Bolton Landing, NY – The Lake George Land Conservancy’s (LGLC) NextGen Committee has partnered with YMCA Camp Chingachgook to offer a unique look at issues of equity and inclusivity in and around the Adirondack Park.

On Friday, March 10, Camp Chingachgook will open its grounds to the public for an important discussion with the community. The talk, “Equity in Land Conservation and Recreation,” begins at 5:30 p.m., with guests encouraged to arrive early for drinks and an opportunity to walk to camp grounds. The panel is composed of Rocci Aguirre of the Adirondack Council, Pete Nelson and Tiffany Rea-Fisher of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, and Martha Swan of John Brown Lives!

The LGLC NextGen Committee believes sharing the benefits of land conservation with every individual is necessary to ensure equity in the landscape of outdoor recreation and land protection.

The Adirondack Diversity Initiative has undergone recent changes and this will be one of the first opportunities to meet its new director, Tiffany Rea-Fisher. Community members are encouraged to bring forth questions for this conversation-style event, as we begin to understand what can be done to continue to work towards a safe and welcoming park.

The event is free, however there is a suggested donation of $10 at the door. Registration is required to guarantee seating. Please visit lglc.org/event/nextgen-discussion-equity-in-land-conservation-and-recreation/ for more information on the speakers and event details.

The LGLC’s NextGen Committee is a group of young professional volunteers who are passionate and committed to promoting land conservation through community events. Please visit lglc.org or email gcasella@lglc.org for more information or ways to get involved.

Panelists:

Pete Nelson is a proud Adirondack resident and co-founder of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative.  Having formerly worked with law enforcement agencies, Pete is excited to lead ADI’s community policing program.  Pete has been involved in diversity issues as an activist and teacher since the 1970’s, including social justice programs in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, tenants’ rights and inner-city housing in Chicago and equity in education in Madison, Wisconsin.  Pete is a mathematics teacher and member of the Diversity Task Force at North Country Community College.  Pete has taught for the college’s Second Chance program in Federal and State correctional institutions.  Pete is an avid writer, lecturer and Adirondack history buff whose articles appear regularly in regional publications.  He also co-founded Adirondack Wilderness Advocates, which is dedicated to protecting and preserving the Adirondack Park.

Pete Nelson

Tiffany Rea-Fisher is the Executive Director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative (ADI). Tiffany has extensive leadership experience in the arts, activism and community organizing. She is Executive Artistic Director of EMERGE125, a professional dance company that offers performance and education programs in New York City and Lake Placid. She is a Creatives Rebuild New York awardee with John Brown Lives! and has earned recognition for her role as a principal dancer, community organizer and direct-action activist. She is the first woman of color to serve as Director of the Lake Placid School of Dance, where she has helped increase class participation and faculty diversity since 2017. Tiffany resides in both Harlem and Saranac Lake.

Tiffany Rea-Fisher

Martha Swan is the founder and Executive Director of John Brown Lives!, a freedom and human rights education organization dedicated to the legacy of abolitionist John Brown.  Martha founded JBL! in 1999, and her passion and vision continues to drive the organization today. Since its inception, JBL! has tapped into and cultivated an appetite for humanities-oriented lectures, exhibits, commemorative milestones, author events and performances, community conversations and teacher-student programs that help people understand the intersection between history and human rights.  Martha retired in 2021 from a long-time career as a teacher.  She lives in Westport.

Martha Swan

Rocci Aguirre is the Deputy Executive Director of the Adirondack Council. He brings over 28 years of conservation experience to his current position, including working as a National Park Service ranger across the country, field staff for Trout Unlimited, and as the former Land Protection Director at the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Rocci has a M.S. in Natural Resources and Conservation, serves on the boards of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development and the NY Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and is a Regional Commissioner for the NY OPRHP Saratoga-Capital District.

Rocci Aguirre

About the Lake George Land Conservancy

Protecting the Land that Protects the Lake since 1988. The LGLC is an accredited, non-profit land trust dedicated to working with willing landowners and other partners to protect the world-renowned water quality of Lake George and to permanently preserve the natural, scenic, historic and recreational resources of the Lake George region.

Since its inception, LGLC’s land protection program has worked directly and with partners to permanently protect 12,179 acres of Lake George wilderness and more than 7 miles of shoreline, and owns and/or manages 35 parks and preserves that are open to the public year-round or by special request/restricted access with nearly 40 miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and, at some preserves, hunting and snowmobiling. More information: lglc.org.

YMCA Camp Chingachgook
YMCA Camp Chingachgook is a year-round outdoor center that provides our community with a variety of weekend programs, retreats, special events, school programs, and partnerships all geared toward positively impacting the world through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. https://www.lakegeorgecamp.org/

Adirondack Diversity Initiative
Existing at the intersection of environmental and transformational justice, the Adirondack Diversity Initiative (ADI) works to make the Adirondacks a welcoming and inclusive place for both residents and visitors while ensuring a vital and sustainable Adirondack Park for future generations. https://www.diversityadk.org/

John Brown Lives!
JBL! is a freedom education project founded in 1999 to promote social justice and human rights through the exploration of issues, social movements and events, many of them rooted in Adirondack history. https://johnbrownlives.org/

The Adirondack Council
The Adirondack Council is focused on using knowledge of the political process, respect for diverse views, and fact-based advocacy to address the Adirondack Park’s 21st Century challenges and opportunities. They work with many partners, promoting diversity and finding common ground on complex issues when possible. https://www.adirondackcouncil.org/

Photo at top: Lake George Land Conservancy website photo.  All other photos provided by Giulia Casella, Lake George Land Conservancy Fundraising and Events Manager.