Dennis Mabasa is the Parks Conservancy’s Vice President for Community and Youth Programs. In this role, they lead efforts to identify and break down barriers to park access by those historically excluded or marginalized; engage individuals, youth, families, and community organizations in unique place-based educational, recreational, and service-based experiences; and lift their voices in the planning and design of park spaces and programming. They will also work closely with National Park Service (NPS) and Presidio Trust leadership on community and youth engagement strategies.
Dennis has over ten years of experience in community engagement, youth development, and equitable environmental education. Dennis recently served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Friends of the Los Angeles River, leading the organization's transformative five-year strategic planning process, including collaborations with Los Angeles school districts, and implementing advanced technological solutions that deepened the emphasis on climate change, community health, and equity.
Before that, Dennis was a Youth & Community Engagement Program Manager at the California Academy of Sciences. They oversaw multiple youth programs, including the Careers in Science (CiS) Intern program, a multi-year, paid internship for San Francisco high school students who come from communities underrepresented in STEM and conservation. Dennis has also worked in youth development and outdoor education roles for the National Audubon Society and Adventure Treks.
Dennis holds a bachelor's degree in environmental science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
