Message from Our President | CEO

“Change is Nature’s Delight” - Marcus Aurelius

The change of the seasons from autumn and winter, and the change of the calendar from one year to the next, often makes apparent the changes happening in my own life. As the cliche goes, nothing is constant except change; and 2021 has been a year of tremendous change at HeartLands Conservancy. First of all, we’ve updated our branding. The new colors remind me of how southern Illinois looks from the view atop of Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest. The new logo underscores our commitment to land, water, and cultural resource conservation and the landscapes of southwestern Illinois - rivers, bluffs, mounds.

We have a new website, too. My favorite part of the new site is the Explore section. In it you will find many of the places HeartLands Conservancy has had a hand in conserving - whether as the owner, steward, partner, or ally. Most of these places are open to the public to explore. We’ve had some staff changes as well. We expanded staff this year to cover more community-specific needs in our region and to build deeper partnerships in the communities we serve. We also have had to say goodbye to several staff members who are moving on to bigger roles. This winter we will also begin a deep look at our organization through a new strategic planning process. The process will include integrating our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion framework into all aspects of the organization’s strategy and policy. We will also explore other potential changes to the organization and where we might go in the future - stay tuned for more on that.

We also hope that our work with many partners will change the trajectory of some important bird species in our region. Black-crowned night herons have lost their breeding habitat. HeartLands is hoping that some of our conserved lands can help scientists stabilize the populations of these beautiful birds (page xx). I hope positive changes come your way as the seasons turn.

We are excited for you to join us as we change and grow. See you outside,

Mary Vandevord President & CEO