Introducing WTA’s 2025 Emerging Leaders Program cohort

Every winter since 2021, WTA has welcomed a new cohort for our Emerging Leaders Program — a paid professional development opportunity where cohort members learn technical trail skills and gain industry experience and connections — to develop their budding careers in outdoor stewardship.

The 14-week program is designed to create systemic change in the outdoor industry by creating entry points for underrepresented communities historically having inequitable access to the outdoors, including BIPOC individuals and other shared identities. Throughout the curriculum, cohort members will build their resumes and network with career professionals in their areas of interest.

Beyond trail work, the cohort meets with organizations such as Washington State Parks. Here they attended a course on batik dyeing, an art form done with wax and blades. Photo by Janette Chien, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at WA State Parks.

We’re excited to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the program in 2025. Now introducing the 2025 Emerging Leaders Program cohort:

Emerging Leaders Program 2025 Cohort Members

Aleece (she/her)
Aleece was raised in Seattle and Auburn, and studies at the University of Washington Tacoma, majoring in Arts, Media and Culture on the Literature track, with double minors in Sustainability Urban Development and Environmental Studies. On trail, you’ll find her snacking on Yoggies (little yogurt and fruit bites) and sesame snaps — a childhood favorite. If you're lucky, she might share her secret talent: identifying song samples and features! She’s excited to learn technical skills for a future in the natural resources field through the Emerging Leaders Program, and to build community with the rest of the cohort and community partners. 

Laurel (she/her) 
After attending college in Los Angeles, Laurel is excited to be back in her home state of Washington and to learn more about environmental stewardship in the Pacific Northwest. She’s particularly interested in gaining new skills to steward the public lands where she grew up camping and hiking. As a lover of learning and teamwork, Laurel is looking forward to growing her connection to the outdoors and its community alongside her fellow Emerging Leaders Program cohort members and leaders! 

Maria (she/her)
Maria was born in Mexico but was raised in Washington, where she came to appreciate the beautiful greenery around her. Here, she grew to enjoy walks and hikes, bringing her parents with her when she could. When she’s not outside, she likes to read, watch thrillers or try new recipes. She’s has a major sweet tooth and an appetite for pastries. She also has a special talent for extensively researching any topic that interests her (once, she spent days reading through academic papers on gender expression in the K-pop industry, just for fun). Through the Emerging Leaders Program, she’s hoping to use her special talents to expand her knowledge and skill set within the outdoor industry and continue working toward a more welcoming outdoor space for everyone.

Maya (she/her)
Maya finds deep peace and joy working with her hands, be it on an organic vegetable farm in Skagit Valley or in a professional kitchen cooking for large crowds of people. She’s looking forward to working outside again as a part of the Emerging Leaders Program, and appreciates the opportunity to learn more about the outdoor industry and land stewardship. She is particularly excited to be a part of an inclusive, supportive community at WTA. 

EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM STAFF

Zenwa (he/him) | Emerging Leaders Program crew leader
Zenwa loves being outside and feeling the energy of the world around him. After completing the Emerging Leaders Program as a cohort member in 2022, he spent the last few years developing his trail skills with WTA’s Lost Trails Found professional trail crew as a crew member and, eventually, assistant crew leader and crew leader. His favorite snacks to stay fueled on trail are anything cheesy, and he’s got a great card trick that'll blow your mind and entertain his trail crew. He is excited to return to the Emerging Leaders Program as its crew leader and to teach and mentor the latest cohort. 

Angelic (she/her) | Emerging Leaders Program project coordinator
Angelic was born and raised in Washington state and grew up on the Kitsap Peninsula. She enjoys hiking, reading, breaking out into song and dance and spending time on the water. She started her journey with WTA as a member of the Lost Trails Found crew in 2022. Since then, she has led crews for WTA and become a full-time staff member as part of the Emerging Leaders Program leadership team. She enjoys inspiring and helping to aid BIPOC individuals and members from underrepresented communities to take up space in the outdoor industry and learn valuable outdoor skills. Her favorite snacks are dried mangoes.

MJ (she/her) | Community Partnership and Leadership Development senior coordinator 
MJ is originally from the Bay Area and has settled her roots in Tacoma (Grit City!). MJ enjoys birding, reading, long walks outside and many sportsball conversations. She was drawn to WTA by her motivation to create quality programs for early BIPOC individuals and access to outdoor spaces in underrepresented communities. Each year, MJ finds inspiration and community through the Emerging Leaders Program cohort members and community partners worked with.

Interested in learning a little more about WTA's Emerging Leaders Program and our previous year's cohorts? Head to our Emerging Leaders Program page to see what the program has been able to accomplish and how it has grown over the last 5 years.