Dear Friends,
You can probably relate when I say, “I feel like a kid this time of year!” I have been longing for warmer weather and longer days of sunshine, so I can run barefoot and lay for hours under my favorite old trees.
When I was young, I used to seek out the huge weeping willow in my yard. It was a special place I would escape to when I needed calm or when my imagination needed a summer afternoon adventure. Some of my earliest and favorite memories are all centered around nature: playing in the creek, making dirt pies, gardening, harvesting, and canning with four generations of women in my family.
One memory that holds a special place in my heart is sitting on the creek bank with my mom as she taught me how to fish. I was so excited to put the worm on the hook! I’ll never forget the day I caught my first rainbow trout.
Maybe you have memories like these. These were significant moments because they allowed me to build a connection and start to understand my role in the natural world.
This early connection is what started and continues to fuel my passion to protect and steward nature and do everything I can to ensure that access to this beautiful gift is a human right, accessible to everyone.
What was the moment you realized how important nature is to you?
What I didn’t understand then that I do now is that, intentionally or not, the generations of my family that came before me were part of the same conservation movement that created the barriers that exclude so many communities from having access to nature and the outdoors. I am part of that history. I am also part of a history that is yet to be written.
This is a critical time in the history of the preservation of Forest Park and our planet. We play a vital role. We need to be relentless about making Forest Park and all our outdoor spaces more accessible and creating a culture that is inclusive, safe, and welcoming for all people.
We know in our hearts that all people should have safe and equitable access to nature, but it’s not enough. We are all part of the ecosystem. And just like the natural world, diversity is the key that opens the door to ensuring long-term health and resiliency of both Forest Park and the community around us. Predictions show that by 2044 the majority of the population will be non-white. If we are not building a diverse and inclusive community to care for the park today, it will become more and more difficult to mobilize and fund future conservation and stewardship efforts in Forest Park as we move towards 2044. This is about coming together and making space for people and voices from all backgrounds.
The future of Forest Park depends on each of us. Every day.
Together, we are building a diverse and inclusive community of Forest Park stewards. This community that you helped create will be fundamental in setting future generations of Forest Park stewards up for success and a Forest Park that is loved and cared for more completely than ever before.
We need you! We need you to remember your connection to nature, to Forest Park and places like it, and how that connection has fundamentally shaped who you are. Help us break down the barriers to allow everyone their own memories that will help shape them, just like your memories shaped you.
How do we do this? We have a plan, and we need your help to make it happen!
- As of June 1, we will be hiring a full-time Education Manager to develop programs and events to create more diverse opportunities to engage in Forest Park, from hikes to ivy basket weaving and bird watching to picnics. There will be many opportunities to bring diverse communities together.
- FPC will support the launch of Love is King’s Stalwart of Safety Program this summer. As a Stalwart of Safety, you can learn advanced leadership techniques on how to be a champion of safety, learn how to create inclusive, safe spaces, and have hard conversations with love, empathy, and understanding.
- We will continue our partnership with Vive NW to build our youth education program and promote healthy lifestyles for Latinx youth.
- We will provide opportunities to learn about and help steward FPC’s Ancient Forest Preserve and better understand the Indigenous stewardship practices we are implementing and the restorative justice work we have embarked on.
We cannot do any of this without you. Please donate today to ensure that these programs exist and that we can provide a safe and healthy Forest Park for all. Thank you for your commitment to a healthy and protected Forest Park.
With gratitude,
Renée Myers
Executive Director
P.S. Become a member today! Thank you!