Denys Hemen

Denys joins the Debs Park crew after putting down roots in Northeast Los Angeles. Denys spent his childhood outdoors exploring the creeks and forest land that surrounded his home in Northwestern Alabama. His love of the outdoors at a young age inspired him to pursue a degree in Zoology from Auburn University. After graduating he moved to Los Angeles and volunteered at the California Wildlife Center in Calabasas, putting him on a 15-year career path rescuing injured wildlife. Working at the Wildlife Center he was able to help animals that were harmed due to negative human interactions by working and managing a wildlife hospital and designing and building enclosures for the patients.

He wanted his career to evolve from helping individual wild animals to one that focused on the broader view of habitat restoration, wilderness preservation, and community engagement. When not working he loves to go camping and traveling with his family and tending to his native plant garden. His favorite bird is the Canyon Wren.