Get ready Triangle — next month, more than 1,800 conservation professionals will be making their way to Rally Raleigh, where they’ll get to see the TLC projects and preserves our supporters made possible.
The Land Trust Alliance (LTA) annual conference, Rally, is the largest annual gathering of conservationists from the United States, Canada, South America and other countries. For the first time, LTA is hosting Rally in North Carolina — and TLC is thrilled to show a national audience our region’s special places we all know and love. From Oct. 15-19, conservationists from around the world will be exploring the area’s many natural spaces, parks and preserves, as well as learning from each other during workshops and sessions at the Raleigh Convention Center.
Over the past year, TLC staff members have volunteered on the host committee with several other North Carolina land trusts to plan a compelling agenda focused on racial equity and inclusion in conservation and climate change. Rally Raleigh will feature field trips, workshops, seminars and networking opportunities. If you’d like to get involved, TLC is seeking volunteers for our table at the Raleigh Convention Center on Oct. 17, 18, and 19. There’s also still time to register for general admission to the event!
LTA first hosted Rally in 1985, and since then, conservationists travel each year to see other land trusts’ projects and preserves. Rally Raleigh features more than 130 educational sessions, and TLC staff and other conservationists will learn about and present topics ranging from building a more inclusive conservation community to innovations in mapping to creating a culture of philanthropy.
TLC will be hosting four sold-out field trips, sharing the work you’ve supported! At Horton Grove Nature Preserve, visitors see the intersection of conservation and racial equity during the “History, Race and Community Conservation” field trip. Others will attend the “Collaboration and Community Conservation: Touring Irvin Farm” field trip, which showcases TLC’s partnerships with the outdoor education program Learning Outside and with Transplanting Traditions, a vocational agricultural program for refugees. TLC is also leading a paddle field trip, “Up the Deep with a Paddle and a Conservationist,” that will stop at White Pines Nature Preserve to discuss how the preserve is evolving to meet community needs in Chatham County. Finally, TLC staff will host LTA President Andrew Bowman and members of the Alliance Board of Directors for a tour of Brumley Nature Preserve.
Staff and TLC board members will be leading several workshops. Board of Directors Chair Mavis Gragg and Vice-Chair Sam Cook are leading two workshops: “Heirs Property: Standing on a Lot of Love” and “A Seat at the Table: Advancing Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion.” Along with LTA’s human resources director Marcia Hickson, TLC Executive Director Sandy Sweitzer and Director of Finance and Administration Ayanna Smith, will be presenting challenges and successes in “Making the Workplace Fair and Inclusive.”
For years, TLC staff members have been attending Rally for its professional development benefits and opportunities to connect with and learn from other conservationists. At the 2016 Rally in Minneapolis, TLC was awarded accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. TLC is honored to be a member of LTA, the national voice of the land trust community. As the national leader in policy, standards, education and training, LTA works passionately to support land trusts so they can save and secure more lands now and for future generations.
How to get involved:
- General admission registration is open until Sept. 23. More information is available here.
- Interested in volunteering? Sign up for tabling shifts on our volunteer page.
