On Sunday, April 18, 2010 Sustainable Northwest and 27 of our partners will join as the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC). We will talk to Congress, the Administration, agency decision-makers, and interest group leaders about the actions our nation needs to take and investments we need to make to protect the legacy and future of the land and communities that define the American West. I can't wait.

I became interested in civic engagement early on in life. Growing up in New York City, I attended Camp Thoreau for two months every summer to escape the city, experience nature, and experience the safety and freedom that urban kids just can’t access. Not only did I learn about nature, I learned how it felt to have snacks rationed so we could understand the economic disparity around the world and how that contributed to hunger (denying 10 year-olds their afternoon cookie and bug juice is very powerful). I sometimes think about those experiences when I'm in D.C. and realize it is part of why I believe that to take care of people we must take care of the natural resources that sustain us; environmental degradation and poverty are too often partners in crime.

I organize the first of these trips to our nation's Capitol nine years ago. A handful of us scraped together the money for plane fare, hotels and taxis, not sure if sure anyone would listen or if it would make any difference. But we went anyway and talked to everyone and anyone that would meet with us. I learned that a big part of democracy is about showing up, about telling the truth, and trying to solve problems in ways that will meet the needs of many.

This year the Western Week in Washington has representatives from 11 States, we have 88 confirmed meetings (and expect to add a handful more once we arrive), and a coordinated agenda. We will be advancing solutions that help us to create green jobs, adapt to climate change, generate renewable energy, restore and steward our rangelands and forests, invest in our public and private forestland, and re-build the capacity of rural communities to be part of and lead in these solutions. 

We've come a long way in the past nine years. We've been called the most effective advocate for rural policy in the country. Each year is different and each year is exciting and I'm looking forward to what we can accomplish this year.  I hope you'll track our work over this week and learn a bit more about our platform this year.