We have the passion and the concern for the common good, and we have the expertise to lead in conservation and enrich communities in and around cities, big and small.
about the San Gabriel Foothills Program and the important projects that make up that program. In other words, I want to excite people about our mission, our work, and our track record. More than anything, I want people to understand that we are the national conservation organization that helps protect the park down the street and the trail next door—that we are part of people’s everyday life. We are a national conservation organization that works locally, and I think that’s pretty powerful.
I’ve heard you say that every gift matters.
Yes, every gift does matter, and one of the things I love about our work is that just as everyone can give, our work serves everyone. No matter the amount of a gift, it all benefits the common good.
You began your work here on the cusp of our 40th anniversary, which we’re celebrating later this year. What do you see as the lessons of those 40 years?
The most important thing we need to do as an organization is to explain why The Trust for Public Land and the work that we do matter. We need to celebrate our accomplish- ments. We are leaving a legacy, and it’s a legacy we can be proud of. We’ve always worked quietly, in the background, and moved on quickly to the next project. I think we have a lot to share and a lot to be proud of, and it’s time for us to put it front and center. We are the land-for-people orga- nization, and our core values—protecting land for people, creating public access—resonated 40 years ago and will resonate 40 years from now.