Colorado River Conservancy Team

Susana Almanza

CRC Co-Founder, Executive Director

Susana Almanza is a founding member and Director of PODER. She has overcome poverty, prejudice, and segregated schools to face down some of the world’s most powerful transnational corporations. Susana is an indigenous person of the continent of America and resides in East Austin, Texas.  She is a longtime community organizer, educator, mother and grandmother.  Susana participated in the civil rights movement as a Brown Beret taking up issues of police brutality, housing, quality education and equity in school systems and health care as a right not a privilege. Susana Almanza is a proven leader and nationally recognized environmental justice activist. She was recently appointed to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Susana served on the City of Austin’s Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Board, Environmental Board and the Community Development Commission.

Valerie Menard

CRC Project Coordinator

Valerie Menard is a freelance writer and editor, and the founder of S.A. Esa Enterprises, a freelance writing and editing service. Before that, she worked as an editor for Hispanic magazine, and La Prensa. She is an expert on Latino issues and promoted stories that addressed the important political and social issues facing Latinos like, environmental justice, immigration, bilingual education, and Affirmative Action. She has also published multiple books for children on Latino identity and issues and is the founder of the Latinx Children’s Book Project, where she encourages more Latinx children’s book writers to write culturally relevant books. Her work was recognized by the California Latino Legislative Caucus in 2003 when she received the  Latino Spirit Award. A native of Glendale, California, Ms. Menard was raised in San Antonio, Texas and is a second-generation Mexican American. Valerie attended the University of Texas at Austin where she earned two bachelor’s degrees—one in English and the other in journalism.

Daniel Llanes

CRC Co-Founder, Board Member

Austin community organizer, the late Daniel Llanes, co-founded the Colorado River Conservancy in 2020 to bring attention to impending threats from impending development along the lower Colorado River. Daniel also served as the chair of the River Bluff Neighborhood Association, coordinator of the Govalle/Johnston Terrace Neighborhood Contact Team, the Austin Raza RoundTable and on the executive committee of the Austin Neighborhoods Council. An accomplished artist, Daniel was a prolific writer, choreographer, composer and multi-instrumentalist. His original offerings were produced live in a variety of venues ranging from one man shows and exhibits to ensemble multi-disciplinary productions. In 2004, he received the Webber Foundation grant to create “Learning & Living with Mother Earth,” a comprehensive arts environmental awareness program and performance that utilized poetry, music, dance, and children’s workshops. His program delivered an environmental justice message through public service announcements and a theatrical presentation, sponsored by PODER. Daniel also practiced a traditional Meso-American folk medicine.

Christopher Brown

CRC Co-Founder, Board Member

BIO

Linda Guerrero

CRC Co-Founder, Board Member

Linda Guerrero is a former AISD  Special Education school teacher, consultant, and longtime Austin civic leader. She has given many years of service on city boards and commissions, including: Chair of the Austin Parks Board (2001–2012) and the City of Austin Environmental Commission (2016-2022), Vice-Chair of the Austin Downtown Commission (2009–2012), member of the City Bond Oversight Commission (2016–2019). She additionally served on the Lake Austin Task Force, South Central Waterfront Advisory Board, and co-chaired the I-35 Coalition. Her work on boards and commissions has been devoted to preserving the beauty and quality of life that has made Austin a wonderland. Linda’s goal has always been to bring people together to find sensible, practical solutions that serve the city of Austin equitably. Her priority is to seek balanced solutions that preserve the quality of life for everyday Austinites.   

Eric Paulus

CRC Board Member

BIO