Conservation Leadership

PCEC aims to build a local environmental movement that is equitable, inclusive and diverse. We elevate the voices of underrepresented people that are often the most impacted by environmental threats.

Our Program Goals:

→ PCEC works with local partners and community members to identify emerging threats facing our community. PCEC staff listen and support community-driven conservation objectives. 

→ PCEC educates, supports and empowers emerging leaders to be: knowledgeable, influential, and confident in their efforts to find solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our community and environment.

→ PCEC staff, board and volunteers build deep relationships and stand shoulder-to-shoulder on important issues impacting our community even when they may not be clearly identified as “environmental issues” (for example access to decision-making, equal representation, and providing mutual aid in times of community crisis).

Our Ongoing Initiatives: 

  • Park High Green Initiative

  • Crazy Mountain Oral History Project

  • Barbara Hays Fellowship

  • AmeriCorps NCCC and VISTA community capacity building

  • High School Internships 

Montana's First Youth Climate Summit: Inspiring Action & Lasting Change

Our local Green Initiative students at the first ever Montana Youth Climate Summit, held in Livingston in 2023.

In 2023, students from across Montana made history at the state's first-ever Youth Climate Summit. Organized by the Park High Green Initiative with support from PCEC, this groundbreaking event empowered young people to become climate leaders. The summit featured inspiring speakers like Dr. Cathy Whitlock and Dr. Steven Running, engaging workshops, and powerful stories from the Held v. Montana plaintiffs. The energy and passion from this event continue to inspire action and drive positive change in our community.

Amplifying Voices, Building Resilience: The Crazy Mountains Oral History Project

The Crazy Mountains Oral History Project amplifies diverse voices to build a more resilient and inclusive approach to conservation in the Crazy Mountains. Led by oral historian Francine Spang-Willis and supported by PCEC, this initiative recognizes that human stories are crucial to understanding our relationship with the natural world. These stories inform conservation strategies that truly reflect the needs and values of all stakeholders. Learn more about this important initiative here Learn more about this important initiative here.

 

Francine Spang-Willis, Erica Lighthiser, and Sarah Stands at a field visit at North Bridger Bison.

 

Barbara Hays Fellowship

 

Barbara Hays. Photo courtesy John Heidke

 

In 2022, we expanded our conservation leadership program by developing the Barbara Hays Fellowship, thanks to the generosity of PCEC member John Heidke.

We worked to create the fellowship in honor of Barbara Hays, an active PCEC supporter, volunteer and John’s late wife. She helped us launch our Boomerang Bags program by sewing reusable bags to fill the racks at local grocery stores. Before giving her time to PCEC, Barbara had a successful career in marketing and advertising. She was energetic and free-spirited and knew right away upon her first visit to the area with John that Park County would be their next home. From then on, she devoted herself to giving back to the local community.

The Hays Fellowship is a one-year, interdisciplinary, mentored fellowship program focused on community service and leadership development. The fellowship builds upon and expands our Conservation Leadership program, helping provide capacity to address our most complex problems, while receiving technical assistance and support from PCEC staff. In addition, John provides leadership training and mentoring, developed during his long career as a leadership coach, to build the skills and confidence needed to become one of our next generation of leaders. 

The goal of the program is to prepare the next generation of leaders to: 

  • Build their skills and knowledge working on real-life projects and issues;

  • Become culturally sensitive and compassionate leaders;

  • Understand the impact of environmental issues on our, or any, community;

  • To help develop ways to mitigate and adapt to the the impacts of climate change;

  • Engage the local community on issues of importance to them; 

  • Work collaboratively and across disciplines in pursuit of a common goal;

  • Exercise leadership skills to work with and influence community-based organizations, community leaders, local decision-makers and community members.

Our first Hays Fellow was Katherine Fazekas who worked with us in 2022 and 2023. We now welcome Joanna Massier as our second Hays Fellow. Both serve a dual role as a Hays Fellow and an Americorps VISTA working with PCEC and the local community on developing a climate resiliency planning framework.

 

Barbara and John. Photo courtesy John Heidke