Panel Discussions | Next-Gen Engagement and Cultural Relevancy

Participants self-select to one of three panel discussions to explore a related topic with subject-matter experts. Following each discussion, participants convene in small groups to interact directly with panelists.

Session 1: Building a Better Pipeline

Location: Teton Room

The creation of professional development opportunities for emerging leaders and young staff members across sectors of the stakeholder coalition can help develop a more diverse workforce and constituent base. Panelists discuss how to move the next generation of stewards past volunteer/youth corps positions to longer-term career pathways.

Panel Host: Drew Lehnerd

Moderator:

– David Vela,  Superintendent, Grand Teton National Park

Panelists:

–  Maite Arce, Executive Director, Hispanic Access Foundation

– Brenna Muller, Program Manager, Outdoor Alliance for Kids; Nearby Nature Program Manager, The Sierra Club

– Alex Klein, Vice President and General Manager, Grand Teton Lodge Company and Flagg Ranch Company

– Joshua Tuck, Regional Youth Volunteer Program Manager Assistant, National Park Service

Session 2: Outdoor Recreation and Cultural Relevancy

Location: Grand Room

Active engagement with the outdoors has produced some of the country’s strongest and most inspiring conservation leaders. Today, with the constituencies of conservation aging, outdoor recreation offers a remarkable opportunity to reinvigorate our economy, public health and the protection of our public lands—but only if it becomes more relevant to and inclusive of communities of color and urban millennials. This panel discussion looks at some of the success stories in the efforts to do just that.

Panel Host: Sawyer Connelly

Moderator:

– Grace Anderson, National Manager, Inspiring Connections Outdoors Program, The Sierra Club

Panelists:

– Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin, Co-Founder, The Avarna Group

– Georgina Miranda, Founder, Altitude-Seven

– Ed Cantu, Director for Consumer Insights & Planning, Lopez Negrete Communications

– Bob Ratcliffe, Director, Conservation and Recreation Programs, National Park Service

Session 3: The Millennials’ Take

Location: Timberline I

In this panel discussion, self-selected participants from the Emerging Leaders Program present their perspectives on Next-Gen Engagement and Cultural Relevancy as it relates to outdoor recreation and America’s public lands heritage. What do they believe we need to know in order to successfully engage their generation of stewards?

Host:

– Chloe Decamera, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Moderator:

– Alfosnso Orozco, Latino Outdoors

Panelists:

– Leandra Taylor, Middle Rio Grande Education, Employment & Environment Alliance

– Maya Hunger, Emerging Leaders Program

– Jas Jones, Student Conservation Association

– Janet Valenzuela, Good Heart Project

– Christian Gering, Conservation Legacy/Environmental Stewards