After dedicating 8 years to a career in the corporate financial sector, Jason moved to Colorado and reconnected to his passion for the outdoors. In 2017, Jason co-founded Rising Routes, a Denver based startup that’s in the business of transformation, working to elevate diverse communities and collaborate with partners to spark public action toward social and environmental resilience. Jason’s full time role is a Western Lands Policy Analyst for Western Resource Advocates, where he focuses on issues surrounding the privatization of public lands and water to ensure more equitable access to public open spaces while protecting natural resources for future generations.

One of Jason’s recent accomplishments was leading a coalition of 60+ local, state, and national organizations in proposing policy recommendations for a Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program (OEGP), which led to the passing of a state bill (HB 21-1318). The OEGP will distribute meaningful, proportional, and sustainable funding to entities providing conservation, environmental, and outdoor experiences and educational opportunities for underserved youths and families. Jason also serves as one of the founding members of the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E initiative, working alongside U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to go beyond the state of Colorado and introduce outdoor equity legislation on a national scale.

Passionate about volunteering his time, Jason collaborates with a variety of public, nonprofit, and private organizations to serve his community. He currently serves as an advisor for the City of Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resilience (CASR) through the Community Adaptation, Resiliency, & Environmental Justice committee (CARE-J). In this role, he is tasked with advancing the city’s ambitious climate goals and implementing the Climate Protection Fund’s 5-year strategic plan. He also serves on the Board for the High Line Canal Conservancy, whose vision is to permanently preserve a 71-mile linear greenway in Denver. He previously served as the Colorado chapter co-leader for Outdoor Afro, leading trips and experiences for the national nonprofit network celebrating and inspiring Black connections and leadership in nature. In his free time, you can find Jason exploring the backcountry through some of Colorado’s most scenic landscapes and capturing his travels through the lens of his Fuji camera. He is currently working on a biography of the seven aunties who were, and still are, the pillars of his family and shaped his perspective on environmental stewardship, social justice, and mental health. You can follow his work @https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasongswann/