from the president
THREE CHEERS FOR THE TRAILBLAZERS
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit Albuquerque, New Mexico, to attend the dedica- tion ceremony for the new Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, created with help from The Trust for Public Land. The first urban national wildlife refuge in the Southwest, Valle de Oro sits adjacent to densely populated neighborhoods much in need of parks and open space. It was deeply gratifying to see the crowd filled with park lovers of all stripes—from civic leaders and conservation officials to clergy, educators, moms, dads, and neighborhood kids. When U.S. Secre- tary of the Interior Sally Jewell cut the ribbon, the cheers were resounding. At The Trust for Public Land, we create parks and protect natural lands where everyone in America can get outdoors, connect with nature, and stay healthy. From the beginning, that’s meant working in and near cities—where more than 80 percent of us live. We believe that everyone—regardless of income or circum- stance—should be able to find a park or natural area within a 10-minute walk of home. In this issue of Land&People you will meet some of the new and emerging leaders who are working to bring parks to the communities that need them most. At Valle de Oro, refuge man- ager Jennifer Owen-White is building a leader- ship team that reflects the diverse constituents it serves. And in New York City—where our schoolyards-to-playgrounds program is celebrat- ing its 20th anniversary—Trust for Public Land staff are teaching tomorrow’s park advocates the real-world skills they’ll need to pursue careers in conservation and resource protection. This issue also includes a conversation with Rue Mapp, creator of Outdoor Afro, a national network connecting African Americans to the outdoors. Through her work and her example,
New leaders are working to bring parks to the communities that need them most.
Mapp is cultivating a new cadre of African American conservation leaders. Also in this issue, you will learn how the people of Los Angeles are working to protect the San Gabriel Mountains, a show-stopping wilderness on the very doorstep of that dynamic, teeming city. We hope you enjoy the stories you read here, and we thank you for the essential role you play in helping protect precious public lands, from neighborhood parks to national parks. Spending time in nature is a basic human need. Together, we can lead the country to equitable access to parks and open space for all.
Will Rogers president and ceo
TPL.ORG · 11
sara cozolino
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68