In this special episode of The Landscape, the entire Center for Western Priorities team joins us for an interview with Jennifer Rokala, CWP’s outgoing executive director, to celebrate her 11 years leading the organization. Jen reflects on key victories throughout her tenure at CWP, the organization’s evolution as a communications-driven conservation hub, and her advice for Aaron as he steps into the role of executive director.

Plus, the team talks about the best food in the West. Here are the restaurants mentioned during this episode:

Hot Tomato Pizza – Fruita, Colorado
Bin 707 – Grand Junction, Colorado
Eegee’s – Tucson, Arizona
Taco Party – Grand Junction, Colorado
Rome Station – Rome, Oregon
BirdHouse – Page, Arizona

News

Emails Show How Interior Dept Delivered New Drilling Permits for Burgum’s Billionaire Ally — Public Domain
Shared ground: Coalition forms to promote affordable housing on public lands — Deseret News
Solar ranch aims to prove grazing cattle under the panels is a farmland win-win — Los Angeles Times

Resources

Housing and conservation experts agree: Public lands can’t solve the housing crisis. Here’s what can — Center for Western Priorities via Substack
Watch this episode on YouTube

Produced by Aaron Weiss, Lauren Bogard, Kate Groetzinger, and Lilly Bock-Brownstein
Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org
Music: Purple Planet
Featured image: Center for Western Priorities team

The post Jennifer Rokala on 11 years fighting for public lands at CWP appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.