Tending the Landscape – Growing and Diversifying the Environment and Public Policy Collaborative Field

January 24, 2012

Click here to view the webinar recording.

Click here to view essays by panelists.

This free session explored the meaning of, and opportunities and challenges associated with, growing and diversifying the field of environment and public policy collaboration. Growing the field means more than increasing our workload, and adding diversity means more than bringing on people from more diverse backgrounds and cultures. 

The session focused on:

• Initiating this important conversation;
• What we mean by ‘growth’ and 'diversity’;
• Opportunities and challenges; and
• Setting the stage for future conversations on growth and diversity in the field.

The questions of growing and diversifying the field can also be about maturing the field and diversifying our ways of thinking about why we do this work, for whose benefit, and with what goals.  Identifying a clear path forward demands a field-wide discussion on how we can grow and develop.

Specific questions explored during the webinar include:

• What do growth and diversity mean for our field?
• How can our field grow while maintaining core values of collaboration?
• How are the practices and tools of the field evolving to respond to changing needs and demands?
• What are tangible and easy-to-implement strategies for growing and diversifying our field? 
• What are more long-term approaches to growth and diversification? 
• What do we need to do differently in our practice or as practitioners to develop strategic alliances that do not exist today, that will open up new markets for our skills?

With this webinar, ACR EPP initiated a robust dialogue about these and other key questions that will be continued at the May 21, 2012 ACR EPP conference in Tucson, AZ.

The webinar was free, but advacne registration was required to obtain connection instructions. Thanks to RESOLVE for donating the technology support for this event. We look forward to your attendance. 

The session featured the following panelists:

Frank Dukes, Lecturer and Director of the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia. Frank has worked as a mediator and consensus builder around the country on projects involving environment and land use, community development, education and health. He is currently working on issues of environment and development in Virginia's coalfields and the Chesapeake Bay. He also leads an initiative titled "University and Community Action for Racial Equity" (www.ucareva.org) to understand and directly confront the legacy of slavery and segregation involving the University of Virginia and surrounding communities. He has written several books despite no evidence that anyone actually reads them and is currently months behind on his latest publications.

Don Edwards, the founder, CEO and principal of Justice and Sustainability Associates in Washington, DC, is a process designer and facilitator-mediator specializing in land-use planning and development. In varying capacities, Don also works to advance the “Rio Agenda”. He is also an adjunct lecturer at the Heller School, Brandeis University and the School of Architecture, Pratt Institute. When Don’s not working, he’s trying to be a conscientious son, nephew, brother, cousin, partner, father, grandfather, uncle, godfather and sailor.

Sarah Palmer, Senior Program Manager at the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, is responsible for coordinating the Native American and Alaska Native Environmental Program. This national program focuses on intergovernmental collaboration and dispute resolution of natural and cultural resource matters between federal agencies and Native American and Alaska Native tribes. Sarah is also responsible for the initial development and funding of the Native Dispute Resolution Network; a roster of highly qualified dispute resolution practitioners working on Native American issues. The Network development and administration team is now led by Milton Bluehouse, Jr.

The session was moderated by:

Kevin Bryan, Senior Mediator at Meridian Institute, has spent the last several years working with other professionals to design, convene, and facilitate multiparty problem-solving interactions to resolve public policy problems of mutual interest.  His project expertise spans several areas of interest, particularly climate change and energy policy.  Most recently, Kevin has helped guide policy discussions and analysis for coalitions focused on climate and energy legislation and policy, public infrastructure investment, and sustainable consumption.