Jason Swann founded Rising Routes in 2017 after moving to Colorado and experiencing Mother Nature’s bountiful gifts of freedom, peace and equanimity. Nature contributed to his mental and physical health - allowing him to use the outdoors as a medium through which healing could take place.  He knew something so helpful to his mental health would also help someone else, and so the spark of Rising Routes was lit.  It started with the idea of gathering groups from different backgrounds to get reconnected with the outdoors, themselves and others, and eventually morphed into the “people first” environmental advocacy organization you see today. Meanwhile, Jason poured time into gaining a better understanding of the outdoors and joined Western Resource Advocates – an environmental advocacy organization whose vision is to protect the West’s land, air and water.  As a Western Lands Policy Analyst Fellow, Jason's area of expertise includes analyses on privatization of access, blocked access to public lands and water, equitable access to public open spaces, access to decision-making and managing and limiting access in a fair manner for natural resource protection.  Jason also volunteers as the co-leader for Outdoor Afro Colorado, the nation’s leading, cutting-edge network that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.  Jason’s love for nature began in his childhood years, when home and fun were mingled with the outdoors.  As Rising Routes’ founder, Jason is dedicated to working harmoniously with partners to build trust, educate, and empower diverse communities through the nexus of mental wellness, social justice, and environmental stewardship for a better quality of life for all.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jasongswann/

Marisa Jarae is Co-Founder of Rising Routes. Together with the executive team, she both collaborates on and leads the organization’s mission, vision, roadmap and program development. While her 13 years of professional experience lies in brand building and business strategy, when it comes to the outdoors, she is passionate about helping to remove barriers to entry and rekindling connection to the natural world - so more people can get outside in a supportive and judgment-free way. She spends summers working as a guide and youth educator for Big City Mountaineers and also works as a freelance adventure photographer for a variety of outdoor brands. She is dedicated to being part of the solution to bridge the gaps that exist in society as a result of systemic oppression, biases and inequality. She shares the team’s vision for a sustainable, thriving future and knows the path forward is deeply empathetic, collaborative, intersectional, actionable and goal oriented. Marisa learned early on that nature’s healing power could help her to know herself, authentically and vulnerably connect with others, and to deepen her awareness of the world around her. Her goal is to find and inspire similar connections through the community being fostered by Rising Routes.  

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/marisajarae

Mary McKean joined the team in 2020 to support logistics and strategy, drawing expertise from 8 years of professional experience coordinating and facilitating outdoor education, citizen science, and conservation programs. Through her work in the environmental field, Mary ran into one consistent roadblock: a reluctance to “stir the pot”, or dig into firsthand discussion on complex issues around identity, race, and systemic inequity. She joined Rising Routes to help build a diverse community empowered to think critically and act with empathy. Her goal is to ensure that a strong sense of connection, curiosity, and joy is sparked in all who engage in Rising Routes - and that programming builds a practical bridge towards meaningful action on environmental and social challenges. Mary has a B.A. in Environmental Studies and M.P.A. Public Policy. She currently works as a Planning Specialist for the National Park Service where she helps address interdisciplinary planning needs at national park units across the U.S. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymckean/