Speakers:
Stephanie Maez – Managing Director, The Outdoor Foundation
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser
Key Takeaways:
1. Through the Healthy Youth, Strong Communities Fund and other initiatives Colorado is making headway on building unique public/private partnerships in service to mental health, juvenile justice, and the transformative benefits of the outdoors.
2. We have an opportunity to learn from this model and incorporate elements of it in other states and with other potential nontraditional partnerships.
3. The judicial system and the public sector have an important role to play when it comes to addressing equity barriers to the outdoors for underserved communities and opportunity youth. We must proactively engage policymakers and government administrators to identify opportunities for partnership in programs and overarching systems change work.
4. The Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Initiative awards multi-year, capacity-building grants to diverse communities to build and strengthen networks that provide children and families with repeat and reinforcing experiences in the outdoors. To get involved with the program, contact us. You can also donate directly.
