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"The trees don't judge where you come from or what language you speak, the river won't look at your bank account, and the sun won't look at you any different for walking down a certain road" - Juan D. Martinez
explore, empower, and create
for positive change

BIO:
Working to empower community to bridge the gap between people and the great outdoors
A proud product of South Central Los Angeles, Juan D. Martinez is the Children and Nature Network’s Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. He s also a National Geographic Explorer, and a TED Speaker.
At an early age, his passion to empower youth individuals led him to direct the Sierra Club’s first environmental justice youth leadership academy in Los Angeles, and his interesting journey continued from there.
Juan represented The North Face as an ambassador for outdoor engagement and his adventures include reaching the Summit of the Grand Teton in 2010 with famed mountain climber Conrad Anker.
From there, Martinez was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and travels across the US speaking and encouraging other young people to explore the outdoors. In 2014 The National Science Teachers Association’s Multicultural and Equity Committee honored Juan for his work as a Global Explorer.
A few years ago, Juan was invited to be a Murie Center Explorer in Residence in Grand Teton National Park, WY. Following his residence experience, he was elected to the Murie Center’s Board of Directors.
During his time at the Murie Center, he met and married Vanessa Torres. His compelling journey and their wedding was filmed for the documentary feature, “Love in the Tetons,” which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, and was a finalist in the 2015 Banff Film Festival.
Juan is on The Wilderness Society’s Governing Council, elected in 2015; and in 2012, he was elected to the Sierra Club Foundation Board, their youngest member ever.
An excellent and convincing speaker, Juan participated in the first TED Youth national conference in New York, and TEDx in Jackson Hole, WY.
Crediting his experience of growing up in South Central L.A. with a deep understanding of the need to connect children, families, culture and communities with the natural world, Juan has made a commitment to help empower the next generation of conservation and outdoor recreation leaders.
Juan’s most recent contribution to furthering his mission is joining the Ambassador Program of Yvon Chouinard’s “1% for the Planet,” an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet.
Through the C&NN Natural Leaders Network, Juan is working with strategic partners and dedicates his energy on grassroots campaigns to empower, explore, and create positive change.
Juan and his wife, Vanessa, live in Los Angeles, CA. with their King Charles spaniel Bucky.
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EVENTS
Juan Martinez speaks regularly to general and specialist audiences about diversity, youth leadership, conservation, exploration, and environmental education. If you are interested in booking Juan as a speaker for your event, please send an inquiry.
Upcoming Speaking and Event Calendar
Date: Tuesday, March 19th, 2019
Location: Baltimore, MD
Host: National Aquarium
Event: Nature for All: A dialogue about diversity in conservation
For More Information: https://aqua.org/Visit/Activity-Calendar/mlb-nature-for-all
Date: Monday, April 8th, 2019
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Host: The City of Phoenix
Event: 2019 PHX2Zero Lecture Series
For More Information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-phx2zero-lecture-series-tickets-56055817459
PAST EVENTS
Date: Friday, February 2nd 2018
Location: Ocean City, MD
Host: Maryland Association For Environmental & Outdoor Education
Event: 2018 MAEOE Conference
For More Information: https://maeoe.org/professional-development/conference/conference-speakers?platform=hootsuite
Date: Thursday, February 8th 2018
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Host: The Central Arizona Conservation Alliance
Event: Conservation Celebration Luncheon
For More Information: https://www.dbg.org/events/conservation-celebration
Date: Saturday, April 14th 2018
Location: East Lansing, MI
Host: National Geographic Learning at Michigan State University
Event: 5th Annual National Geographic Learning Symposium
For More Information: http://elc.msu.edu/events1/learning-symposium/
Date: Wednesday, September 30th 2015
Location: New Paltz, NY
Host: Environmental Grantmakers Association
Event: Annual Fall Retreat
https://ega.org/events/retreatFor More Information:
Date: Thursday, October 1st 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Host: Explore Austin
Event: 2nd Annual Ascent Speaker Luncheon
For More Information: http://www.exploreaustin.org/2nd-annual-ascent-speaker-luncheon
Date: Wednesday, October 7th 2015
Location: Jackson Hole, WY
Host: SHIFT Jackson Hole
Event: SHIFT Summit
For More Information: http://shiftjh.org/
Date: Thursday, November 5th 2015
Location: San Francisco, CA
Host: Outdoors Empowered Network
Event: National Summit 2015
For More Information: http://www.outdoorsempowered.org/national-summit2015/
Date: Tuesday, April 7th 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Host: Children & Nature Network
Event: Children & Nature Network 2015 Conference
For More Information: http://www.childrenandnature.org/site/conference2015/
Date: Monday April 20th 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Host: Keeping It Wild
Event: Keynote
For More Information: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/keeping-it-wild-554952665
Date: Thursday, April 23rd 2015
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Host: Kingsborough Community College
Event: Annual Eco-Festival
For More Information: http://www.kingsborough.edu/eco-festival/Pages/default.aspx
Date: Saturday, April 25th 2015
Location: Fresno, CA
Host: Reedley College
Event: STEM Conference 2015
For More Information: http://reedleycollege.com/index.aspx?page=1861
Date: Tuesday, May 12th 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Host: REI
Event: Diversity, Equity, and America's Conservation Legacy
For More Information: http://www.rei.com/event/66349/session/114461/06022015
Date: Wednesday, May 13th 2015
Location: Richmond, CA
Host: Bay Area Open Space Council
Event: 25th Anniversary Celebration
For More Information: http://openspacecouncil.org/community-events/conference/
Date: Friday, May 22nd 2015
Location: Telluride, CO
Host: Telluride MountainFilm
Event: MountainFilm Festival
For More Information: https://www.mountainfilm.org
Date: Friday, March 18th 2016
Location: Trenton, New Jersey
Host: New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Event: 20th Annual NJ Land Conservation Rally
For More Information: http://www.njconservation.org/conservationrally.htm
Date: Friday, April 8th 2016
Location: Wilmington, NC
Host: University of North Carolina Wilmington
Event: 2016 STEAM Expo
For More Information: http://www.ncsciencefestival.org/2016_event/uncw-expo/
Date: Wednesday, April 13th 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Host: National Geographic Learning
Event: COABE National Conference
For More Information: http://www.coabe.org/conference2016home/
Date: Friday, April 15th 2016
Location: Miami, FL
Host: Miami-Dade County
Event: Great Parks Summit
For More Information: http://www.miamidade.gov/parksmasterplan/great-parks-summit.asp
Date: Saturday, April 16th 2016
Location: Joshua Tree, CA
Host: Mojave Desert Land Trust
Event: Spring Open House
For More Information: http://www.mojavedesertlandtrust.org/news.php
Date: Friday, April 22nd 2016
Location: Laramie, WY
Host: University of Wyoming
Event: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Outdoors
For More Information: http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/calendar/#/?i=2
Date: Thursday, May 12th 2016
Location: Seattle, WA
Host: Living Futures Institute
Event: Living Futures Conference
For More Information: http://www.livingfutureunconference.org/