Readying for Rally

At the Land Trust Alliance, we own the responsibility to help create an equitable, inclusive and welcoming land conservation sector that recognizes and values the leadership, expertise and voices of those who have been systematically excluded and marginalized in the sector — particularly Black, Indigenous and people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.

This should also be true at our events, where we seek to provide engaging learning experiences, connect people to each other and to relevant information, and highlight expertise in land conservation and related sectors.

In the wake of an incident at last year’s Rally, where a presenter made a harmful, racist remark that disparaged Indigenous peoples’ expertise, knowledge and history as stewards of land, and disrespected their relationships with the land, we noted that  words matter.

And we also know that when responding to instances of racism, oppression and exclusion, words are not enough. Change requires action.

This incident also brought to light other instances of harm that occurred at the event, including microaggressions against Indigenous attendees and other people of color. We received many other reports onsite and, in the weeks afterward, from attendees whose Rally experiences were unwelcoming, unsafe and alienating. Together, this feedback illuminated the need for action to create safer and more welcoming space for learning.

With Rally registration now open, we are taking action to create that safer and more welcoming space and a more inclusive learning experience — with your help and participation. In the end, it’s not just the Alliance, but the broader land conservation sector, that will need to commit to and undertake necessary learning and growth.

Since Rally 2023, we have engaged in a process of deep listening and reflection on events and our commitments to Black, Indigenous and communities of color. Our process has included facilitated dialogue, small group and 1:1 conversations and email exchanges.

We have hired two consultants: Golden Bricks Events, an event production company addressing diversity, equity and inclusion in the outdoors, and Rosemarie Rossetti, a disability inclusion expert and universal design and accessibility consultant. Together, we are examining and adapting many aspects of Rally, including:

• Revising our Code of Conduct and continuing to add details based on additional input to ensure all Rally attendees are aware of expectations for a safe and welcoming event.

• Establishing new event protocols, including a reporting and response process for Code of Conduct violations and principles for engagement for all Rally attendees.

• Providing bystander intervention training to Alliance staff and Rally volunteers prior to Rally so that they are better prepared to support on-site response.

• Incorporating new facility, event and space considerations including physical accessibility and improved affinity spaces for people to gather and find community within the larger Rally.

• Engaging expertise and leadership by inviting greater input into the Rally program through expanding program review committees and the local host committee, more prominently and equitably recognizing the contributions of Black, Indigenous and other people of color, LGBTQIA+ people and people with disabilities to the Rally program and planning, and reaching out to local Tribal government(s) earlier in planning to discuss how they may be interested in engaging in the program.

• Developing guidelines for workshops and seminars that require presenters to center communities they are speaking about in their sessions — essentially, “nothing about us without us” — and providing resources for presenters to help them develop more inclusive and welcoming sessions.

• Expanding voices on the plenary stage to provide more prominent space for new voices and illustrate the Alliance’s values.

The actions outlined above are in various stages of completion, and we strive to have them in place by the time of Rally.

It is both essential and just that we together build a sector that centers and celebrates the experiences and expertise of everyone who shares a deep relationship with and love for the land. We appreciate that this is a long-term effort and that there is more work ahead. We look forward to growing our commitments in partnership with all of you.

Improving the Rally experience for those who have not felt safe and welcomed in the past is one essential step toward realizing that vision, and we are grateful for your support, patience and grace as we seek to learn and grow together.

We look forward to seeing you in Providence.