Going back to Cali
EPI Advancement Director reconnects with her roots and finds inspiration
Today I head to San Francisco to reconnect with my roots, as well as many of EPI’s students, supporters, and board. Scott and I started EPI 9 years ago in Oakland, with the support of many of our friends and family based there. Although we moved EPI’s WHQ to Missoula, Montana 6 years ago, it’s always a pleasure to return to the Bay Area for our annual fundraiser and reconnect with the people and the energy of this great place.
Wednesday night is EPI’s annual fundraising event at Gallery 16 – a sweet space that will showcase a diverse array of donated auction items with the gallery’s current exhibition of Deborah Oropallo as a setting. It should be a stellar evening!
I always take advantage of my time in the Bay Area to get inspired by new ideas, though it’s been a particularly inspiring month in Montana, with several national thought leaders visiting our state:
- environmental historian Dr. Rodrick Nash – see my post yesterday
- Dr. J Nichols’ presented the EcoDaredevil Awards in Butte – Missoula local and EPI-participating teacher Kathleen Kennedy won!
- Heather McLeod Grant, author of the best non profit leadership book I’ve read: Forces for Good.
While in SF I’ll be meeting with Charmaine Ess at Room to Read, an outstanding, fast-growth educational organization that builds schools and libraries in developing countries in Asia and now Africa. The head of their girls’ scholarship program, Emily Leys, is on EPI’s board of directors and Room to Read serves as a role model and mentor for EPI. Hopefully I’ll get some new ideas and perspective on how to create systemic change in environmental education for high school youth, in Latin America and here in the U.S.
If you’re in the Bay Area, I hope to see you at tonight’s fundraiser!