On Earth Day - April 22 - we had much to celebrate: In addition to honoring Earth with love letters and tributes to our beautiful blue planet, we celebrated Melissa Daruna! Earth Day was her one-year anniversary as our fearless leader here at Keep It Colorado. We're taking an opportunity today to share with you a little bit about Melissa and her background.  

Melissa joined us as executive director on Earth Day 2019 after nearly a decade of parks and recreation work with Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District. She also served as a legislative liaison and strategic partnerships coordinator for the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management as well as a law degree, and today she lives in Golden with her husband, their son and their old black lab.

Here's a Q&A with a few other tidbits about Melissa:

Q: What inspired you to come work for Keep It Colorado?
A: A vision for a more sustainable outdoor lifestyle for all Coloradans. I had spent most of my career encouraging people to get outside, to connect with nature, to recreate and to be consumers of the outdoors. As I watched the population boom across Colorado and felt the management struggles between open space access and habitat protection, I realized that I wanted to have a bigger impact on a sustainable path forward for people and the outdoors. After the birth of my son, this realization took on a new sense of urgency because I desperately want him to be able to experience the Colorado I know and love.

Q: What does conservation mean to you?
A: Protecting the connection to nature – to the land, the water, the air. For me, that connection comes from feeling small amongst big mountains, tall trees or an endless prairie sky. Conservation means protecting the ability to have that connection, whatever it means for each individual, so that future generations can experience it, and the plants and animals that make that connection possible can thrive.

Q: What’s your vision for conservation in Colorado?
A: That Colorado is known for its culture of conservation. I envision conservation being a priority for individuals, communities and industries so much so that we develop a proud culture around it. Colorado is already known for its iconic landscapes; it is time we are also known for our conservation of them. To me, this means that every time there is an opportunity for growth or development, there is also opportunity for conservation. Additionally, I envision this conservation culture being united so that our communities are connected by our conservation efforts as well as our landscapes.

Q: What’s your vision for the coalition?
A: That Keep It Colorado is a force that moves our state forward – unified by a passion for conservation, a love of this place and a drive to protect it. I envision our coalition elevating the work that is often forgotten but is critical to our quality of life – conservation of private lands. And finally, I envision a coalition diverse and welcoming enough that we have the right organizations, agencies and industries at the table to ensure that conservation becomes and remains a priority across the state.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
A: Being outside with my family, hiking, running, camping, fishing, climbing and practicing yoga. Seeing my son experience the outdoors for the first time all the time is an incredible gift. I love watching his connection to the outdoors grow.

Q: What’s a favorite thing about Colorado that you want to be protected forever?
A: The ability to feel small but feel part of a wild place. It may not sound comforting or even fun, but for me, that is when I feel the strongest connection to nature. It is the sound of the wind in Ponderosas, the smell of pine trees and fallen leaves in the fall, the feeling of fresh snow underfoot, the sight of rugged mountains rising over a valley – I want to protect it all forever.  

Thank you for your work to Keep It Colorado, Melissa!