Solutions Start with Collective Visioning

Nearly 300 miles away from home, America enters a new reality.

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY TYLER UNG, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR (OPINION)

Almost three hundred miles from home and too distracted for meaningful rest, the election results hit me like a storm. I refreshed the webpage repeatedly as if my groggy eyes still needed time to adjust. America is entering a new reality.

Oddly enough, all Conservation Northwest staff were together during election week for a work retreat. My first thought the morning of the results was wanting to be home and googling what derealization felt like. It can feel isolating holding values systems that don’t seem reciprocated by our country or feeling helpless against the powers at bay. Why are we often ‘othered’ and defaulted as the opposition instead of potential collaborators?

I stepped outside and watched frozen crystals glistening on the grass as the morning sun broke. The overwhelm and anxiety started melting away as I greeted other staff on my way to the commons. I saw them consoling each other, some listening to political rants, and others distracting themselves with a puzzle we were convinced was missing a piece. Maybe, a sense of belonging was just what I needed.

Despite the divisiveness in America, most communities share the brunt of socioeconomic inequality and injustice. These complex problems require collective visioning, but the political spectrum has become more polarized, masking itself behind a culture war that pedals hatred and differences. This divides pressure and diminishes the advancement of actionable alternatives that would benefit the many, not just the elite few.

A recent bipartisan survey from the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project found that voters in the West are nearly universally in favor of environmental conservation. So how can we work together to get out of this mess? By showing up, seeking facts, and looking for bridges instead of differences.

Seeing staff refocused on what they can control during their work discussions reminded me that we all share the capacity to shoulder more than we think. The intergenerational baggage becomes less of a burden when others help offset the weight. Strong as one, an army as many.

It’s difficult to ignore how natural resource policy will change with the new administration. There are many unknowns, but Conservation Northwest remains committed to protecting, connecting, and restoring our wildlife and wildlands. We’ll advocate for a sustainable future that shifts the narrative from gloom to progress. We see a region that prioritizes healthy ecosystems, and the communities and wildlife that depend on them. Your contributions and support for community-powered organizations like Conservation Northwest help broaden our programs with positive and long-standing impacts.

As your organization, we will show up in every way we can. We’ll continue to practice vigilance, rest when needed, and ground ourselves when a storm hits. It is a long journey ahead with stiff headwinds, but our wings were built for it.