A panel on environmental issues relevant to our region.
Environmental Story telling panelists
Jim Strickland
Jim Strickland has over six decades of ranching experience as owner of Strickland Ranch and managing partner of a 4,350-acre cow/calf operation that boarders Myakka State Park. Jim is a passionate advocate for Florida agriculture and sees ranches as a critical part of the solution to combat the effects of climate change.
Eva Worden, Ph.D.
Eva Worden, Ph.D. owns and manages an 85-acre certified organic family farm in Southwest Florida. Eva is an ardent believer in healthy food systems and actively assists fellow farmers to succeed in organic crop production and marketing. You can find Eva at the Worden Farm stand on Saturday mornings at the Downton Sarasota Farmers Market.
Walter Gilbert
Walter Gilbert is fourth generation Sarasotan and community leader within the Newtown area. He is the past president of the Sarasota County NAACP, private investigator, community activist and advisor to Newtown Alive and Selby Botanical Gardens. Walter believes in the strength of community service, historic preservation and is continuously searching for ways to get involved.
Mollie Holland
Mollie Holland has over 15 years of landscape and water quality experience and currently works for Sarasota County’s Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST) program. Mollie and the NEST program recognize the best way to achieve meaningful watershed management is to involve community members and homeowners directly in environmentally-friendly projects to protect and restore our shared water resources.
Stevie Freeman-Montes (moderator)
Stevie Freeman-Montes has over 10 years’ experience working with Cities in the Sustainability field and currently works as the Governmental Relations Manager for the City of Sarasota. Stevie led the City of Sarasota’s climate change adaptation planning effort and is a passionate advocate within local government for resilient urban planning and social equity.
A panel on environmental issues relevant to our region.
Environmental Story telling panelists
Jim Strickland
Jim Strickland has over six decades of ranching experience as owner of Strickland Ranch and managing partner of a 4,350-acre cow/calf operation that boarders Myakka State Park. Jim is a passionate advocate for Florida agriculture and sees ranches as a critical part of the solution to combat the effects of climate change.
Eva Worden, Ph.D.
Eva Worden, Ph.D. owns and manages an 85-acre certified organic family farm in Southwest Florida. Eva is an ardent believer in healthy food systems and actively assists fellow farmers to succeed in organic crop production and marketing. You can find Eva at the Worden Farm stand on Saturday mornings at the Downton Sarasota Farmers Market.
Walter Gilbert
Walter Gilbert is fourth generation Sarasotan and community leader within the Newtown area. He is the past president of the Sarasota County NAACP, private investigator, community activist and advisor to Newtown Alive and Selby Botanical Gardens. Walter believes in the strength of community service, historic preservation and is continuously searching for ways to get involved.
Mollie Holland
Mollie Holland has over 15 years of landscape and water quality experience and currently works for Sarasota County’s Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST) program. Mollie and the NEST program recognize the best way to achieve meaningful watershed management is to involve community members and homeowners directly in environmentally-friendly projects to protect and restore our shared water resources.
Stevie Freeman-Montes (moderator)
Stevie Freeman-Montes has over 10 years’ experience working with Cities in the Sustainability field and currently works as the Governmental Relations Manager for the City of Sarasota. Stevie led the City of Sarasota’s climate change adaptation planning effort and is a passionate advocate within local government for resilient urban planning and social equity.