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Leandra Taylor is Coordinator for the Merge Alliance, a community alliance based in Albuquerque NM bringing together multicultural groups working to ensure equitable access to New Mexico's natural resources. She is a graduate of Baylor University with previous experience working in wildlife data management for the US Fish and Wildlife Service for two years. After coming to the realization that her true passion is ensuring outdoor access for others like herself, and for getting all people of color into the outdoors; she shifted her career path to the human dimensions of conservation. Leandra identifies strongly as a military child, a black outdoor enthusiast, an artist, and an avid birder. She is an active member of the Environmental Education Association of New Mexico, and was also recently selected as an Outdoor Afro Leader for New Mexico. Leandra is an alumni of SHIFT's Emerging Leader's Program, the first cohort of national young environmental and outdoor recreation leaders. Through her work and her vaired social enterprises and she continues to inspire other young people to become more involved in the environmental education field.