Outdoor Alliance announced the hiring of Taylor Rogers as its new grasstops advocacy director. Rogers will guide 20 members of the first cohort of the Grasstops Collective, a leadership and advocacy development program that trains grasstops advocates to build relationships with policymakers while advocating for conservation priorities.
The Grasstops Collective will train community leaders on conservation-based advocacy skills such as building meaningful relationships with decision-makers, including policymakers and their staff; identifying opportunities for others in their community to advocate for public lands and outdoor recreation; and legislative terminology and process. Advocates who graduate from the program will go on to advocate for conservation and recreation policy for years to come.
“There are many engaged individuals committed to public land and outdoor recreation advocacy, and this program aims to help amplify their efforts through their larger networks,” said Outdoor Alliance CEO, Adam Cramer. “We see this program as a means for generating a ripple effect in the outdoor community that inspires more people to pair their adventure pursuits with civic engagement.”
This cohort of 20 grasstops advocates come from across the country, with various
backgrounds, outdoor recreation pursuits and leadership roles, including leaders of local
climbing organizations, executive directors of mountain bike, recreation and trail running
organizations, indigenous leaders and a outdoor business leaders.
Rogers has worked in policy and advocacy, targeting decision-makers from local city councils to global leaders, most recently having worked as the senior legislative aide for a Colorado state senator. She completed a master’s in development studies specializing in power, participation and social change from the University of Sussex in England, and has centered her career around facilitation, community building and volunteer engagement.
“Grasstops leaders are unique for their meaningful voices in their communities, whether in business, nonprofit, or local government. They are the unofficial mayors who know everyone at the crag, trailhead or put-in,” said Rogers. “I’m very excited to help coordinate Outdoor Alliance’s first-ever Grasstops Collective cohort and help train these grasstops leaders on outdoor policy and advocacy, so they can move the needle on conservation, recreation, and climate policy.”
Those interested in involvement in Outdoor Alliance’s advocacy work can sign up to learn more here.
