The Land Trust Alliance has launched the Plains and Peaks Communicators Network to strengthen land trust communications capacity across the Southwest and Southern plains. This peer network offers free, flexible access to trainings and learning opportunities on strategic communications, social media marketing, volunteer engagement, fundraising communications and more to Alliance members and affiliate organizations.

The Southwest and Southern plains regions are on the front lines of booming population growth, rising energy demand, AI data centers, climate change and the loss of agricultural land. Despite these challenges, land trusts are conserving the region’s iconic landscapes from the rocky mesas and high deserts to the swaying prairies and our life-sustaining rivers. From the plains to the peaks, land trusts are conserving some of our country’s most beloved regions. The Plains and Peaks Communicators Network will help tell that story.

Would you like to receive updates and notifications about the Plains and Peaks Communicators Network? Please fill out the short form below! If you have any questions, please reach out to Terry Hendrick at thendrick@lta.org.

About the network

Initially launched as the Texas Communicators Network in 2023, this peer network is expanding its reach across the Southwest and Southern plains to provide communications and marketing professionals in the region with peer networking, professional development, and leadership opportunities.

The Plains and Peaks Communicators Network will explore the intersecting skillsets of strategic communications, social media marketing, volunteer engagement, fundraising communications and more. Past meeting topics include:

  • Communicating climate change.

  • Social media best practices.

  • Utilizing volunteers in communications.

  • Working with media partners.

  • Understanding audiences and target markets.

Land trust staff of all experience levels and focus areas are welcome to attend. The Network will meet on a quarterly basis and is coordinated by Alliance staff with support from participants.

Meetings will take place from 1:00-2:30 p.m. Central Time on these dates:

June 18, 2026

  •  Our June gathering will include an overview of the network’s purpose, a chance to connect with peers, and a presentation from Jill Schwartz, The Nature Conservancy’s director of marketing and communications, North America policy and climate mitigation. During the session, Jill will talk about some of the stories and data TNC is using. Storytelling that tugs at the heart strings is a proven tactic for influencing policy makers. So is data, like factoids from research papers or results from polling. The order in which these tactics are used is important. The mantra is, “Story first. Data second.” TNC is using both tactics, in that order, to influence decisions in the United States related to federal and state policies and funding.

    Jill Schwartz is The Nature Conservancy’s marketing and communications director for policy and climate mitigation in North America. Over the past 30 years, she has worked on marketing and communications for several environmental nonprofit organizations — primarily World Wildlife Fund and American Farmland Trust.

Aug. 27, 2026

Oct. 22, 2026

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