John, 

In a time of many threats to people and to nature, we really need to hear about the heroes and their good work. We each deserve the chance to celebrate wins and take rest. The cycle of work, celebration, and rest helps us remain agile and effective for the unknowns ahead. 

At Washington Conservation Action (WCA), we turn to these heroes, leaders, and organizers who continue, in spite of so many odds, to bring communities together here in our state. 

In 2024, the Bullitt Foundation entrusted WCA to continue the Bullitt Prize legacy in perpetuity. WCA aims to broaden, strengthen, and diversify the current and future leadership of the environmental movement by investing in emerging academic, professional, or grassroots leaders in the Pacific Northwest. It comes with $100,000, awarded over two years. 

I am honored to announce that Washington Conservation Action will award the 19th annual Bullitt Prize to Chris Esponda.

Chris Esponda, winner of the 2025 Bullitt Prize.

Chris dedicates himself to connecting under-resourced communities with access to digital technology by refurbishing and donating computers. His work keeps literally tons of electronic waste out of landfills. At a moment where technology access and the digital divide is adding more pressure and inequity across our communities, he has found a way to blend access to opportunity with environmental conservation. In a state as tech-forward as Washington, we need that creativity and savvy more than ever.

The 2025 Bullitt Prize Selection Committee was impressed with Chris because he so thoughtfully weaves connections between his home in Mexico and his local community in Seattle. Chris’s demonstrated leadership, strong community ties, and clear vision for the organization he founded come together to chart a clear path toward profound impact in the Pacific Northwest. As an Indigenous organizer, community technologist, and digital equity advocate, his work and his potential reflect the spirit of the Bullitt Prize.

We will share more about the winner in our biannual magazine, Convene, in December, on our blog, and during an award ceremony on October 30 in Seattle, Washington.

A special thank you to the 2025 Bullitt Prize Selection Committee: Clarita Begay, former Bullitt Prize winner, Ilays Aden and Oskar Zambrano Méndez, WCA board members, and Juan Haeckermann-Godoy and Dante Jester; two community members working to advance environmental justice.

We’re excited to celebrate this young technologist and environmental justice organizer.

I encourage you to read his story, celebrate him, and build in your own work the lessons he's offering each of us. Then, celebrate and rest, and let's get back to work. 

Onward, with gratitude,

Christina Billingsley (she/her)
Board Chair, Washington Conservation Action