Announcing the 2025 Career Accelerators!
The Colorado Water Congress (CWC) is excited to announce the 2025 CWC Career Accelerator Award recipients. This is a 1-year program intended to promote equity and diversity in the water sector. The award provides funding for awardee attendance at CWC’s two main annual events, as well as mentorship opportunities within the CWC community.
Meet the 2025 Career Accelerators
Aley Desiderio
Alessandra Desiderio is a farm owner, registered lobbyist, and dedicated professional with extensive experience in policy development, lobbying, and development finance, focusing on innovative solutions for sustainable water management and agricultural resilience. She holds both the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Development Finance Professional (CDFA) credentials and is currently pursuing her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Alessandra’s career includes significant contributions to tax increment financing (TIF) projects, revolving loan funds, and strategic planning for environmental and community-based initiatives. Recently selected as a participant in the Colorado Agriculture Leadership Program (2025-2027), Alessandra is committed to enhancing water sustainability in Colorado’s agriculture sector and driving impactful water legislation. She brings a unique blend of expertise and passion for bridging policy, practice, and sustainability in Colorado’s water and agricultural communities.
Shannon Francis
Shannon Francis, is Hopi and Dineh from the Southwest homelands of Arizona and New Mexico. She is from the Towering House clan born for Red Running into the Water clan. Her Hopi clans are Massau’, Bear, Sand, and Snake Clan. Shannon comes from twelve generations of farmers, ethnobotanists, and seed keepers. As a certified Permaculture Designer and Instructor, Shannon weaves TEK Traditional Ecological Knowledge with innovative science. She loves to educate on caretaking of land, water, and soil resources; preserving Native heirloom GMO-free seeds, zero waste philosophy, and how to live more harmoniously with nature. Shannon is the Executive Director for Spirit of the Sun, Inc. in Denver. Shannon served on the Four Winds council as Board Chair and continues to serve on the Leadership council for American Indian Movement of Colorado (AIM). Shannon is currently a 2023 Livingston Fellow through Bonfils Stanton Foundation as well as several other fellowships.. Spirit of the Sun received the 2023 Denver Food Rescue "From Action To Nourishment" award and the 2020 Human Rights Award from Youth Celebrate Diversity. Shannon received the Justin B. Willie humanitarian award (2014) on the Navajo Nation as well as the Cesar E. Chavez female leadership award (2015) for her work with Indigenous, food justice, and community building projects. Shannon has six wonderful children and four amazing grandchildren soon to be five that are her inspiration to make this a better world for all future generations to come.
Nikki Hernandez
Nikki Hernandez is a second-year law student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Prior to law school, Nikki had a career working in victim services, supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking . Her interest in water law stems from her desire to address inequity in marginalized communities. Nikki grew up in Colorado Springs and loves exploring the outdoors whenever she can.
Rachael Stein
Rachael is a Master of the Environment student at the University of Colorado Boulder focusing on Water Policy. She is particularly interested and well equipped for stakeholder engagement as a means for securing equitable water rights to provide access to safe drinking water. Rachael grew up recreating on water and has become increasingly aware of tensions in water conservation. By combining her passion for water sustainability and experience in teaching, Rachael hopes to create a sustainable water future that younger generations can enjoy as she has.
Congratulations once again to the 2025 Career Accelerators! If you see one of these fine folks at a 2025 CWC event, we hope you will stop and chat.