Equity in Conservation and Outdoor Recreation (E.C.O.R.)
Summit for Action Annual Convening
Summit for Action Annual Convening
Roots of Resistance: Breaking Chains, Building Justice
October 2-3, 2025
October 2-3, 2025
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE 2025 E.C.O.R. SUMMIT FOR ACTION!
Summit Dates and Times
Thursday, October 2, 2025 (Virtual) : 8am – 4pm PT, 9am-5pm MT, 10am- 6pm CT , 11am-7pm ET
Friday, October 3, 2025 (In-Person) : Day 2: Friday, October 3, 2025 (In-Person only) :
Denver, CO: Denver Zoo- 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205: 9 am - 4:30 pm MT at the Denver Zoo (Denver registrants only)
Pacific Northwest The Nature Conservancy - Oregon Conservation Center - 821 Southeast 14th Avenue Portland, OR, 97214: 10 am-4 pm PT (PNW registrants only)
Thursday, October 2, 2025 (Virtual) : 8am – 4pm PT, 9am-5pm MT, 10am- 6pm CT , 11am-7pm ET
Friday, October 3, 2025 (In-Person) : Day 2: Friday, October 3, 2025 (In-Person only) :
Denver, CO: Denver Zoo- 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205: 9 am - 4:30 pm MT at the Denver Zoo (Denver registrants only)
Pacific Northwest The Nature Conservancy - Oregon Conservation Center - 821 Southeast 14th Avenue Portland, OR, 97214: 10 am-4 pm PT (PNW registrants only)
Check out our 2025 Summit Speakers
What is the E.C.O.R. Summit for Action?
The Equity in Conservation and Outdoor Recreation (E.C.O.R.) Summit for Action invites you to embark on a transformative journey at the intersection of equity, inclusion, and the great outdoors. Our annual two-day event is a call to action, bringing together thought leaders, activists, practitioners, and community members to engage in profound discussions about the vital role of environmental justice in conservation and outdoor recreation movements.
2025 Theme: Roots of Resistance: Breaking Chains, Building Justice
In a world grappling with the dual crises of environmental degradation and systemic oppression, the call to resist and build anew has never been more urgent. "Roots of Resistance: Breaking Chains, Building Justice" delves into the intricate connections between social and environmental inequities, exposing how systems of power and privilege perpetuate harm to both people and the planet. This years theme invites a deep exploration of resistance as a tool for dismantling these oppressive systems, highlighting the courage, creativity, and collaboration of communities leading the charge for justice. Key questions include:
Through this lens, the summit will center stories of resistance against environmental destruction, from fighting extractive industries to challenging policies that exacerbate climate change. Participants will engage with frontline leaders, activists, and organizers who are combating climate denialism, reclaiming stolen lands, and protecting vital ecosystems. By drawing connections between environmental justice and struggles for survival and sovereignty, we will illuminate the shared roots of these battles and the collective power required to win them.
This theme challenges attendees to consider how oppression manifests in environmental contexts, such as unequal access to clean water, air, and land, and how these injustices disproportionately affect marginalized communities. It also underscores the importance of collaborative resistance: partnerships across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic lines to forge a unified front against environmental harm and social inequities. Through keynotes, panels, and workshops, participants will leave inspired by real-world examples of successful resistance and equipped with actionable strategies to integrate justice into their environmental and social justice efforts. Together, we will break chains and build the foundation for a just, sustainable future.
2025 Panels and Speakers
Panel Session 1: Resisting Climate Denialism and Disinformation
In an era where misinformation can spread rapidly, combating climate denialism is critical to advancing environmental justice. This panel will explore the roots of climate disinformation campaigns, often funded by powerful industries, and their impact on public opinion, policy, and environmental advocacy. Panelists will discuss strategies to counter misinformation, such as community-led science education, leveraging social media responsibly, and building coalitions.
Keynote Speaker: Ernest House, Jr. (he/him) : As former Executive Director for the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs (CCIA) for 12 years, Ernest House maintained the communication between the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, and other American Indian organizations, state agencies and affiliated groups. In that position, Ernest worked under former Governors Owens, Ritter, and Hickenlooper along with CCIA members to maintain a government-to-government relationship between the State of Colorado and Tribal governments. As Senior Policy Director and Director for the Center for Tribal and Indigenous Engagement for the Keystone Policy Center, Ernest works with stakeholders in the areas of Tribal consultation, energy, conservation, agriculture, healthcare, education, cultural resource management, and cultural repatriation.
Panel Session 2: Water Wars: Resisting Privatization and Pollution
Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet privatization and pollution threaten this essential resource for many communities. This panel will feature activists and organizers working to resist the commodification of water and fight against industries that pollute waterways. Topics will include legal battles over water rights, community-led initiatives to protect water sources, and strategies to counter the corporate control of public utilities. The session will also highlight the intersection of water justice with broader social justice movements, emphasizing how protecting water is integral to resisting systemic oppression and ensuring equity.
Why Attend:
The environment should be a place of healing and enjoyment for all, a place where nature's wonders are accessible and inviting to people of every background and identity. However, throughout American history, marginalized communities have been systematically underrepresented or intentionally excluded from the conservation and outdoor narratives and disproportionately impacted by environmental decision making. These injustices are deeply rooted in complex social and economic factors, including explicit racism, sexism, and ableism, as well as the legacy of segregation. At the E.C.O.R. Summit for Action, we are committed to confronting these issues head-on. We believe that understanding the history and impacts of environmental injustice is not only essential but also an opportunity to transform natural areas, policy spaces, and organizations into inclusive, healing, and vibrant environments that benefit all members of society.
The Equity in Conservation and Outdoor Recreation (E.C.O.R.) Summit for Action invites you to embark on a transformative journey at the intersection of equity, inclusion, and the great outdoors. Our annual two-day event is a call to action, bringing together thought leaders, activists, practitioners, and community members to engage in profound discussions about the vital role of environmental justice in conservation and outdoor recreation movements.
2025 Theme: Roots of Resistance: Breaking Chains, Building Justice
In a world grappling with the dual crises of environmental degradation and systemic oppression, the call to resist and build anew has never been more urgent. "Roots of Resistance: Breaking Chains, Building Justice" delves into the intricate connections between social and environmental inequities, exposing how systems of power and privilege perpetuate harm to both people and the planet. This years theme invites a deep exploration of resistance as a tool for dismantling these oppressive systems, highlighting the courage, creativity, and collaboration of communities leading the charge for justice. Key questions include:
- How do systems of oppression shape environmental injustice, and how can they be dismantled?
- What role does community-led resistance play in advancing climate justice and equity?
- How can the fight against environmental destruction be aligned with broader struggles for human rights and sovereignty?
Through this lens, the summit will center stories of resistance against environmental destruction, from fighting extractive industries to challenging policies that exacerbate climate change. Participants will engage with frontline leaders, activists, and organizers who are combating climate denialism, reclaiming stolen lands, and protecting vital ecosystems. By drawing connections between environmental justice and struggles for survival and sovereignty, we will illuminate the shared roots of these battles and the collective power required to win them.
This theme challenges attendees to consider how oppression manifests in environmental contexts, such as unequal access to clean water, air, and land, and how these injustices disproportionately affect marginalized communities. It also underscores the importance of collaborative resistance: partnerships across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic lines to forge a unified front against environmental harm and social inequities. Through keynotes, panels, and workshops, participants will leave inspired by real-world examples of successful resistance and equipped with actionable strategies to integrate justice into their environmental and social justice efforts. Together, we will break chains and build the foundation for a just, sustainable future.
2025 Panels and Speakers
Panel Session 1: Resisting Climate Denialism and Disinformation
In an era where misinformation can spread rapidly, combating climate denialism is critical to advancing environmental justice. This panel will explore the roots of climate disinformation campaigns, often funded by powerful industries, and their impact on public opinion, policy, and environmental advocacy. Panelists will discuss strategies to counter misinformation, such as community-led science education, leveraging social media responsibly, and building coalitions.
Keynote Speaker: Ernest House, Jr. (he/him) : As former Executive Director for the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs (CCIA) for 12 years, Ernest House maintained the communication between the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, and other American Indian organizations, state agencies and affiliated groups. In that position, Ernest worked under former Governors Owens, Ritter, and Hickenlooper along with CCIA members to maintain a government-to-government relationship between the State of Colorado and Tribal governments. As Senior Policy Director and Director for the Center for Tribal and Indigenous Engagement for the Keystone Policy Center, Ernest works with stakeholders in the areas of Tribal consultation, energy, conservation, agriculture, healthcare, education, cultural resource management, and cultural repatriation.
Panel Session 2: Water Wars: Resisting Privatization and Pollution
Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet privatization and pollution threaten this essential resource for many communities. This panel will feature activists and organizers working to resist the commodification of water and fight against industries that pollute waterways. Topics will include legal battles over water rights, community-led initiatives to protect water sources, and strategies to counter the corporate control of public utilities. The session will also highlight the intersection of water justice with broader social justice movements, emphasizing how protecting water is integral to resisting systemic oppression and ensuring equity.
Why Attend:
The environment should be a place of healing and enjoyment for all, a place where nature's wonders are accessible and inviting to people of every background and identity. However, throughout American history, marginalized communities have been systematically underrepresented or intentionally excluded from the conservation and outdoor narratives and disproportionately impacted by environmental decision making. These injustices are deeply rooted in complex social and economic factors, including explicit racism, sexism, and ableism, as well as the legacy of segregation. At the E.C.O.R. Summit for Action, we are committed to confronting these issues head-on. We believe that understanding the history and impacts of environmental injustice is not only essential but also an opportunity to transform natural areas, policy spaces, and organizations into inclusive, healing, and vibrant environments that benefit all members of society.
|
|
|
Join our listserv to receive information about event updates, partnership opportunities, and ongoing engagement with the Summit for Action community!
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
Our goal is to highlight the importance of justice, equity, and inclusion in our organizations and communities. We look forward to strengthening our relationships with current partners and connecting with potential partners in our journey of moving diversity forward. Learn about becoming a sponsor.
PRESENTING PARTNERS
|
|
|
SUSTAINING SUMMIT COLLABORATORS
COMMUNITY CONNECTORS
IN-KIND DONORS
|
|