Meet the Leadership Team!

PRESIDENT

Angela, she/her/ella, started climbing in 2022, One route and she was hooked. Climbing offers adventure, comradery and a way to be in relationship with the earth. Climbing helps build resilience and endurance mentally, physically and emotionally in ways nothing else can- everyone deserves the right to experience climbing.

She joined Climbing in Color in 2023 and works to further the mission of creating safe space for People of Color in climbing and the outdoors.

CO-FOUNDER

Amber, she/her, found climbing when she moved to Tucson in 2017. In a new place and space, climbing was her way to spark connections with others, build strong community, and mentally and physically find sanctuary through problem solving routes, forging trust in others, and experiencing the outdoors in a completely new way.

She co-founded Climbing in Color to create a safe space for People of Color to find kinship in shared experiences. She’s so grateful for everyone who has supported CIC from its humble beginnings!

CO-FOUNDER

Ravi, he/him, grew up spending almost every day running over the trails of the luscious South. But everything changed on his first day climbing outdoors. Back then, Ravi never could’ve predicted where this new passion was going to take him - it has led him to heaven on Earth.

He didn't see a lot of people like him when he started climbing and wanted to change that. He hopes that by bringing more diversity into the sport, we can all protect and enjoy our natural spaces together.

PLANNING COORDINATOR

Tiffany, she/her, enjoys meeting new people and sharing the joys of rock climbing. She knows that for many people, it’s hard to get into climbing due to many barriers. Tiffany hopes to bridge that gap as much as she can through her work with CIC. Meaningful connection and representation are the means to true diversity.

DIRECTOR

Judah, he/él, grew up around the Baltimore metropolis and didn’t have a clue that climbing existed nearby - until a friend invited him to a gym at the age of 22. Climbing would really stick 2 or 3 years later when, in the midst of a particularly acute existential crisis, he left a holiday gathering early and camped himself in the mountains of West Virginia for a few days. Looking up at Seneca Rocks, he thought, “Maybe I should go climbing again.” Turns out climbing is great for existential crisis.

FINANCE COORDINATOR / TREASURER

Bio coming soon.

VICE PRESIDENT

SECRETARY

DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

For Adrian, he/him, climbing is what a lot of his life revolves around. He makes a living as a youth team coach and route setter, and in his spare time pursues his own climbing in & around Mount Lemmon & Cochise Stronghold.

Since his first day climbing he has seen it as an instrument to explore character development, self-expression, vulnerability, & overcoming adversity. Climbing helps him to strive for the best version of himself, emphasizing the importance of team building, patience, goal setting, & gratitude. Adrian considers it a privilege to be a part of this community & hopes to help share the lessons climbing can teach by welcoming those from all backgrounds to come together through our shared love for the sport, & hopefully make climbing more accessible & inclusive to all.

EVENT COORDINATOR & SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Zuli, she/her, traveled to Tucson every summer to visit her grandma before officially making it home in 2012. She enjoys hiking and yoga, and added rock climbing to the long list of activities Tucson has to offer.

Climbing has opened up so many opportunities for her to learn about resilience, patience, and community. Being able to create friendships and give back the same infectious energy that Climbing in Color sparked for her means the most.

EVENT COORDINATOR

Yesenia, ella/her, is from California but fell in love with Arizona and made Tucson her home. She was the only POC the first time she climbed; there was a point where she thought the sport wasn't for her. Five years later, she found the community she didn't know she was looking for.

She has learned to love the chalky fingers, scraped knees and that one project route that she seems to always start but later finds out is gone before she can finish it. She has learned to love the new challenge of being outdoors, even though her first lead climb took her 45 minutes and a take at every clip. She is consistently socializing more than she is climbing, but would not trade it for anything.

FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR

FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEER

NEWSLETTER VOLUNTEER

GRANT WRITER VOLUNTEER

LEAD/CO-LEAD VOLUNTEER FOR ROCK SOLID MEET UPS

SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEER

SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER