Tanya Marie Pender is a leader and organizer with Pathways to Parks. She is also Pathways to Parks’ co-founder and President. She works locally and across Western North Carolina to raise awareness in communities and organizations by strengthening relationships through increased understanding of the underrepresentation of people of color in public lands. In the Hendersonville, Asheville, NC greater area she and her husband organize outdoor outings. She is an active outdoors enthusiast and community engager whose work focuses on connecting communities to national parks, along with local and state parks, so they will learn to love, enjoy and protect them for future generations. She has a long history of training, having worked 37 years in numerous positions throughout her career in various federal government sectors, retired (Special Agent) and served as Chairperson of the Human Relations Committee for the Western Pacific Region. Tanya Marie has led training in various capacities including Leadership Effectiveness. She is requested to speak on issues related to ‘Her Story’ and the health benefits of people of color getting outdoors in nature. She is also a leader in her community having been recently elected to the Conserving Carolina Board of Directors summer of 2021 where she serves on the Executive Committee and others. She has been elected to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Board of Directors since 2020. She has been elected to Mountain True Board of Directors since 2019 where she serves as the Chair of the Governance and Equity Committee, the Executive Committee as well as emphasizing the practice of, and advocacy for, the inclusion of people of color and marginalized communities. Her advocacy for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is an asset to these boards.