The Outdoor Alliance hired Taylor Rogers as its new Grasstops Advocacy Director.
Rogers will reportedly guide/train the first group of 20 members in the Grassroots Collective to “build relationships with policymakers/staff to advocate for conservation priorities; on conservation-based advocacy skills, including building relationships with policymakers/staff; identify opportunities for other in their community to advocate for public lands and outdoor recreation; and legislative terminology and process.
The program intends for graduates to “advocate for conservation and recreation policy for years to come.”
“There are many engaged individuals committed to public land and outdoor recreation advocacy, and this program aims to help amplify their efforts through their larger networks,” said Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “We see this program as a means for generating a ripple effect in the outdoor community that inspires more people to pair their adventure pursuits with civic engagement.”
The first 20 members represent a cross-section of the U.S. with various backgrounds, outdoor recreation pursuits and leadership roles, including leaders of local climbing organizations, executive directors of mountain bike, recreation, and trail running organizations, Indigenous leaders, outdoor business leaders, and a 10th-generation West Virginian.
Rogers has worked in policy and advocacy “targeting decision-makers from local city councils to global leaders,” most recently having worked as the senior legislative aid for a Colorado state senator. The Outdoor Alliance also reported that Rogers completed a master’s in development studies specializing in “Power, Participation and Social Change” from the University of Sussex in England, centering her career around “facilitation, community building and volunteer engagement.”
“Grasstops leaders are unique for their meaningful voices in their communities, whether in business, nonprofit or local government. They are the unofficial mayors who know everyone at the crag, trailhead or put-in,” said Rogers. “I’m very excited to help coordinate Outdoor Alliance’s first-ever Grasstops Collective cohort and help train these grasstops leaders on outdoor policy and advocacy so they can move the needle on conservation, recreation and climate policy.”
Image courtesy Outdoor Alliance
