In this episode, we’re talking to Jay Burney, someone who is very well-known for the work he does in and around Buffalo, NY.  He is a writer, photographer, educator, naturalist, husband and father, project and business developer and manager with over 40 years of experience in media, ecology, habitat, community engagement, and education. He has been called "the region’s most important strategic conservationist” by the local Buffalo News and Buffalo Spree.

Jay has been responsible for initiatives around watershed management and restoration, pollinator habitat installations, regional coalitions, state-wide newsletters, conferences, educational programming, and festivals and celebrations that combine art, community, and local ecology. He is an expert weaver and connector, focusing on community engagement and diversity, equity, and inclusion in his work. All of this has been focused on regenerating eastern Lake Erie and the Niagara River corridor. I’m lucky enough to serve on boards for the WNY Environmental Alliance and Birds on the Niagara with Jay, and I have to say, he moves through life with energy and a sense of urgency, all the while building trusting and resilient relationships. The network of support that he has built is truly inspiring.

You can learn more about Jay by following him on Twitter (@jayburney1), Instagram or Youtube (@jayburney), or Facebook and can support his work by checking out and donating to:

• Pollinator Conservation Association (pollinatorconservationassociation.org)
• Birds on the Niagara (birdniagara.org)
• Friends of Times Beach (friendsoftimesbeachnp.org)
• Western New York Environmental Alliance (wnyea.org)

And here is the stick figure graffiti that can be seen spreading love around Buffalo that Jay references in his interview: https://stickfigureguy716.com/.

You can follow along as we continue to weave this story on our Substack at awakeninglands.substack.com.

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