Ronda Rutledge is Ecotrust’s first Indigenous executive director. The Portland nonprofit focuses on environmental stewardship and economic growth, especially among Pacific Northwest tribes.
Earlier this month, KCAW spoke with Brady, who was recognized for her work with the Herring Protectors, a local advocacy group that’s grown exponentially over the last seven years.
Ecotrust’s role will be to grow access and trust in USDA programs among farmers who’ve been historically underserved or discriminated against by the agency.
Ecotrust will partner with the center to improve the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s outreach to urban producers, provide education and technical assistance, and increase program enrollment
The Indigenous Leadership Awards is a celebration of the wisdom, determination, and continuum of Indigenous leadership throughout the Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia and southeast Alaska.
Ecotrust said Wednesday it has hired Ronda Rutledge as its executive director. Rutledge comes from Austin, where she was executive director of the Sustainable Food Center. She brings 25-plus years of experience of nonprofit work in California and Texas.
A coalition of partners has secured a $2.5M grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture to support tribal agroforestry.
