OUTDOOR LEADER

Yolanda is a dedicated educator and passionate advocate for youth, known for her loving, fun, and spontaneous spirit. She is deeply committed to supporting her community—especially teens—as they navigate the challenges of growing up.

Drawing from her own lived experience, Yolanda brings empathy and understanding to her work, remembering what it was like to face the complexities of adolescence in a world that isn’t always fair, balanced, or respectful. She is passionate about connecting with youth from all backgrounds and creating spaces where they feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Yolanda believes in the power of connection, curiosity, and shared experience. She has a natural gift for uplifting those around her, bringing open-minded enthusiasm and a sense of adventure to every environment she enters.

Through her work with Back2Youth, Yolanda is committed to fostering belonging, growth, and resilience in the next generation—helping young people discover their voice, their strength, and their place within the world.

FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR + OUTDOOR LEADER

Niles Mittasch was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, where he attended K–12 before earning his undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Oregon. During his time there, he also played collegiate football as a running back.

Following college, Niles took his journey abroad, playing professional American football in Europe for five seasons—four in Italy and one in Poland. His time overseas expanded his worldview and deepened his understanding of culture, connection, and community.

After concluding his professional football career, Niles felt a strong calling to return home to Eugene to pursue his passion for empowering youth and uplifting his community. Having navigated his own path as an “at-risk” adolescent in search of direction and guidance, he is deeply committed to creating the same kind of support and opportunity that once shaped his life.

Niles believes in the transformative power of nature and mentorship. Through Back2Youth—a vision he carried long before it became reality—he is dedicated to fostering connection, resilience, and growth in the next generation.

Niles has traveled to over 30 countries and 5 continents, enjoys learning new languages, Italian food, and is an avid fisherman.

OUTDOOR LEADER

Sadie grew up between Oregon and Samoa, where her deep appreciation for both nature and culture was shaped by family, athletics, and a spirit of adventure.

As a professional model and the reigning Miss Eugene Volunteer (2025–2026), she brings creativity, confidence, and leadership into every space she serves. Currently a student at New Hope Christian College studying Pastoral Studies, Sadie is passionate about integrating faith, mentorship, and the outdoors to create meaningful opportunities that inspire and uplift youth.

At Back2Youth, Sadie serves as an Outdoor Leader, guiding participants to connect with the land, embrace new challenges, and build resilience through shared experience.

Sadie believes the outdoors is one of life’s greatest classrooms—offering powerful lessons in courage, teamwork, and self-discovery. She is honored to support young people as they step more fully into their potential.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE + GRANT WRITER

Lori is a seasoned grant writer with over 30 years of experience in resource development and program design. She has a proven ability to take complex visions and translate them into clear, goal-driven strategies that create real-world impact.

With degrees from the University of California, San Diego and the University of Oregon, Lori developed her expertise as Associate Director of an international research institute at the University of Oregon, and later as Grants Development Manager for Lane Community College.

Lori’s strengths lie in her ability to integrate management, data analysis, and program design with strong problem-solving skills and diplomatic insight. She brings both precision and creativity to her work, helping organizations move from idea to implementation with clarity and momentum.

Known for her sense of humor and positive energy, Lori is valued not only for her technical expertise but also for her ability to navigate complex challenges and move meaningful work forward. Her greatest reward is seeing a project come to life and knowing she played a part in making it possible.

Learn more about Lori at: www.goddessofgrants.com

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE, CREATIVE DIRECTOR + FAMILY/YOUTH CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

A professional Graphic Designer, Entrepreneurial Strategist and Authenticity Coach, Kellee was the first teammate to come aboard on Back2Youth’s mission and vision - when it was only an idea in the mind of our Founder/Executive Director, Niles Mittasch. 

Kellee quickly saw what Niles looked to achieve, keenly bringing forward her design skills, brand clarity, creative strategy, copy writing, and a shared vision to support the now co-creative endeavor.  Kellee remains excited to see how B2Y’s reach will grow, as we all remember/rediscover that we are innate Nature Enthusiasts, and that Mother Nature is our ultimate ally..

When not serving outwardly, Kellee enjoys exploring a wide variety of inner and outer landscapes - playing with her natural curiosity, intuitive, creative and healing skill sets, as well as ever studying and exploring Mother Nature through overlanding, camping, hiking, meditation, grounding, gardening, photography, healing modalities and much more.

Learn more about Kellee at: www.awedore.com.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT + INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM DESIGN

Jami, the founder of HeartWise Community Learning Center, is a dedicated SEL specialist who creates innovative frameworks for collaborative curriculum instruction and mindfulness in education. As a leader, designer, and compassionate facilitator, her approach reflects her commitment to nurturing the growth and potential of every human.

“You are powerful and you are beautiful, so what do you want to do about it?” This playful yet profound inquiry guides her curriculum, inspiring curiosity, compassion and joy. Jami believes that these values are essential in exploring one’s identity, creativity, intellect and purpose. Through this lens, learning becomes a transformative and empowering process. 

Jami is a wild hearted optimist and is here to bring a high frequency of love and joy to the big beautiful experiment of life!

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE

Dr. Lori Allen is the Executive Director of the Oregon Mind Body Institute (OMBI) and a licensed psychologist specializing in the mind-body treatment of traumatic stress, eating and body image concerns, depression, and anxiety.

She holds a Master of Education and began her career in Special Education, teaching students with learning and behavioral challenges—an experience that continues to inform her compassionate, whole-person approach to mental health.

As Executive Director of OMBI, Dr. Allen oversees daily operations, supervises and trains practitioners, leads group programs, and brings mindfulness-based mental health education into schools. She believes that individual and collective well-being are deeply interconnected, and that addressing mental health at its roots requires reimagining both education and the broader societal sources of stress.

Dr. Allen is passionate about preventive mental health—integrating nature, joy, and meaning into everyday life. She is excited to support Back2Youth’s programming, which reflects these values and helps create pathways for resilience, connection, and well-being in young people.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE + OUTDOOR LEADER

Eva Osirus brings a rich and creative background in classical music, healing arts, literature, and visual art. For Eva, creation is a way of life—whether through storytelling, poetry, collage, singing, or music production, she is devoted to expressing what is inspiring, truthful, and beyond illusion.

Her work is rooted in a deep commitment to authenticity, using art as a medium for reflection, connection, and transformation. Eva approaches each creative endeavor with intention, seeking to bring meaning and awareness into the spaces she inhabits.

Outside of her creative and community work, Eva is dedicated to personal growth and self-mastery through practices such as qigong, kung fu, and meditation. She embraces the balance of duality as a pathway to deeper understanding and lived experience.

Eva is a lover and seeker of life, choosing each day to live with faith, love, truth, and balance—values she brings into her work with Back2Youth and the communities she serves.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE

Dante Zúñiga-West is an educator, outdoorsman and conservationist who believes that young people should be present in nature. He is passionate about environmental conservation and exploring the natural world. A novelist, short story writer and journalist, his writing is frequently published in lifestyle magazines and adventure journals. He lives in the coastal mountain range of Oregon with his family and some very handsome German Shepherds.

Learn more about Dante at:

https://www.wellspringsfriends.org/about

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE

Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, Christopher Thomas brings nearly two decades of experience as a B2B Success Manager and currently serves as a Service Consultant for a mechanical contracting firm.

A former collegiate athlete on a full-ride basketball scholarship in Eastern Oregon, Christopher now gives back to the game as a certified OSAA basketball official. He is a proud husband and father of two, and he’s driven by a passion for helping youth grow into the best versions of themselves. With a growth mindset and a heart for service, Christopher is committed to building a stronger, more connected future for the next generation.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE

Greg Wolley is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Creating Tomorrow’s Workforce. After many years working in all levels of government, the non-profit sector, and serving on various community boards of directors, he decided to begin his own practice to help to make these organizations more equitable, compassionate and effective. 

Following his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, he began his career in environmental education taking high schoolers backpacking in the Mohave Desert. That organization, Outward Bound Adventures (OBA) Greg Wolley is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Creating Tomorrow’s Workforce.