ELP promotes a culture of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and critical inquiry within the environmental community. We connect new environmental professionals and serve as advocates for meeting their needs for leadership development. A diverse group of emerging and veteran environmental leaders developed the organization's mission and work plan. ELP's plan of action is guided by strong convictions about the nature of leadership and needs for it within the environmental community. Ideas can have profound impacts, but it takes talented leaders to bring them to life and ensure they are implemented.
Diversity is a crucial component of public leadership.
Environmental leaders must themselves reflect the diversity of the country and be comfortable working with different types of people. Leadership begins with relationships and the personal skills needed to develop them. Our greatest impact will lie in the collective capacity of the network of young professionals we are creating. Leadership skills are identifiable and teachable, related to but distinct from issue expertise. Public leadership relies on individuals daring to take carefully considered professional risks.