Keynotes: Stories of Collective Impact

Send us Fan Mail When we talk about wildfire resilience in the American West, the conversation usually turns to forests, fuel loads, prescribed burns, and forest thinning. But there's another piece of the puzzle that's been hiding in plain sight: our rivers. Healthy watersheds, with their sprawling floodplains, wet meadows, and tangled riparian corridors, don't burn the way degraded...

Send us Fan Mail Beavers are often called ecosystem engineers for their ability to transform streams and wetlands, creating habitat for wildlife and improving watershed health. But their work on the landscape can also create real challenges for landowners, water managers, and communities. In this episode, we explore the development of the Colorado Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy, a sta...

Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of Keystone’s 50th anniversary series, we explore The Invisible Hand of Keystone —the lasting, often unseen impact of collaborative work that continues long after a dialogue ends. From the Keystone Science School to the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research, Field to Market, the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council, and the Kwiyagat Community Academy, we...

Send us Fan Mail In the final episode of Keystone’s three-part agriculture series — part of the organization’s 50th Anniversary celebration — we explore how Keystone brought its collaborative approach to one of the most transformative scientific frontiers: gene editing. When CRISPR technology emerged, Keystone helped lead the creation of CRISPRcon, a global forum for open dialogue about the promis...

Send us Fan Mail This second episode in Keystone’s agriculture series tells the story of how a simple idea became one of the most influential sustainability collaborations in modern farming. In the mid-2000s, Keystone convened a groundbreaking dialogue among farmers, agribusinesses, conservationists, and scientists to define what sustainability really means in agriculture — and how to measure it....

Send us Fan Mail From honey bees to monarch butterflies, pollinators are vital to our food system and to the collaboration that sustains it. This first episode in Keystone’s three-part agriculture series highlights the organization’s foundational work to strengthen pollinator health and agricultural sustainability. Featuring the Honey Bee Health Coalition and Farmers for Monarchs, the episode expl...

Send us Fan Mail One of Keystone’s most inspiring education partnerships is Growing Ute Futures , a collaboration with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe that led to the creation of Colorado’s first tribal charter school: the Kwiyagat Community Academy. In this episode, we revisit the history of Indigenous education, the vision behind the Academy, and the powerful impact it’s already having on students, f...

Send us Fan Mail  Keystone’s education work isn’t just about facilitation, it’s also about providing trusted data that helps communities act. This episode takes a closer look at the research and reports Keystone has produced on a range of issues, with a special focus on the crisis of unaffordable housing for teachers. Through data, interactive maps, and community insights, we explore how this chal...

Send us Fan Mail  Education is not just one stage of life, it’s a journey that begins in the earliest years and continues into the workforce. In this episode, we explore Keystone’s Center for Education and its “cradle to workforce” philosophy. From expanding access to preschool and childcare, to building stronger family engagement, to shaping the future of community colleges, Keystone is helping s...

Send us Fan Mail In this second installment of our special 50th anniversary podcast series on collaborative governance, we turn our focus to the federal level, where Keystone’s experience and steady hand have guided some of the nation’s most complex public policy challenges. This episode highlights our work with the Department of Energy on siting facilities for spent nuclear fuel,  a continuation...

Send us Fan Mail As part of our year-long series celebrating the 50th anniversary of Keystone Policy Center, this episode kicks off a two-part look at collaborative governance, a cornerstone of Keystone’s legacy. In this first installment, we explore what happens when local, state, and tribal governments turn to Keystone to help solve complex challenges through inclusive, community-driven dialogue...

Send us Fan Mail In our continuing celebration of Keystone's 50th anniversary, we look at how Keystone Policy Center’s tribal engagement work is being implemented today. From government-to-government consultation to collaborative education initiatives, this episode highlights the deep relationships and trust required to turn policy into action. Featuring insights from Ernest House Jr. and pro...

Send us Fan Mail In this extended interview, Ed Gabriel joins Ernest House Jr. for a powerful conversation reflecting on the beginnings of Keystone Policy Center’s work with tribal nations. From the formation of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) to the creation of the Indian Business Roundtable, Gabriel shares personal stories, pivotal moments, and lessons in trust, collaboration, and s...

Send us Fan Mail As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Keystone Policy Center, we explore how Keystone’s work with tribal nations began. We revisit a pivotal time in the 1970s, when Native leaders were asserting sovereignty and building new alliances. Through clips from an interview with Ed Gabriel, we hear how a ski trip, a conversation, and a shared vision gave rise to the Council o...

Send us Fan Mail Few wildlife issues have been as divisive as gray wolf reintroduction in Colorado. In this episode, we take listeners behind the scenes of developing a wolf reintroduction and management plan, including the extensive public engagement process that followed. We explore how Keystone facilitated discussions among ranchers, hunters, conservationists, scientists, and policymakers, ensu...

Send us Fan Mail Public lands belong to everyone—but managing them requires balancing conservation, recreation, and access. This episode delves into Keystone's role in major public lands projects, from the designation of Browns Canyon National Monument to the Colorado Outdoor Strategy. We explore how Keystone has worked to ensure that voices from all communities are included in shaping the fu...

Send us Fan Mail For decades, Keystone Policy Center has helped address the environmental legacy of abandoned mines and military munitions sites. In this episode, we explore Keystone’s role in mine cleanups and munitions remediation, where balancing environmental restoration, economic realities, and community concerns was key. From navigating complex stakeholder dynamics to shaping policies that p...

Send us Fan Mail In our second series of Keystone's 50th anniversary celebration, we explore Keystone’s influential work in the energy sector. The Keystone Energy Board has been at the forefront of some of the most significant energy policy discussions in the United States. This episode takes a deep dive into how the board was established, the key players involved, and how its unique model of...

Send us Fan Mail In our second series of Keystone's 50th anniversary celebration, we explore Keystone’s influential work in the energy sector.  In the final episode of this series, we examine Keystone’s long-standing leadership in climate and decarbonization policy. From early dialogues on climate change in the late 1980s to modern efforts in federal policy recommendations, Keystone has helpe...

Send us Fan Mail In our second series of Keystone's 50th anniversary celebration, we explore Keystone’s influential work in the energy sector. In this episode, we explore Keystone Policy Center’s pioneering work in energy during the 1970s and 1980s. From tackling the complex issue of nuclear waste management to facilitating critical energy policy discussions, Keystone played a key role in sha...

Send us Fan Mail  What makes the Keystone process so unique? In this episode, we delve into Bob Craig’s model of collaborative problem-solving that brought together scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders to tackle contentious issues. From pioneering dialogues on energy policy to empowering Native American tribes, Bob’s legacy continues to inspire Keystone’s mission today. Learn how his lea...

Send us Fan Mail This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Keystone Policy Center. In 2025, we will embark on a year-long celebration, highlighting its most impactful and foundational achievements. We’ll explore the organization’s journey from its innovative beginnings to its ongoing legacy of collaborative problem-solving. In this first episode, we explore the extraordinary life...

Send us Fan Mail Discover how Bob Craig’s respect for science and belief in dialogue as a tool for progress laid the groundwork for the Keystone Policy Center. This episode traces the steps from Bob’s time at the Aspen Institute to the creation of the Keystone process. Featuring stories from the center’s earliest days, we’ll explore how Bob’s commitment to neutrality and innovation helped Keystone...

Send us Fan Mail The creation of the Kwiyagat Community Academy is the cornerstone of Growing Ute Futures, but it is not the only impact of the endeavor. Growing Ute Futures is an education masterplan for the entire community as  there are so many more families with students –from Kindergarten all through high school—who don’t attend KCA than do. Growing Ute Futures serves students and families of...

Send us Fan Mail Kwiyagat Community Academy officially opened in 2021 and was finally able to put into practice what had previously just been an abstract plan  – a culture-based curriculum grounded in Ute traditions that also delivers a modern academic education to prepare young students for the world. When you hear the world trailblazing—that’s exactly what this approach is. But the school would...