Diversifying Alabama’s Environmental Movement A targeted diversification path for With support from: Environmental Support Center

What we do: Our purpose is to protect and restore Alabama’s rivers. To do to achieve healthy rivers, healthy people, and a healthy system of government for the state of Alabama. Advocate smart water policy Organize at the grassroots level Teach citizens how they can protect their water

About us (Alabama): Alabama has 77,000 miles of streams and rivers with more types of plants and animals living in its lakes, rivers, and streams than any other state in the nation. However, we also have one of the highest extinction rates in North America, many of which are species that live in our rivers. Alabama’s precious water resources currently face many threats. Cahaba Lily or Shoals Spider Lily c. Beth Young From apathy to improper enforcement of environmental regulations to the lack of planning and policy to ensure sustainable water for the future, our community is tasked with protecting the waters of the state for the health of the people and the life therein, or else we risk losing natural treasures that we can never retrieve.

The Alabama Rivers Alliance was formed out of the efforts of its predecessor – the Alabama State Rivers Coalition. The Alabama State Rivers Coalition was formed in 1993 and led by the Cahaba River Society, Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club, Lake Watch of Lake Martin, Alabama Citizen Action, Friends of the Locust Fork River, and the Alabama Environmental Council. Our History (Alabama Rivers Alliance) Sunset on the Delta c. Beth Young

Healthy Watersheds to improve water quality. Flowing Waters to promote natural flow regimes that protect riverine ecosystems. Advocate smart water policy Watershed Leadership to protect clean, healthy waters working directly and in cooperation with local groups. Organize at the grassroots level All 3 Programs: Watershed Leadership, Healthy Watersheds and Flowing waters. Teach citizens how they can protect their water Our Programs (Alabama Rivers Alliance)

Watershed Leadership My program at ARA-networking, education, outreach, and support The idea of diversification needs to be pursued: –From my very first on the job training –To the funding push for our annual educational event –And the Need for New supporters

Diversity Not a new idea With the advent of Environmental Justice, there was a joint push to reform our state agency ARA’s first effort was ADEM Reform Coalition

ADEM Reform Coalition Common ground- the state agency, ADEM, not doing it’s job Success recruiting and gathering a representative leadership to the table Plan of Action- Following the first ADEM Reform Summit in 2002, the ARC developed a Blueprint for ADEM Reform. “The Blueprint” was agreed upon and created by all.

Successes and Challenges Success recruiting and gathering a diverse leadership Everyone at the table, church groups, social justice groups, environmental justice groups, environmental groups- air, water Meeting culture differences pushed new groups out, facilitation style, setting, comfort level Tension between staffed and unstaffed, rural and urban Un-sustained, key diverse groups lost funding and leadership Big Policy Changes, lack of interim victories

2010: A Targeted Diversification Path Seeking full and meaningful participation with community partners and partner organizations Linking solutions to environmental degradation to basic justice A conscious effort toward making inclusion and representation a part of everything we do, including updating ARA’s strategic plan

Diversity Focus: Watershed Leadership Conference –Started with an existing educational event- our largest educational event –1 st ADEM Reform Summit was at a WLC –11 th year of conference “We have the same people come year after year. What happens when we tire?”

2009 Age Diversification of Existing Event Broader Appeal through increased use of social media- “hipping it up” –College Environmental Forum or Caucus Broader appeal through topics offered, Bring in new presenters and partners –Tie in with faith based groups, Interfaith –Tie in with political groups, Empower Alabama –Tie in with International Group, Global Water Watch Accessibility- Scholarships to College Students –Subsidized participation

VIDEO CLIP College Environmental Forum

2010 Targeted Diversification: Building Leaders and Membership through Existing Event Continued use of social media- “hipping it up” -Urban Setting, moving out of the woods –Strengthening partnerships from College Setting, Troy University Brought in new presenters and partners for a broader appeal in the topics offered –Featuring leaders of other social change movements: Alabama Arise, Sustainable Agriculture Network, United Mountain Defense

Conference poster Numeric results 1/3 attendees new Feedback from the conference

What now- how do we do it all year round –Board member to seminar/retreat –Building relationships, building leaders –Maintaining these new and old connections with visits, dialog on future initiatives: joint and separate –Making inclusion and diversity a part of everything we do –Continued training- River Rally! Focus of Watershed Support Network is diversity –Share the love, spread the message Take this message to our board Pass this understanding along to our 60 groups around the state