Community Development
Efforts to preserve the abundant natural, historical, and cultural resources in Alabama’s Black Belt are gaining momentum, as evidenced by the region’s recent designation as a National Heritage Area and other exciting developments. Our Civil Rights People and Places initiative is also fueled by this energy, and we’re collaborating with partners in cities and rural communities across the Black Belt to protect important Civil Rights sites, share the area’s history and find opportunities for economic growth.
Few states have done more to conserve land than California. In the last 20 years alone, California voters have approved more than $20 billion to fund land conservation, which private and public partners have used to protect more than 1.5 million acres of land throughout the state. During that same period, The Conservation Fund, working with local, state and federal partners, has protected more than 200,000 acres in California. This important work continues with projects like Pogo Park’s Harbour-8 Park in Richmond, California.
Mikki Sager’s impact on The Conservation Fund and the communities in North Carolina cannot be overstated. As she retires after three decades with us, we reflect on how her work with Resourceful Communities, a program she helped launch, has authentically woven social justice into our approach to conservation.
During the month of June, celebrations of LGBTQ+ Pride fill cities and towns across the country. Beyond the rainbow flags and festivities, it is important to recognize the history of how and why Pride month exists. We are sharing this history and spotlighting organizations working to ensure nature is an equitable, welcoming place for all because we too share that hope.
Freetown Farm in Maryland is a small farm with a big vision. Seeing the farm’s potential and a unique opportunity for community education, food production, and sustainable environmental practices, The Conservation Fund provided Community Ecology Institute with a bridge loan to help them purchase the farm in the Summer of 2019 and secure their future. Now, CEI’s executive director Chiara D’Amore shares their progress over the past year, and what amazing things they’ve accomplished for their community.
The COVID-19 Pandemic is dramatically changing the American landscape with immediate and long-term impacts. For gateway and rural communities, economic drivers are at a virtual standstill. Cities and towns all over the country are left asking, “What should our community do now?”
The Conservation Fund’s 2019 Charles Jordan Intern sought to tackle a highly important yet unfortunately overlooked aspect of America’s history: the documentation and preservation of African American and Indigenous burial sites. The Fund is proud of all Da-Mosi M. Brown-Gorham has accomplished to date, and we look forward to following his work as a historic cemetery preservationist.
Years ago, the vitality of Hayesville—a small, rural town in the southwest corner of North Carolina and the county seat of Clay County—was fading. Then a small group of volunteers known as the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association (CCCRA) came together and used the community’s unique culture, history and heritage to bring their hometown back to life.
As Hurricane Dorian threatens the entire southeastern coast, we are reminded that the need for preparedness and strong partnerships is essential in all communities—including rural, low-income communities and communities of color that are often excluded from traditional recovery efforts. A recent gathering hosted by The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities program brought together hurricane survivors, grassroots organizers and government officials to collaborate on how to make hurricane recovery efforts more efficient and inclusive.
In April 2019—nine years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill—The Conservation Fund, elected officials and numerous partners celebrated a recent success: the conservation of critical land, water and wildlife at the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge along the Alabama Gulf Coast. By ensuring this land remains protected, the surrounding coastal ecosystems will support at-risk habitats, local tourism and business development.
Having practical farming knowledge and skills increases the opportunities for formerly incarcerated people to find stable jobs and economic success upon reintegration. There are a variety of ways in which The Conservation Fund assists beginning farmers, and Peg shares with us the details on initiatives designed to protect the land while building healthier food systems and offering productive jobs in West Virginia.
