WRA Board of Directors

Benny Samuels is a seasoned multicultural, multi-lingual non-profit leader in social change. Presently, she serves as president of AYA Foundation, Colorado’s first black-serving community foundation.

In her 35-year career, she has led transformational programs that have resulted in increased access, equity, voice, and power (in the form of self-sufficiency) for children, families, and communities, with an intentional emphasis on supporting communities of color and those living in poverty and furthest from opportunity across Colorado and nationally. She has led projects to increase access to public health insurance, maternal health and family planning, child care assistance, and access to capital and resources for entrepreneurs of color.

Benny serves on Colorado Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Equity Board, Rose Hospital Advisory Board, Cobalt and Mile High Early Learning. She graduated from Denver University and holds a masters from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Benny is a native of Panama.

“The outdoors has always been a source of power and peace — but access to it, be it for economic  opportunity, recreation, workforce participation or conservation — has never been equal. I’m committed to rewriting that story, so that joy, freedom, and connection to the land are not privileges, but birthrights.”