HILAREE NELSON TRIBUTE

SUNDAY, 1 PM, HIGH CAMP WITH A SCREENING OF THE PLACE WE MEET

Hilaree Nelson was a mother, partner, athlete and friend. Although she traveled to far-flung places, scaling the tallest mountains on the planet, she was also grounded in the Telluride valley where she made her home. After a childhood skiing Steven’s Pass in Washington state’s Cascade Mountains, she spent five seasons in Chamonix before putting down roots in the Telluride box canyon. She was taken from us too soon, but her indomitable spirit will continue to move mountains — through her children, through the younger athletes she mentored as a North Face team captain and through her Telluride family. Nelson was an iconic adventurer, and she will always hold a special place in the heart of the community. The Mountainfilm family will gather to celebrate Nelson with some of her adventure partners as we pay tribute and honor the legacy of our dear friend.

The tribute will include the world premiere of The North Face film, The Place We Meet. This film follows Nelson on one of her last expeditions: an all-women team with a vision to climb and ski first descents above the Arctic Circle. After the film there will be a conversation hosted by long-time friend of Nelson and Mountainfilm Timmy O’Neill. The event will close with a selection of clips from films that featured Nelson’s expeditions over the years.

ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: OPPORTUNITY, JUSTICE AND THE POWER OF PLACE

SUNDAY, 11:45 AM, SHERIDAN OPERA HOUSE

There is a long history of racism and discrimination against Black, Indigenous and People of Color in the United States. Despite this history, community leaders have made significant and meaningful contributions to the advancement of this country, conservation and environmental justice, and especially in the lives of young adults and communities of color.

Join Juan D. Martinez Pineda, (Zapoteca, Be’ena’ Za/ The Cloud People) National Geographic Explorer and senior program manager at The Aspen Institute Forum For Community Solutions, as he shares lessons and insights about the intersection of environmental justice, conservation and the future of the country’s promise to lift up all people. Attendees will explore the power of place and the importance of harnessing community power that centers the most vulnerable community members, including opportunity youth and families. Juan will share insights related to how communities are building on this power to sustain progress, drive momentum and prepare for deepened impact in the years ahead. This discussion will share reflections on current policy, research and make connections to local community-based efforts, including thoughts on what it takes to lead effective cross-system and sector collaborative work.