Juan D. Martinez

Juan D. Martinez Pineda is Deputy Director of Fresh Tracks at the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions, where he leads strategy to advance youth and community wellbeing through culture, nature, and civic leadership.

Juan founded Fresh Tracks as a youth-led, cross-cultural initiative rooted in the healing power of the outdoors. Over the past decade, Fresh Tracks has evolved from a leadership program into a national platform for field building, connecting philanthropy, policy leaders, and community organizations to expand opportunities for young people and strengthen community wellbeing.

Through Fresh Tracks, Juan helps lead several initiatives designed to accelerate systems change, including the Open Pathways Project, which advances outdoor access and public land pathways for young people; the Community Wellbeing Partnership Platform, which connects philanthropic investment with community-driven solutions; and the development of youth-designed wellbeing tools that help communities measure and strengthen belonging, purpose, and opportunity.

Juan also leads the Native, Indigenous, and Tribal Community of Practice for the Opportunity Youth Forum, helping elevate Indigenous leadership, strengthen partnerships with Tribal communities, and expand pathways for youth leadership and community resilience.

With more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership and strategy implementation, Juan has built cross-sector partnerships that bridge philanthropy, government, and community organizations to advance youth leadership and systems change. In recognition of his work connecting young people to the healing power of the outdoors, Juan was named a National Geographic Society National Geographic Explorer.
Juan serves on the governing council of The Wilderness Society, is a TED speaker and author, and regularly advises philanthropic and civic leaders on youth- and community-driven solutions for equity, wellbeing, and opportunity.

He lives in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife Vanessa and their son Alexandro.