Rebecca Patton is a conservationist and Vice President/Board Member of Wildlife Conservation Network. 

I was honored to have been part of the recent Invoking the Pause retreat, which brought together individuals applying their talents in creative ways to the issue of climate change, with an emphasis on the power of collaboration.  We embraced a version of "The Hero's Journey", a beautiful framework that made our 24 hours together one of meaning and growth.
 
Since traditional approaches to creating a collective commitment to deal with climate change have been insufficient, the emphasis of ITP Grant Partners has been around social change, coming at communication and influence through visual arts, non-traditional advocacy and community engagement models. I was struck by the creativity and passion of the presenters, whose approaches were also rooted in the rigor of social science models.
 
As an "outsider/ally" with experience in a number of conservation organizations, I had the opportunity to provide input and "mentorship" many of the Grant Partners. I also enjoyed the many stimulating conversations and connections I made throughout the retreat.  I came away inspired, energized and deeply grateful for the many talented and committed people and organizations working to make a difference in one of the most challenging and critical issues of our time.