Expanding Outreach de la Organizacion LandPaths

Magdalena Ridley, Bilingual Programs Coordinator

Craig Anderson, Executive Director

Bay Area Open Space Annual Conference 2011

“Diversity Initiative”

BAOSC & State Coastal Conservancy

Working with three CBO’s

1. Are our organizations relevant to our culturally diverse communities?

2. How do we need to change to do better?

LandPaths’ – “Land Partners Through Stewardship” – Mission

Fostering a love of the land

LandPaths’ provides nature-based opportunities in Sonoma County

These experiences are the building blocks for thriving communities that act with nature in mind

1 - Public access

2 - Field Education

3 - Land Stewardship

LandPaths’ – “Land Partners Through Stewardship” – Mission

Fostering a love of the land

LandPaths Beginning

Sonoma County Ag Preservation & Open Space District

14 staff

30+ core volunteers

Strong Landowner Relationships

Public Agencies

LandPaths’ Mission

What this looks like on the Ground – day trips

• Permit program• Kiosks• Map / brochure• Other

DRAFT Willow Creek Interim Map – Version 2.3

Manage Public Access at Two County Open Space

Preserves

Taylor MountainHealdsburg Ridge

Stewards of our own Land

LandPaths’ Mission

What this looks like on the Ground – Hut-to-Hut

1. Healthy Land Exists

2. People Have Access to healthy land

3. People Need Inspiration to act

4. People Need Knowledge about how to act

Conditions for Success

What Four Things must be in place

Offer program entirely in Spanish!

Advertise in local bilingual newspaper

PSA’s on major Spanish-language radio stations…

Only 3 hikers showed up…

1. We were not reaching “whole”

community

2. Diversity Initiative – change at all

levels

3. 67% children in school-based

program

Conditions for Success

What we Learned

Create a Farm - based Park

1. Invest staff, ideas and $$ to underserved, urban area

2. Honor agricultural history, grow local, nutritious food

3. Green space for diversity of people to gather over farming and food

4. Address urban issues with what we “sell” – relationship to land

5. Inspire tomorrow’s leaders and work force to care for Land

City Wants New Park – No $$

LandPaths’ Bayer Farm August 9,

2007

August 10, 2007

Barriers are Everywhere – and often we never even notice they are there

Challenging Assumptions

• Latinos Not Interested in Outdoors• I never See Them at REI• They Only Want Parties• It’s Open – If They Were

Interested, They Would Come• Everybody Should Already Know

About It

Bay Area Open Space Annual Conference 2011

How you love natureIs not always how I love nature

That’s not a bad thing – that’s diversity

LandPaths’ Bayer Farm

Community Events

Accessible

LandPaths’ Bayer Farm

Voice and Access

LandPaths’ Bayer Farm

Dignity of Responsibility

Bayer Farm - Portal

• Invest Resources• Build Relationship• Become Trusted

Partner• Common Ground

Bay Area Open Space Annual Conference 2011

Spanish-Language Outings

• Modeled after Existing English-Language Programs

• Participation between 30-60 each outing• Increased from 1x/Quarter to 1x/Month

Bay Area Open Space Annual Conference 2011

• Family OutingsKids Included!

• Design Program for Intended Audience

Prepare for Success

• Yes, it is Different• But, it’s the Same

Bay Area Open Space Annual Conference 2011

Values

• How Do We Uphold Them?

• Justice, Land, Friendship• Self-Evaluation• Same Value, Different

Expression

Bay Area Open Space Annual Conference 2011

Expanding Outreach de la Organizacion LandPaths

Magdalena Ridley, magdalena@landpaths.org

Craig Anderson, craig@landpaths.org

Bay Area Open Space Annual Conference 2011