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Keeping Public Lands Public: Lessons for Funders from the H.R.1 Resistance
October 14 , 10:00 am – 11:15 am PDT
“The fundamental idea behind the parks…is that the country belongs to the people, that it is… for the enrichment of the lives of all of us.” ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt
“National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.” ~ Wallace Stegner, author, 1983
Selling public lands for private gain is the worst threat to what’s been called America’s best idea — our national parks and our public land system at large. That was the intention for some members of Congress as they shaped of H.R.1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. But the public pushed back. While the bill did unfortunately pass, millions harnessed their outrage, protecting our public lands from the most damaging proposals in H.R.1. Solidarity and strategy ensured this win, a meaningful victory that proves advocacy matters. Still, the commons is far from secure.
Join key architects of this recent victory and the ongoing fight for a webinar on Tuesday, October 14 at 10 am – 11:15 am PT / 1 pm – 2:15 pm ET. We’ll speak with Alicia Harvie, Head of Community and Government Affairs at REI Co-op, and the Executive Directors of The Conservation Alliance, Paul Hendricks, and The Outdoor Alliance, Adam Cramer. These leaders will discuss critical strategies, lessons learned, and the ways philanthropy has been and continues to be critical to this effort.
This webinar is open to all funders, and will be recorded and shared. Registration is required.
Meet Our Speakers:
Alicia Harvie
Head of Community and Government Affairs at REI
Alicia Harvie leads the Community & Government Affairs Team at REI Co-op, advancing its policy agenda across its climate, equity and public lands portfolio. She enjoys working alongside the co-op’s vast network of nonprofit, industry and government partners in catalyzing unique partnerships that leverage the best of the REI brand and community to drive social impact. Alicia also launched and oversees REI’s Cooperative Action Network, a civic engagement program that mobilizes its 24 million members and 15,000 employees in the fight for life outside. Alicia serves on the Business Advisory Council for Business for America, a nonpartisan nonprofit business organization that focuses solely on improving our country’s civic health, and the U.S. Stakeholder Council for 1t.org, committed to reaching the global goal of creating healthy and resilient forests. When not working, she enjoys kayaking Puget Sound or hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family.
Paul Hendricks
Executive Director, The Conservation Alliance
Paul comes to The Conservation Alliance having worked in the fields of conservation and corporate sustainability for over 15 years. Throughout that time he has driven efforts to advance action, standards, and innovation in the academic, non-profit, and corporate sectors. Prior to The Conservation Alliance, Paul worked at Rivian and Patagonia where he helped build the companies’ climate, responsible sourcing, environmental advocacy, and philanthropic programs. He has also taught at the University of Colorado and UC Berkeley, where he focused on equipping the next generation of leaders with the tools to make business a force for positive impact on social and environmental issues.
Paul earned his undergraduate degree in Business, Spanish, and Secondary Education from Hope College then went on to earn a MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago, and a Graduate Certificate in Sustainability from Harvard. While he grew up exploring the forests and lakes of Northern Michigan he is now based in Golden, Colorado where he spends his time running, climbing, and exploring our public lands with his wife and two kids.
Adam Cramer
Executive Director, The Outdoor Alliance
Adam Cramer is the founding Executive Director and present CEO of Outdoor Alliance, a national coalition of outdoor recreation advocacy groups that has breathed new life into the conservation movement by harnessing the outdoor community’s passion for place and combining it with a modern approach to organizing and digital engagement. During his time as CEO, Adam has brought new sensibilities to conservation work that have resulted in hundreds of thousands more acres of protected landscapes, improved management for outdoor recreation, and thousands of outdoor enthusiasts awakened to conservation and advocacy work. He is an avid whitewater kayaker and mountain biker, but is always on the lookout for a good skatepark. Adam lives in Maryland with his wife and two kids.
