(Provided by MLTPA and Sierra Focus Media)
As Industry Sector Coordinators for the Sierra Region, MLTPA and Sierra Focus Media were proud to lead this work throughout the Sierra Jobs First Catalyst Phase. At the heart of our efforts was convening the Sierra Works Working Group, which we convened eight times over nine months to facilitate interviews and discussions with practitioners across the seven-county region and identify shared priorities.
That process culminated in the Sierra RICA (Recommendations for Implementation and Collaborative Action), a comprehensive framework we developed to guide strategies, priority actions, and opportunities to strengthen the region’s sustainable recreation and tourism economy.
Along the way, we hosted two in-person ShinDig gatherings to bring stakeholders and practitioners from all sectors together. The Sierra Industry ShinDig in Bishop, where we launched the Catalyst Phase with project tours and a regional summit at Cerro Coso Community College, and ShinDig 2.0 in Sonora, where we showcased the impact of Sierra Jobs First and marked the culmination of our work as Industry Sector Coordinators.
We also connected our regional efforts to the broader statewide audience through the State Recreation and Tourism Cohort, co-convening the Recreation and Tourism Symposium of Practice with Redwood Region RISE to help shape the State Cohort RICA, a roadmap for advancing sustainable outdoor recreation, tourism, and arts and culture projects across California.
What Now?
MLTPA plans to continue this work by convening the Eastern Sierra Sustainable Recreation Partnership (ESSRP) through monthly meetings to keep the collaborative momentum alive.
MLTPA will also continue advancing its own mission-based projects, deepening our work in the recreation and tourism sector to strengthen the Sierra Region for years to come.
Opportunities to get involved include joining the ESSRP monthly meetings, where regional partners and practitioners continue to collaborate on shared priorities for sustainable recreation.
Visit essrp.org to sign up for the mailing list and find meeting information.
Sierra Focus Media plans to continue this work by advancing projects such as Sierra Sourced, which will sustain the relationships we have built, bring together stakeholders from across the Sierra, and advocate for the needs and contributions of small businesses, nonprofits, and tribal partners. Through this continued collaboration, Sierra Sourced will help strengthen connections among local organizations, elevate their perspectives, and support a more informed and inclusive regional conversation.