Michael Mantell, Author at Resources Legacy Fund

Thoughts of Gratitude and Hope

January 6, 2022

As Avi Garbow prepares to take over as the new president of Resources Legacy Fund, I find myself filled with confidence in his leadership, excitement for the future, and a profound sense of gratitude for all the people I have been privileged to work with: my RLF colleagues and board members and our partners, funders, and grantees. Without these relationships RLF’s significant impact and impressive evolution over the years simply would not have been possible. I have learned over and again from you. I am grateful for the vision of the Packard Foundation that led to RLF’s creation more than…

Topics: Climate Resilience , Indigenous Rights , Policy , RLF , Social Equity

Kids with binoculars, from Outdoor Outreach

Tomorrow’s Solutions Will be Found Where Issues Intersect

December 14, 2020

The lessons of 2020 are harsh and profound: science and leadership matter, resilient natural systems are essential to our health and security, and we have a long way to go on racial equity. As much as we all wish for 2021 to usher in a new era of hope and positive change, the work to achieve that reality is up to us. The last nine months have made clear that we need to think about and solve our problems in different ways. If we are to ensure a just and resilient future in which people and nature thrive, we must…

Topics: Philanthropy , Policy , RLF , Social Equity

Environmental Progress Tied to Healthy Democracy

November 24, 2020

The world is changing. Not only is our climate changing—introducing new challenges to our environment and communities—but our technology, politics, society, and economies are changing. These changes are happening more rapidly and radically than ever. Sea level rise, species extinctions, autocratic governments, income inequality, gun violence, and wildfire destruction are all on the rise. These issues go hand in hand, and any meaningful progress requires a high-functioning democracy built on trust, respect for established governing principles, and high voter participation. At a time of such immense political and social upheaval in the United States, RLF’s partner organizations—Fund for a…

Topics: Philanthropy , RLF

RLF Statement about Death of George Floyd and Other Recent Racist Acts

June 1, 2020

The death of another unarmed African American man—George Floyd—at the hands of police is outrageous and horrifying. The origins and history of the United States are steeped in racism, colonialism, and violence. We have come a long way, but these recent events underscore what was already clear: we still have much to do as a society, as individuals, and as an organization to build a more equitable and just future. The timing of this tragedy—occurring during a pandemic that is disproportionately harming and killing African Americans and other communities of color—makes Floyd’s death even more appalling. Two other recent incidents…

Topics: Social Equity

A Message on the COVID-19 Pandemic

April 16, 2020

Dear Friends, COVID-19 has presented us all with unprecedented challenges as we juggle new responsibilities in quarantined life amid the steady drumbeat of despair in the news. I find hope and inspiration in our collective work, which I believe is more important now than ever. We all saw the value of our parks, as people flocked to the outdoors for recreation and peace of mind during the early days of sheltering in place. Due to their overwhelming popularity, many parks closed, forcing people to find other ways to enjoy the fresh air and spring sunshine. Unfortunately, not everyone has an…

Topics: RLF

Finding Hope in the Moment

April 1, 2020

When I sat down to write this blog, I began by reflecting on the first 20 years of RLF’s work and what the next 20 years will bring. Coronavirus had yet to upend the lives of many outside the Asian continent. Just a few weeks later, most of the country is on lock-down, the economy has imploded, nearly 10 million Americans have applied for unemployment, and the global death toll has topped 45,000, rapidly accelerating.* As devastating as this new reality is, I find comfort in the fact that we are coming together as neighbors, Americans, corporations, philanthropists, and global…

Topics: Climate Resilience , RLF , Social Equity