Mason Estes (he/him) is an Indigenous activist and community organizer born and raised in Broomfield, Colorado. The son of two lifelong educators, Mason grew up in a family deeply rooted in teaching, mentorship, and community leadership. His mother teaches 7th grade science, and his father—now retired—spent more than 32 years teaching biology and physical education at the middle and high school levels, while also serving as a multi-time state championship winning coach at Broomfield High School. Surrounded by educators and coaches from an early age, Mason developed a strong belief in the importance of supporting young people as they discover their strengths and find their place in the world.

Mason’s activism began in 2016 during his sophomore year of high school amid the NODAPL (No Dakota Access Pipeline) movement. Witnessing Indigenous communities and allies come together across the globe inspired him to become involved in the ongoing struggle for justice, sovereignty, and decolonization. He joined the American Indian Youth Leadership Institute (AIYLI), where he began his work as a youth activist, building leadership skills, strengthening community connections, and advocating for changes that reflected the voices of his peers. After three years of organizing and advocacy, Mason graduated from Broomfield High School in 2018 and continued his journey at the University of Denver.

At the University of Denver, Mason was a Native American Community Scholar and studied Marketing at the Daniels College of Business, with a minor in Leadership Studies through the Pioneer Leadership Program. During his time at DU, he was actively involved in the Native Student Alliance and Undergraduate Student Government, and he made history as the University of Denver’s first Indigenous Student Body Vice President.

After graduating in 2022, Mason began his professional career as Project Coordinator for The Implementation Project at the Native American Rights Fund, an Indigenous-led law firm based in Boulder, Colorado. He later expanded his professional experience into digital advertising before ultimately joining Youth Celebrate Diversity full-time as Executive Director. Throughout his career, Mason has remained deeply committed to community organizing and youth leadership. For four years, he has served as an adult mentor with Youth Celebrate Diversity, where he has built meaningful relationships with young people while supporting them in developing their own leadership voices and approaches to activism.

Outside of his organizing work, Mason enjoys cooking for friends and family, spending time with loved ones, watching baseball and films, and caring for his extensive collection of plants, which he tends with his partner, Zhenya.

Mason is honored and excited to serve as Executive Director and to help lead Youth Celebrate Diversity into its next generation of work.