A Growing Alumni Network

Anyone who completed one of our training courses (8-month, DEP 4-module, SJRWMD 3-module, etc), is a NRLI alumnus and part of the NRLI alumni network!

Alumni are the heart of NRLI. They work at the frontlines to protect and conserve Florida’s wild areas, working lands, and aquatic ecosystems. Since 1998, NRLI has graduated 100s of alumni across diverse organizations and expertise areas. 

As our alumni network grows, so too does our geographic footprint across the state. We envision alumni leading discussions and advancing participatory decision making at tables within each county.  

When I see somebody from NRLI in the room, I don’t feel as alone…it’s kind of like you can take a breath. And you feel understood. So, it’s just that immediate sense of camaraderie, like: Okay, we got each other. – NRLI alumnus

Innovation & Co-Developing NRLI Sessions

Alumni keep NRLI training programs relevant and thriving. Each year, they submit ideas for new NRLI sessions, keeping us abreast of emerging natural resource challenges.They play key roles in session planning, arranging field trips, and suggesting appropriate panelists. Alumni also guide new fellows on how to design practica and get the best out of the NRLI experience.

The NRLI alumni network is … an alliance of professionals at one’s fingertips – NRLI alumnus

Ongoing Learning and Networking

Alumni are NRLI’s most powerful resource, and we aim to stay connected. We foster an engaged active alumni network through events and other opportunities for on-going learning, professional network building, and mentoring.

The project team is routinely approached to offer guidance through mentoring in process design, facilitation, and training. Together with alumni, we learn new techniques and refine our practice.

Continued support refines and strengthens collaborative capacity among alumni, their institutions, and their multi-party partnerships.

One of the most challenging aspects of developing and implementing initiatives with farmers and ranchers is procuring feedback from them to clearly understand their needs and objectives. This was certainly on display during portions of Farm Bureau’s 2023 young farmer and rancher conference. I had the opportunity to facilitate two sessions alongside Wendy-Lin, during which participants developed rapport and were able to overcome this reticence to engage. Young farmers and ranchers were excited to consider solutions rather than simply identify problems. Through participatory discussions and activities, session goers learned by being involved in the session and created strategies for engaging their local and regional networks across the state.
-John Dooner, Southern Forestry Consultants