Exhaling

The Puyallup Watershed Initiative conference ended yesterday after two incredible days of  Not only were we able to hear from each of the six collaboratives about how their programs have been progressing over this past year, but we also got started on planning the future of the Initiative, and how we expect to grow it from here. Participants were involved in round-table facilitated discussions related to the role that equity and social justice need to play in our environmental decisions going forward, something that will be a focus as this next year unfolds.

Russell Family Foundation board members were in the audience both days and they had good things to say about what they were seeing from the Initiative’s efforts so far. Representatives from each of the collaboratives shared personal stories about how their experiences have been shaped by their association with the cooperative opportunities that we are putting together and the other speakers added inspiration as well as tactical advice for the road ahead.

The concept of cross-pollination between COIs was one of the main takeaways for everyone involved, something that holds an incredible amount of promise for the years ahead. If you couldn’t make it to this gathering, make a point of finding someone who did and ask them about it. It was a motivational experience and that enthusiasm is certain to carry through to the next phase of this project.