Courtesy of
Mary Jane Verette
The San Antonio Parks Foundation, in partnership with the City of San Antonio Parks & Recreation Department, is proud to host the Annual Outside for All, an outdoor celebration of the diverse outdoor recreation and green space opportunities in our community!
Join us on October 12 from 9 AM to noon at the Berta Almaguer Community Center at Woodlawn Lake. This year, we are thrilled to welcome José González, founder of Latino Outdoors, as our keynote speaker. He will share insights on promoting inclusivity in outdoor spaces under the theme “Leadership in Nature, Natural Connections.” The event is free to the public, encouraging community participation and engagement.
Learn about local nonprofit organizations who specialize in being active in outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, and health & wellness. Confirmed nonprofit exhibitors for 2024 include Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, Texas Wildlife Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, San Antonio Public Library’s Little Read Wagon, Medina River Natural Area, RiverAid, Green Spaces Alliance, Friends of McAllister Park, Earn A Bike, Two Hoes Gardening, Parks and Recreation Department, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, and STORM.
José González is the Founder of Latino Outdoors and a professional educator specializing in education and conservation. He combines artistic expression with environmental and cultural themes and has extensive experience as a K-12 teacher, outdoor education instructor, and university adjunct faculty.
As a Partner at the Avarna Group, José focuses on Equity & Inclusion in the environmental and conservation sectors. He also serves in various leadership roles, including Trustee for the National Outdoor Leadership School and Board Director for Parks Now.
José earned his B.A. from the University of California, Davis, and his M.S. from the University of Michigan. He is passionate about collaborating with organizations to diversify outdoor programs and is available for trainings, workshops, and speaking engagements.
“José Gonzalez’s expertise and passion for inclusivity in outdoor recreation will set a powerful tone for our event,” said Mary Jane Verette, President/CEO of the San Antonio Parks Foundation. “We are also fortunate to have Jeanette, Josie, Bree, and Sara facilitating discussions that will ensure all voices are heard.”
Meet our facilitators, Jeanette Honermann, Sara Beesley, Josie Gutierrez, Bree Jameson, and Sara Ramirez will lead the community discussions. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in three engaging community discussions focused on the theme of “Leadership in Nature, Natural Connections,” led by Jeanette, Josie, Bree, Sara, and other experts. These discussions aim to foster collaboration and inspire innovative solutions to enhance our local green spaces and empower community leaders.
Jeanette Honermann is trained in the ToP® Technology of Participation method and holds a Charrette Management and Facilitation certification from the National Charrette Institute™. Her skills will effectively guide discussions throughout the event, fostering deeper connections between attendees and their environment.
Sara Pruneda Beesley is the Director of the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, leading conservation and community engagement efforts for the National Audubon Society in San Antonio. She holds a B.A. from Trinity University and an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Our Lady of the Lake University.
Sara has served on the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Board and contributed to the city’s Sustainability and Climate Action plans. She is active in several local advisory committees, advocating for environmental issues and accessible outdoor spaces.
Bree Jameson, a proud New Orleans native and mother of 14-year-old twins, advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in outdoor spaces. Through her nonprofit, Minorities in Outdoor Recreation and Education (MORE Outside!), she shares her love for nature—caving, climbing, kayaking, and more—with underrepresented communities. Bree’s journey is featured in the J.E.D.I. Training Film (2022), highlighting her as the first Black woman in Texas to develop a rock climbing route.
Meet Sara Ramirez, Director of Nature Equity and Engagement at the San Antonio River Foundation. A Texas Master Naturalist, Sara specializes in S.T.E.A.M. programming and interpretation for underserved communities, drawing on her background in Wildlife Biology and Environmental History.
Join us to hear from José Gonzalez and connect with Jeanette, Sara, Josie, Bree, and Sara, engaging in meaningful community discussions about leadership in nature and natural connections. Together, we can create lasting impact and promote a love for the outdoors.
For more information about the Outside for All event and to register, please visit www.saparks.org or contact Mary Jane Verette at maryjane@saparks.org or 210-843- 3147.
Organized in 1981, the non-profit, donor-supported San Antonio Parks Foundation is a philanthropic charity formed to provide improvements to parks and the park experience to the area’s 250+ parks and over 150 miles of walking and biking trails. All monies raised support and accelerate impactful and transformative park projects from playgrounds to lighting, beautification, accessibility, shade, recycling, water conservation, resurfacing walking paths, signage, restoration, and more. Funding for park projects is provided from foundation and corporate grants, and individual gifts and donations. Learn more at www.saparks.org.
