The overarching theme of the night was what we can accomplish when we work together. Three valued partners offered insightful remarks about our shared commitment to the cause of conservation: Rob Fischman, George P. Smith, II Distinguished Professor of Law at Maurer School of Law; Betsy Maher, Executive Director of nonprofit Save the Dunes; and Larry Clemens, retired Indiana State Director of The Nature Conservancy.
Photo Credit: Anna Powell Denton.
Executive Director Christian Freitag delivered an emotional speech about his personal connection to CLC’s mission, describing how he grew up with a deep relationship to the natural world starting from a very young age. Yet, he emphasized, this feeling isn’t unique to him.
“It’s personal for all of us,” said Freitag. “Students, clients, donors, and volunteers are all connected to CLC not only through the work but through our shared love of the natural world. They all have their own version of the stories I shared and reasons they’re committed to doing what they can to make things better.”
To acknowledge his profound impact on conservation in Indiana and beyond, CLC’s founding director Bill Weeks was presented with an original oil painting by Indiana artist Wyatt LeGrand. The evocative scene of a stream meandering through a golden sunlit forest is also the cover of CLC’s special 20th anniversary publication, Where Nature Leads, part of our 20th anniversary storytelling project, 20 Stories for 20 Years.
Bill concluded the evening with deep gratitude for the past two decades of community-centered work and visionary words of optimism and continued commitment moving into the next two decades. CLC is ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
For 20 years, the Conservation Law Center has been propelled by people who believe that protecting nature is both a responsibility and a shared act of care. If you want to be part of this continuing legacy, you can donate here.
