About my work
Hi, I'm Laura, a nonprofit digital communications leader based in Northern Colorado.
I am passionate about digital strategy and storytelling to support nonprofits working towards environmental and climate solutions. My expertise includes digital strategy, content development and advocacy campaigns for organizations working for the greater good.
I invite you to explore my work.
Social media graphics
Graphic design
Premiums
Infogragraphics
Photoshop projects
Multimedia and longform stories
The goals: Help initiated supporters and political decision makers understand more about climate and environmental issues my organization was trying to solve; increase inclusion by telling stories from a diversity of communities; compliment larger campaigns that drove supporters to action pages and donation pages.
My role: Meet with stakeholders and shape the overall narrative and direction of the project, manage the project to ensure multimedia assets from the writer, cartographer, videographers were coming together at the right times, provide guidance on the copy and assets mid-project, edit and rewrite drafts of copy, create headlines and subheads, work closely with cartographer and designer to identify most impactful points to illustrate, then provide copy or edit all captions and map narratives graphics. Finaally, write and produce associated promotions such as emails, social media and web site homepage promotions.
Can public lands help solve the climate crisis?
Public lands across the country have a massive role to play in solving climate change. This interactive explores the choices before us.
The real impact of drilling in the Arctic Refuge—in 7 maps
(What the Trump administration isn't telling you)
Photo essay: Explore the beauty of Colorado’s Continental Divide wilderness
Editor’s note: Jon Mullen is a Boulder-based photographer working to document and preserve our threatened wild places. In this photo essay, he explores a breathtaking area of central Colorado (near the Vail and Breckenridge ski areas) that Coloradans are working to protect through the Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness and Camp Hale Legacy Act. If passed in Congress, the act would permanently protect about 96,000 acres of national forest and other public lands in Colorado’s beloved Summit
Featured Articles
Explore a featured selection of my editorial management, content production and writing work below.
10 amazing winter recreation ideas
It may be cold outside, but that’s no reason to stop playing outdoors. Every year, millions of smart Americans say no to the couch and yes to winter recreation activities outdoors. Where are they finding the best winter recreation locales? On our national forests, parks, refuges and other public lands. From snow capped mountains to frosted storybook forests, public lands brim with magnificent winter scenery and outstanding opportunities for solitude that you won’t find in warmer months. They als
Alaska Natives on the frontline of another lands battle
For the Gwich’in people of Fort Yukon, Alaska, a trip to the grocery story can be prohibitively expensive. Far removed from large cities or towns, residents near the Arctic Circle may pay upwards of $15 for a jug of milk and $10 for a loaf of bread.
It’s only logical that hunting, fishing and foraging remain critical for the Gwich’in, who have lived off the land for centuries and rely on the caribou that inhabit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the north. But their ability to provide for
It’s only logical that hunting, fishing and foraging remain critical for the Gwich’in, who have lived off the land for centuries and rely on the caribou that inhabit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the north. But their ability to provide for
11 tips for photographing night skies
As rampant light pollution becomes more commonplace, many seek the beauty and joys of dark skies. Protected wild lands are the perfect places to revel in the timeless pleasure of starry skies.
Some attempt to capture that exquisite experience of awe - when you realize you are staring into the vastness of both space and time.
Here are some tips for those curious about photographing the glamorous heavens.
1. Locate dark skies. This is the single most important element to astrophotography, but i
Some attempt to capture that exquisite experience of awe - when you realize you are staring into the vastness of both space and time.
Here are some tips for those curious about photographing the glamorous heavens.
1. Locate dark skies. This is the single most important element to astrophotography, but i
The Public Lands Curriculum
For example, the 1964 Wilderness Act describes wilderness as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain…" erasing and dehumanizing Native Americans who had lived on and stewarded these lands since time immemorial.
Our current conservation narrative erases the stories of the Jones Family, a Black family who sold land to create Biscayne National Park in Florida; Tie Sing, a legendary Chinese chef who supported the
Our current conservation narrative erases the stories of the Jones Family, a Black family who sold land to create Biscayne National Park in Florida; Tie Sing, a legendary Chinese chef who supported the
Land and Water Conservation Fund
What is the Land and Water Conservation Fund?
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) takes a portion of royalties energy companies pay the government for extracting publicly owned offshore oil and gas from the Outer Continental Shelf. The government then takes those revenues and reinvests them in the conservation of our public lands and natural resources.
Energy companies pay the federal government about $900 million every year. This goes to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
How does
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) takes a portion of royalties energy companies pay the government for extracting publicly owned offshore oil and gas from the Outer Continental Shelf. The government then takes those revenues and reinvests them in the conservation of our public lands and natural resources.
Energy companies pay the federal government about $900 million every year. This goes to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
How does
29 critical "Leave No Trace" tips for wilderness visitors
Just as you rely on wild places to rejuvenate and restore you, those places rely on you to keep them in good condition.
Even if you are aware of the basic notion of "pack it in, pack it out," leaving no trace can often entail some details you might not think of.
So that you can be mindful of all the ways you can impact the wild places you visit, here are some tips based on the seven Leave No Trace principles:
• Prepare. This is the single most important thing you can do. Reading this page is a
Even if you are aware of the basic notion of "pack it in, pack it out," leaving no trace can often entail some details you might not think of.
So that you can be mindful of all the ways you can impact the wild places you visit, here are some tips based on the seven Leave No Trace principles:
• Prepare. This is the single most important thing you can do. Reading this page is a
Being black, brown or poor shouldn’t mean less time in nature
What I learned from being a black conservationist
I remember the first time I discovered that going into the woods to walk around and sleep was a thing.
I was about nine years old and my mom and I moved to Virginia from Philadelphia earlier that year. It was like a foreign world to me. I traded in my bustling city streets for open spaces and loud sounding bugs I couldn’t identify.
I learned that we don’t’ appreciate what we don’t know
In Philadelphia, I was surrounded by el-trains (short for
I remember the first time I discovered that going into the woods to walk around and sleep was a thing.
I was about nine years old and my mom and I moved to Virginia from Philadelphia earlier that year. It was like a foreign world to me. I traded in my bustling city streets for open spaces and loud sounding bugs I couldn’t identify.
I learned that we don’t’ appreciate what we don’t know
In Philadelphia, I was surrounded by el-trains (short for
Protections for Colorado wilderness, wildlife, historic sites in new legislative proposal
Three famed Colorado mountains reaching at least 14,000 feet in elevation (referred to “fourteeners”) as well as wildlife-rich evergreen forests and a historic Army camp would be among the places protected in in central and southwestern Colorado under newly offered legislation.
Introduced in the Senate and House by Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse, respectively, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy Act, or CORE Act, would protect parts of the Continental Divide, Thompson Divide and
Introduced in the Senate and House by Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse, respectively, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy Act, or CORE Act, would protect parts of the Continental Divide, Thompson Divide and
Together we can save the Arctic Refuge | Wilderness.org
The oil and gas industry and its allies are lobbying to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. If this happens, America's last great wild frontier would be forever changed. Together we can save the Arctic Refuge for future generations.
Watch the video to see the beauty and values at stake, then take action to help us save the Arctic Refuge.
SAVE THE ARCTIC REFUGE: TELL CONGRESS TO ACT!
The Arctic Refuge is a one-of-a-kind stretch of unspoiled wilderness. It is home to an a
Watch the video to see the beauty and values at stake, then take action to help us save the Arctic Refuge.
SAVE THE ARCTIC REFUGE: TELL CONGRESS TO ACT!
The Arctic Refuge is a one-of-a-kind stretch of unspoiled wilderness. It is home to an a
Protecting iconic Colorado lands will move our nation one step closer to conservation goals
What I didn’t know nine years ago is the impressive view, recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat and water resources before me in the San Juan range were at risk. Like so many other natural areas, much of the San Juan range is unprotected, aka open to mining, drilling and other development. We lose a football field worth of nature every 30 seconds in the United States, which further exacerbates the climate crisis.
Across the nation local communities are working together to help reverse that
Across the nation local communities are working together to help reverse that
Special Projects
We Are The Wild: Photo Engagement project
OurWild
The Wilderness Society protects the places you care about. We are 143 people spread across the US who passionately believe that public lands are the best expression of what it is to be an American. Since 1935, we’ve led the effort to protect 109 million acres of wilderness, garnering more than 700,000 supporters along the way.
Get your grub on: Free campfire recipe cookbook
Inside you'll find more than 80 campfire recipes and food preparation tips, all submitted by Wilderness Society supporters.
Click here to get a download the campfire cookbook
Enjoy a sample of some of the recipes inside:
“They say necessity is the mother of invention. I invented apple s’mores when I was ten years old because we had run out of graham crackers, and happened to be situated near to an abandoned apple orchard. Nothing fancy, but it became a camping staple for my family, and always
Click here to get a download the campfire cookbook
Enjoy a sample of some of the recipes inside:
“They say necessity is the mother of invention. I invented apple s’mores when I was ten years old because we had run out of graham crackers, and happened to be situated near to an abandoned apple orchard. Nothing fancy, but it became a camping staple for my family, and always
About pages and FAQs
Urban to Wild – Access to nature is a human right
Parks and public lands belong to everyone. But we recognize that access is not equitable for people of all races, genders, immigration status, ability and income levels. In order to pursue our mission to protect wild places, parks and public lands, it is essential that these natural settings remain relevant and connected to all.
Many barriers prevent people in urban areas from enjoying the benefits of public lands. People of color and low-income communities are often left out of decision-making
Many barriers prevent people in urban areas from enjoying the benefits of public lands. People of color and low-income communities are often left out of decision-making
What is Wilderness
But that’s only a third of our public lands. And about 100 million acres of pristine wildlands are still at risk.
Wilderness is also the term used for the government’s highest form of land protection — federally designated wilderness. There are many ways to protect America’s wilderness. In protecting wilderness, we are safeguarding for current and future generations the outdoor spaces enjoyed by every American.
Wilderness areas are designated by Congress on federal public lands. The Wilderness
Wilderness is also the term used for the government’s highest form of land protection — federally designated wilderness. There are many ways to protect America’s wilderness. In protecting wilderness, we are safeguarding for current and future generations the outdoor spaces enjoyed by every American.
Wilderness areas are designated by Congress on federal public lands. The Wilderness
Contact Your Congress Members
Members of Congress want to hear from their constituents. In addition to legislative work, they have the non-stop job of planning for re-election. This continual election work creates a need to keep a close watch on constituent opinion.
It's worth noting that there are many environmental champions in Congress. Your support tells them to keep fighting for conservation. It also helps fuel their fight against bad legislation that harms wildlands. But not all lawmakers are environmental leaders, an
It's worth noting that there are many environmental champions in Congress. Your support tells them to keep fighting for conservation. It also helps fuel their fight against bad legislation that harms wildlands. But not all lawmakers are environmental leaders, an