The Power of Personal Relationships

I’ve always believed that the hard work of building community and creating collaboration begins with personal relationships. I had a powerful reminder of this truth in March, when I joined Erik Stegman, CEO of Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP), in Los Angeles, where he spoke at his alma mater, the UCLA School of Law. The energy in the room was palpable as Erik shared his story, and his passion for community, and I could feel the roomful of future lawyers absorbing the importance of human connections. The next day, our good friend and partner Juan Martinez, Senior Program Manager at the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions, took us on an L.A. taco tour, an excursion that brought out Juan’s pride in his hometown, and made the three of us more closely bonded than ever. Right now, Fresh Tracks Action, Native Americans in Philanthropy, and the Center for Native American Youth are partnering together to create pathways for Indigenous youth to lead and build networks through community investment with Interwoven Futures and they all define the LBC Action value of building partnerships that generate positive social change. By bringing together leaders who share a clear, common purpose, we stay true to what really matters: real, tangible outcomes for our communities. It is an honor and joy to support leaders who are making such an impact in our communities.

– Martin LeBlanc, Principal & Founder, LBC Action

Welcome New Partners

We are excited to be providing executive advising services for CNAY Executive Director Tracy L. Canard Goodluck and supporting CNAY’s mission to improve the health, safety and overall well-being of Native American Youth.

We will be partnering with Joni Carswell, CEO and President of Texan by Nature, to foster new investments in the nationwide movement to connect people to public lands. Texan by Nature is the fiscal sponsor of the Nature and Health Alliance.

We will be advising TPL Associate Vice President and Northwest Director Mitsu Iwasaki in his efforts to expand organizational impact through collaboration and partnership.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

Blue Star Families Testifies for Veterans

In March, LBC Action partner Lindsay Knight, PhD, Chief Impact Officer of Blue Star Families, provided testimony to the Joint Hearing of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. The BSF team advocated for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Program, for the enactment of the Building Readiness and Integration for Dependents Going to Civilian Environments Act, and for enactment of the Building Readiness and Integration for Dependents Going to Civilian Environments Act, which would allow combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of service to receive their full Department of Defense (DoD) retirement pay and Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation concurrently, eliminating the current “offset” that reduces their pay.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BLUE STAR FAMILIES

Shawna Rosenzweig at SXSW EDU

LBC Action partner Shawna Rosenzweig, President of Camp Fire, moderated two panel discussions at SXSW EDU. In the first session, Screen Time vs. Green Time: Reimagine Play in a Digital Age, leaders from Outward Bound USA, Playworks, Children’s Funding Project, and Camp Fire explored the growing imbalance between screen time and time outdoors for kids today—and how increasing “green time” can support mental health, focus, creativity, and overall development. In the second session, leaders from the National Indian Education Association and The Annie E. Casey Foundation examined how stress, anxiety, and a lack of belonging contribute to student disengagement, and how solutions centered on rest, youth voice and choice, and emotionally safe environments can help re-engage young people.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CAMP FIRE

Steve Smith Releases Book on Safety Science for Outdoor and Experiential Education Programs

Congratulations to LBC Action Partner Steve Smith, Founder of Experiential Consulting, on the release of his latest book, Safety Science for Outdoor & Experiential Education. Using case studies, personal stories, models, and targeted questions, the book distills the last century of safety science research into a coherent and engaging story, and then applies those concepts to outdoor and experiential education programs with an eye to the future. Related online trainings, which have been used by LBC Action partners Blue Star Families, Wilderness Inquiry, and Camp Fire, offer further opportunities for organizations to learn alongside and with each other about the most current research and practices in risk management.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOOK