I’ve had a number of sleepless nights over the past few weeks. You might think it’s because of the COVID crisis, or the financial melt-down in our small Sierra towns, or the fires that are literally burning up the state right now. And you’d be right. But underlying all of that is the head-shaking, eye-popping, foot-stomping, heart-wrenching fact that our leaders don’t lead.
Outside of my role on SBC’s Climate and Energy team, I am also a small business owner and actively involved in the fiber arts community of the Sierra Nevada, designing knitting patterns and working with locally produced yarn. Over the years my two worlds – climate planning and knitting – have become increasingly intertwined, thanks to a concept called FIbershed.
This old saying perfectly describes my realization of how special the Independence Trail was for our community. Lighting struck repeatedly throughout the night on August 17th, igniting dry fuel in our foothills refuge of Nevada City and across the state of California.
September is fast approaching, and with it, the six-month mark since the global pandemic brought closures, shelter-in-place orders, and other devastating economic consequences to our Sierra communities and small-business based economies. These are unprecedented times and immense challenges are still to come for small businesses that have already weathered so much uncertainty.
Aug. 24 Panel Discussion Please join us for a virtual panel dicussion: Sustainable Recreation and a Sierra Nevada Recovery The role of public lands and sustainable recreation in a post-COVID
It may seem strange that a climate collaborative is hosting a panel discussion on recreation, economic recovery, and equity. What in the world does any of this have to do with climate change and adaptation? The answer is everything…
When I decided to attend graduate school to study natural resource policy, I didn’t exactly foresee graduating in the midst of a global pandemic. Instead, I imagined harnessing my freshly-gained knowledge to dive straight into a new career where I would build and advocate for resilient ecosystems and communities in the Mountain West.
Communities in the Sierra Nevada have weathered many storms over the years, most recently the local impacts of climate change, catastrophic wildfire, drought and reduced snowpack, Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, wide-sweeping homeowner insurance policy cancellations, closing businesses, and a devastating global pandemic.
What a whirlwind of a service year it has been! When I started back in September I could never have imagined the challenges that would impact my time as a CivicSpark Fellow. A global pandemic, the ensuing recession, and the greatest civil rights movement since the 1960s…
Owning a small business in the Sierra Nevada is tough. Owning a small business in the middle of a pandemic? Even harder.
As co-owner of a small ski/bike shop in South Lake Tahoe, Sierra Ski and Cycle Works, (and SBC project manager of the Lake Tahoe Water Trail), I understand how vital outfitters are to educating the public and supporting our region’s triple bottom line.
