Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Fendi Despres. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Fendi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
The most impactful risk that changed my life was the abrupt decision to move to Aurora, Colorado from Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2014. My mom, stepdad and younger sister had moved to Aurora a couple years prior. My sister has autism and my mom is her caregiver. After a visit in May to celebrate my sisters graduation, my brother and I learned that my step dad was not living with my mom and sister. My mom doesn’t work and my brother and I decided we had to move to Aurora to support her and my sister. Within three weeks we made the move- broke leases and quit jobs. I continued working towards my bachelors of science in biology at the University of Colorado Denver with the intention of going into the medical field. As fate would have it, I never entered the medical field, fortunately, and landed a part time seasonal position at the Plains Conservation Center as a park ranger naturalist. I was so excited to work outdoors with nature. I had been akin to nature but barley knew her. I enjoyed hiking but was barley getting my feet wet. I went all in learning about the prairie ecosystem- the birds, the climate, and the plants. The plants are what hooked me into the beauty, mystery and awe of the natural world. Fast forward and nature became my religion, and the Earth was my church. I found purpose and identity learning about and spending time in nature. Soon I was sharing that wonder with others through educational programming. Due to the structure at the Plains Conservation Center I was not offering many public educational programs there but instead found myself a part of the volunteer program. I managed to get into a full time position managing the volunteer program for Aurora’s open space division. My manager at the time did not have the same connection and drive for nature to do the necessary land care the prairie at the Plains Conservation Center required and she called my desire to do restoration work a “pet project.” I could only do it if it was an educational program, so that’s exactly what I did. I made every land care activity a volunteer program, whether I had one or twenty volunteers. I formalized the programming into the Prairie Restoration Project with the mission to restore people’s relationship with the land, using effective steward practices rooted in respect and reciprocity. My journey into nature spirituality led me to learn about indigenous ecological knowledge and restoration which further inspired me to want to inspire others to see nature for the wonder and glory she is, and have respect for her well-being that leads to a reciprocal relationship for providing us with existence. My “pet project” gained traction and has now won two awards- the blue grama award through the Colorado Open Space Alliance and the Columbine Programming Award through the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association. I am so grateful to share my passion and connect people to the land that sustains them. The benefits of spending time and learning about the natural world is so vast they can’t just be measured by western science. I’m glad I took the first risk of moving to Aurora, and the second risk of pursuing what I knew was right despite the lack of support from management.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I work as a Natural Resource Specialist and am the Site Steward at the Plains Conservation Center- an educational center and nature preserve encompassing 1100 acres of shortgrass prairie in Aurora, CO . I create and facilitate volunteer experiences of nature immersion, connection, and stewardship.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Passion and a desire to do what you can for nature, even if it feels minuscule. The ripple effect is real.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience is a common theme in nature and absolutely necessary for growth and happiness. Everything is always changing, daily, and if you are stubbornly stuck in routine, there will be negative consequences on your well-being. Using nature as a teacher I learned that going with the flow, changing on a whim, is key to success. Throughout my career I’ve worm many hats from doing maintenance, being a program assistant, a naturalist, a ranger, and finally a leader. I always complained that I wanted to focus on one thing so I could be an expert at something. One things are boring and don’t keep you as mentality stimulated. Being a jack of all trades is more desirable, knowing a little about a lot, and being able to pivot as needed, makes a for an interesting and growth filled experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://AuroraGov.org/PlainsCenter
- Instagram: Fendiaceae
Image Credits
Fend Despres