not been a direct one. I am in a very different field than what I went to school for and I have had to teach myself a great deal to be successful and confident in each position I have taken on.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As the Executive Director of a small non-profit I have the opportunity to set a vision for the organization and work with my staff, Board, and donors to make it possible, My background is in partnership building, fundraising and non-profit development and I appreciate the opportunity to put that skill set towards advancing environmental education in Northwest Colorado. We have three main program areas that impact over 25,000 people a year by bringing free environmental education into schools, providing childcares services and fun outdoor experiences for youth through our Summer Camp, and leading engaging interpretive hikes and snowshoe tours for adults. We also host a diversity of community events and lead informational campaigns about timely environmental issues. Being in this position has been the most rewarding and challenging work I have experienced. It is incredible to see the impact we are having in individuals’ lives, especially youth, the number of people we are able to deliver programming to through partnerships, and the actions that are taken to protect and manage our natural resources as a result of our programming. It is also rewarding to see staff grow and evolve in their positions and responsibilities and skills.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Yampatika depends on partnerships to make our work possible and to have the greatest impact throughout the communities where we work. We are always seeking opportunities to bring environmental education to new audiences. To collaborate please reach out to me at kristen@yampatika.org.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yampatika.org
• Instagram: @yampatika
• Facebook: #yampatika