Lydia Ruffin
Lydia is a professional musician and singer who has a degree in Music Education. She worked for Young Audiences, Inc. for over 30 years, bringing educational performances and workshops to students across Missouri and Kansas. She was founding Artistic Director for Art & Soul Café in St. Louis, Missouri, a nonprofit focused on integrating art and spirituality through interactive experiences among artists of all disciplines. Lydia is an enthusiastic birdwatcher, photographer, and lover of the natural world.
“I see building community and working toward the common good as essential to our future, and so I am grateful to be part of Rivers & Birds' mission."
Doug Bridgers
Raised in New Mexico, he graduated from UNM with a B.A. in Spanish and has a strong interest in New Mexico’s local cultural traditions. A former elementary school teacher, Doug brings his teaching experience and concerns for public education to Rivers & Birds.
“My own spiritual grounding is in the natural world. Too many children lack direct contact with their community and the natural world on which they depend. Rivers & Birds is providing that important environmental connection for students.” Doug owns Maya Builders, a business that focuses on building energy efficient, environmentally sound homes.
Douglas Daubert
Doug received his MA in Counseling from Montclair State University in NJ. He worked in education as a Student Assistance Counselor and Coach for nearly 30 years. He has enjoyed coaching girl's field hockey and basketball, boy's volleyball, soccer and track. He loves to cook and garden. Doug has hiked thousands of miles and has grown to love and respect all that nature has to give.
"Being a part of Rivers and Birds is an incredible opportunity to give back and pass on his love of nature. It isn’t often that you get the opportunity to combine what you have trained for and what you live for!"
Kevin Whitefeather
Kevin is a Native of Taos Pueblo. Kevin graduated from NM Military Institute in Roswell in 1994. He graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1997 with a focus on political science and Indigenous Studies. His passion is to provide educational cultural tours on his beautiful land within Taos Pueblo to inspire others to care for Mother Earth. Kevin is also dedicated to helping others heal through Taos Pueblo Recovery Works. Kevin is committed to upholding his Taos Pueblo Community and to honoring the natural world.
“ ‘Treat others as you would like to be treated.’ Let us think of this saying in terms of how we relate to Mother Earth. If we apply this quote to our relation with Earth then maybe we would think twice about how we walk so that we honor all life. The time is now to honor all living beings.”