The Lands Council

It's National Public Lands Day! A perfect time to recognize our director of public lands, Adam Gebauer, who works closely with partners such as the Northeast Washington Forest Coalition, the Colville Tribe and others to ensure the health of our regional forests! You can read Adam's columns in Out There Outdoors and learn interesting things about local wildlife and more. #nationalpubliclandsday

We’re #hiring. Looking for our next Climate Justice Program Director! 🌿 Know anyone who might be interested? https://lnkd.in/gu-F3znb

Please consider becoming a member of The Lands Council today! https://lnkd.in/gfZWcKS5 A message from our Executive Director, Amanda Parrish.

🧐 Passionate about climate action but need direction? 💡Seeking tools to turn your climate ideas into action? Join the Climate Catalysts Mentorship Programme brought to you by UN Climate Change's #Youth4Capacity programme and the UNDP Rome Centre Youth4Climate initiative. Over eight weeks of interactive live sessions and discussions you will learn how to: ✅ Tell your story ✅ Unlock your leadership skills ✅ Build a community ✅ Scale your solution ✅ Master policy development ✅ Raise funds Find out more and register today: https://bit.ly/3M1kLsr #InternationalYouthDay

Nearly a month later, The Lands Council staff continues to hear wonderful things about the Legislative Summit we hosted as part of Spokane’s Expo ‘74 50th anniversary! It was an incredible gathering of 350 community members and elected officials discussing how to propose bills that will address needs for our region’s health. Stay tuned for more! pictured: Amanda Parrish, Governor Jay Inslee (and wife Trudi), Naghmana Sherazi Photo by Don Hamilton #environment #legislation #communityhealth

With her sleeves rolled up and wearing a vibrant yellow safety vest, Lacey McKenna leads a group of women on a four-hour expedition deep inside the West Central neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. Carrying shovels and pickaxes, the small group is planting trees. Lacey's crew is part of a larger collective of volunteers who worked to increase Spokane’s urban canopy coverage during the Lands Council SpoCanopy Week. The unique event was part of the overall Expo '74 50th Anniversary celebration. Over the five-day event in May of 2024, hundreds of volunteers planted 782 mature street trees, targeting low-income neighborhoods with the least canopy coverage and disproportionate environmental disparities. In addition to West Central, the week focused on the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood, Spokane Conservation District, and the Appleway Trail. Increasing urban green spaces provides significant environmental, economic and health benefits. A healthy canopy can filter pollutants, lessen the urban heat dome effect and lower energy costs. It further creates a habitat for migratory birds and enhances property value. Each tree location was carefully considered, putting the right tree in the right place to ensure the trees do not interfere with power lines, other utility connections, or sidewalks. Avista championed the week-long event by awarding the Lands Council a Named Communities Investment Fund (NCIF) grant. This crucial funding enabled the nonprofit to develop outreach materials for planting sites, coordinate the event and provide refreshments for the volunteers. “We reached out to Avista because they invest back into the community, especially marginalized communities,” said Jasmine Vilar, Development Director for the Lands Council. The SpoCanopy project represents a collaboration between the Lands Council, the City of Spokane Urban Forestry and the Spokane Conservation District. Avista's Named Communities Investment Fund (NCIF) was approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission as part of the company's Clean Energy Investment Plan (CEIP) to meet compliance targets for the state's Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA, 2019). The NCIF will invest up to $5 million annually in projects, programs, and initiatives that benefit Avista's Washington electric customers residing in historically disadvantaged and vulnerable communities (i.e., "Named Communities"). Community-based projects will be selected for funding through a competitive grant application process. Application information and eligibility guidelines can be found at myavista.com/NCIF.

How are you getting outside this weekend? Learn new routes, new ways, and new perspectives with us!   This Saturday, we're thrilled to offer REI classes on us! Ever dreamed of mastering how to pitch a tent, how to filter water from the backcountry, or how to fix a flat tire? Now's your chance! Join our hands-on workshops led by seasoned guides and partners, equipping you for the ultimate #OptOutside experience. Act fast – only 3 days left to secure your spot. We hope to see you out there! 👉 Sign Up here: rei.com/OptOutsideFreeDay   Offer exclusively on June 15, 2024. Space is limited. Offer valid until capacity is reached.

Our Executive Director, Amanda Parrish, is featured in this story by the Inlander, on the great collaboration taking place in #Spokane among local #environmental nonprofits.

Did you know? City of Spokane’s Expo 50 celebrates the 6 pillars of the original Expo 74 event. One of those pillars is #environmental stewardship, and guess who is leading the collaborative efforts of nearly 60 environmental partners? The Lands Council's own Executive Director Amanda Parrish! Hats off to Amanda for her hard work in this monumental endeavor.

We are hiring! We have 2 summer internships that are currently hiring - both are a great way to spend your summer outdoors, while learning more about our local environment. 🌲 Check them out: Field Restoration Technician: https://lnkd.in/gURbHC3d Outreach Specialist: https://lnkd.in/gt8BRv6E