August 12, 2015
Dear Goldman Prize community,
It has been my honor and privilege to serve as the Communications Coordinator for the Goldman Prize over the last five years. It is with deep gratitude that I announce today, August 12, 2015 will be my last day at the Prize. For my final blog, I want to take the opportunity to thank all of my wonderful colleagues and the Goldman Prize family for all they have shared with me over the years.
Prize staff and winners will know what I mean when I say “the Goldman Prize family.” It is a term we use frequently internally, but I think it’s important to share with our wider audience as well because it speaks to how close we all become through our shared mission to uplift grassroots environmental activism. For all of our many differences, we stand together in the same fight to protect the environment and in this way we are united. In this way, we are family. The bond runs deep at the Goldman Prize and I feel so grateful to have been a part of it.
I’ve had the distinct honor of working with several Goldman Prize winners over the years and I can tell you that just by being in their presence, you can detect an extraordinary strength, patience and determination within each and every one of them. They are at once humble and unstoppable. Their bravery, sacrifices and commitments inspires all of us to be better and work harder for what is right. They are heroes in every sense of the word.
After authoring over 350 blogs, countless Facebook posts and newsletters, and growing the Prize’s Facebook following to more than half a million fans – it is my sincere hope that by sharing the stories of the Goldman Prize winners with our online audience, I have helped in some small way to strengthen their work. I am proud to have reported on their stories and raised awareness for important and timely issues. Three of my blog series on conflict palm oil, threats to environmental activists, and environmental racism stand out as some of my most gratifying pieces to have shared with you all.
Finally, I want to thank you, our online audience, for trusting me with your time and attention and for all you’ve done to help us spread the stories of the Goldman Prize winners. Please help me in welcoming our new Communications Associate, Alex Williams. She will surely take the online communications of the Prize to soaring new heights. Congratulations, Alex!
Signing off warmly,
Liz Means
