Help us build bridges that last
I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Grace Stephens, and I’ve recently become Park County Environmental Council’s first-ever Development Director. My first few months on the job have been humbling. I’ve been blown away by the passion and dedication of every staff member, by the warmth and generosity of new mentors and peers, and by the deep and widespread support PCEC has in Park County.
One of these new mentors recently shared a powerful metaphor for the work we do. He said, “Bridges cannot be built in the middle of the storm. Bridges must be built in advance.” He’s right. Bridges take time, trust, and community.
PCEC builds bridges.
What is a bridge? It is a connection, a way to span a divide. A way to ease a difficult crossing. PCEC builds bridges to a more resilient future. We plant trees and build trails. We advocate for our community and help community members advocate for their values. We connect individuals to their neighbors, to leaders, and to the land.
A bridge is also a commitment. It says we believe in our ability to move from here to there - to span the distance between past, present, and future. A bridge says, as Wendell Berry once put it, "we belong to one another."
PCEC builds bridges.
Traditionally, our final message during Give a Hoot highlights the importance of our partnerships. Without our partners, our work wouldn’t be possible. Without these relationships, our bridges would be flimsy - wooden planks instead of steel and stone. Here are a few local organizations that help us protect Park County’s land, water, wildlife and clean air.
Yellowstone Safe Passages
Livingston Bike Club
Montana Freshwater Partners
Friends of Park County
Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group
Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation
Western Sustainability Exchange
Yellowstone Bend Citizens Council
Gallatin Valley Land Trust
Elk River Arts & Lectures
Lincoln School Foundation
Yellowstone Gateway Museum Foundation
Please consider Giving a Hoot about our partners, too.
Finally, we build bridges with you. Without your support, none of this is possible. These are turbulent, unprecedented times. Protecting the character of Park County requires that we work together.
We are facing a generational moment in conservation.
With your help, we will rise to meet it.