Our People
Founders
Bryan Jay
"I have grown up with nature and when I entered the Environmental Studies program at the University of Montana to learn about the difficulties or our world, I knew I had to do something. So, over the next seven years I found my way to help nature, people, and life. It brought me to The Peoples' Forest Project"
- Bryan Jay
Bryan earned a BA in environmental studies and climate change from the University of Montana in 2013. After graduation, he decided to take a five month trip to South America where he met Miguel and Luis. Just over one year later, Bryan returned to Colombia to visit Luis and Miguel. This is when Luis and Miguel told him of the project and invited him to join.
Bryan is the lead on the projects in the jungle, building relations with the family and community we are working with. Currently he is helping build a hostel for the Taita's family.
Bryan is a musician, outdoors man, friend, and son. He is enthusiast to learn about all the possibilities this world has to offer. Bryan and Makete will be using music to outreach for TPFP, bring people to believe in our future, and take steps to conserve and restore the Amazonian jungle.
Makete Roesch
Makete was born and raised in Saint Louis, MO (USA), and moved to Montana at the age of 22 after a serendipitous meeting with the mountains and wild creatures of Glacier National Park. It was around this time that he not only discovered his deep love of wild places and wild things, but also decided to devote his path to ecological research and conservation. He received a Masters of Science in Environmental Studies (Wildlife Conservation Focus) from the University of Montana in 2009.
Makete spent 8 years doing wildlife and geology research in Montana, Wyoming, Canada, and Zambia. In 2010, he received the call to pursue music full time. He joined up with a few friends, made some new friends along the way, and started a band called Mad Hallelujah Tribe (madhallelujah.com). The Tribe spent 3 years traveling and playing in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the US.
Through a divine series of serendipitous connections and unfoldings, Makete found his way to Colombia in November 2017--whereupon he and Bryan began making groovy music, unending jokes, and TPFP plans together.
Visionaries
Miguel Rios
Miguel was born in Colombia, but had to move with his mother and brothers to Isreal as a refugee when he was very young. He then moved to England and is now fluent in Hebrew, English, and his native tongue of Spanish.
He and his brother Luis moved back to Colombia to start a hostel but found there way to working on a farm and have that farm today bringing people in and helping in any way they can. Their community focuses on healthy eating, healthy living, and consciousness. For this project Miguel is on the side of administration and making sure projects go smoothly.
Luis Rios
Luis was also born in Colombia. As you probably guess, Luis and Miguel are brothers and started the hostel together and now live and work on the farm together. Luis is also fluent in the three languages of Hebrew, English, and Spanish.
Combining his personal experience with local building knowledge, Luis has been a team leader when it comes building and constructing projects. Luis and Miguel have worked closely with the locals to see what they need and want to achieve for economic growth and land protection.