Kim Moore Bailey

Chief Executive Officer

Youth Outside’s Chief Executive Officer Kim Moore Bailey provides the leadership and vision that drives its mission to connect youth to nature by eliminating barriers, providing resources, and promoting outdoor programming. Inspired by her own passion for the outdoors and years of both personal and professional experiences, she is committed to ensuring that underrepresented youth in particular have access and opportunities to thrive in the outdoors. Kim focuses on guiding Youth Outside's strategic direction, building its grant making portfolio, and achieving measurable results by leveraging the collective knowledge, networks, and resources of the outdoor, environmental, and health fields. Kim leads Youth Outside with the understanding that outdoor programming is essential for building healthy lives and inspiring future stewards of the planet.

In overseeing the organization’s strategy, relationship building, and fundraising efforts, Kim works directly with the leadership team as well as the Board of Directors who are instrumental to Youth Outside’s success. Under Kim’s leadership, Youth Outside was awarded a multiple year grant by Kaiser Permanente to support the engagement of underrepresented youth in meaningful outdoor experiences. By leaning into conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, Kim has been a connector and a catalyst for change. As Youth Outside’s first leader, she has laid the foundation for the organization to impact the lives of youth across the state of California and beyond.

Kim has over 20 years of experience as an executive with expertise in strategic planning and community engagement. Before coming to Youth Outside, Kim was the Chief Operating Officer for College Possible, a national nonprofit focused on making college attainable for low-income students by creating more access points and opportunities for support. She was also Vice President for Outward Bound Inc., where she was responsible for supporting and growing Outward Bound’s urban programs across the country; and Manager of Denver Parks and Recreation for the City and County of Denver.

Kim received her Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University and her Master’s Degree from New York University in Counselor Education. Kim also participated in Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in the State and Local Government program, and pursued additional educational opportunities at the University of Illinois and the University of Colorado. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Environmental Grantmakers Association, the Children and Nature Network, and the North American Association for Environmental Education. She is Co-Chair of the Environmental Education Funders Collaborative and serves on the Advisory Boards for Blue Sky Funders Forum and ChangeScale. Away from work, Kim enjoys spending time with her loved ones, yoga, and being outdoors.

To contact Kim, call (510) 839-0731 or send her an email at kim@youthoutside.org.

Laura Rodriguez

Director of Programs

Laura (pronounced loud-ah) is Youth Outside's Director of Programs. Laura co-designs and oversees the management and implementation of Youth Outside's suite of programs, including the organization's grantmaking work and Grantee Cohort Series.

Growing up in the Central Valley, a child of immigrant parents, Laura graduated from UCLA with a commitment to social justice that today centers around youth and access to the outdoors. Laura’s introduction to the impact of outdoor programming did not take place until she moved to the Bay Area in 2009. Her passion for the outdoors deepened when she began to volunteer with the Sierra Club’s Inspiring Connections Outdoor Rafting program, eventually serving as its chair for a two-year term in 2012. Laura’s experience with the Sierra Club fueled her desire to be a champion for equity and inclusion within the outdoor space, and she actively facilitates trainings and conversations in support of these efforts for Youth Outside.

Prior to joining Youth Outside, Laura was a Program Manager for the SEIU UHW West and Joint Employer Education Fund, a non-profit that offers training and education for healthcare workers. Her ability to connect with stakeholders of all levels make Laura a valuable team member. We are so excited to have her on staff at Youth Outside.

To contact Laura,  send her an email at laura@youthoutside.org.

Rena Payan

Program Manager

Rena is tasked with working toward equity and representation in the outdoor field by supporting young adults from diverse backgrounds through training that will develop them into outdoor leaders, stronger community advocates, and more confident stewards of the Earth.

Having grown up in the Central Valley of California, Rena was surrounded by the outdoors, but did not find her passion for outdoor education and youth development until she worked at Pathfinder Ranch in the San Bernardino National Forest. During her time at Pathfinder, Rena worked as an assistant horse wrangler, outdoor educator, high ropes facilitator, and occasional mad scientist, ultimately finishing her years there as the medical director for their outdoor education school and summer camp programs. Following her mountain life, Rena moved to the Bay Area by way of Montana and settled in San Francisco, where she worked as the Teen Programs Coordinator at the Richmond Village Beacon. While at the Beacon Rena developed and supported afterschool programs that served over 200 high schoolers a day. During the summer Rena created and ran “Venture Out”, an outdoor program for high school and middle school youth that took them to Point Reyes to backpack and explore the national shoreline.

Rena currently volunteers with Bay Area Wilderness Training as an instructor and Board member. She is also a graduate from the California School Age Consortium’s (CalSAC) Leadership Development Institute and enjoys every chance she gets to go outside.

To contact Rena, send her an email at rena@youthoutside.org.

Stephanie Diaz

Development Associate

Stephanie oversees managing donors data, coordinating annual fundraising events and supporting the Development Director.

Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Stephanie understood and knew very early on that she had a passion for the community. With the help of the Upward Bound program of greater Los Angeles whom provided vital resources and assisted in her being accepted into Cal State East Bay she was ready to pursue that passion further. Upon graduation from East Bay with a degree in Communications, Stephanie was accepted into the highly competitive 6- month internship, The Disney College Internship. With the confidence gained in intense work environments and challenging setting Stephanie returned to the Bay Area ready give back and inspire. While working with various professional sports teams such the Oakland Raiders, the Oakland A's, the San Jose Sharks, and lastly the San Jose Earthquakes in their community relations department, Stephanie has gained a wide range of experiences and leadership while working and interacting with many different levels of the community all across the Bay Area. Away from work, Stephanie likes to go see a baseball games, travel and spend time with loved ones! 

To contact Stephanie, send her an email at Stephanie@youthoutside.org

Jodie Darensbourg

Operations Associate

Jodie oversees organizational logistics and communications, and supports the Director of Programs with Youth Outside’s grant making.

Ever since she was a kid, Jodie has been passionate about our environment and getting outside to explore it. She grew up in her Lola’s backyard, helping to water the roses while catching bugs and lizards. Her commitment to increasing access to education and holistic health for resilient communities began in high school where she formally learned about environmental justice, something she had experienced but not yet had words for.

Jodie graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and is a 2016 Alumni of Youth Outside’s strategic program, the Outdoor Educators Institute (OEI). She spent a season instructing outdoor programs before co-facilitating the 2017 OEI cohort and growing with Youth Outside into her current position as Operations Associate.

Before joining Youth Outside, Jodie worked for the Multicultural Community Center (MCC) at UC Berkeley. While at the MCC, she developed sustainability and wellness programming focused on environmental justice education and transformative care practices for individuals and community. She focused on building and establishing community partnerships between the MCC and local Bay Area organizations to establish the MCC teaching and learning garden. Jodie’s ability to

To contact Jodie, please email her at jodie@youthoutside.org.