From Trauma to Transformation: Why Conservation Work Must Include People
Jun 25, 2026The environmental and conservation movement has long centered on land, wildlife, and ecosystems. But what happens when the people most impacted by environmental decisions are left out of the conversation?
That question sits at the heart of this conversation between Jennifer Sconyers and Leander Lacy on this episode. Leander’s story is not just about conservation. It’s about leadership, belonging, systems change, and the courage to redefine an entire movement from the inside out.
The Unexpected Path Into Conservation
Leander never planned to work in conservation.
Originally pursuing veterinary medicine, he found himself at a crossroads while attending community college and working full-time to pay for school. A college advisor presented two options:
“You can do cows and chickens… or bears and tigers.”
That single moment changed everything. Leander chose wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of Florida and quickly discovered something important: conservation spaces were deeply passionate but often disconnected from communities.
One question shifted his entire perspective:
“Who goes into the hood and talks to those people? Because nobody came into my hood and talked to me about any of this.”
The response stunned him. According to Leander, professors and students alike admitted that many people entered conservation specifically to avoid working with people. That realization became the foundation of his leadership journey.
Conservation Cannot Succeed Without Communities
Throughout the episode, Leander challenges the historical foundations of conservation work.
He explains that traditional Western conservation models were often rooted in:
- Land ownership
- Exclusion
- Protection through restriction
- Systems shaped primarily by white colonial perspectives
Historically, conservation centered around protecting land from people rather than working with communities. Leander believes the future of conservation must look different.
“I perceive conservation as a mutually beneficial opportunity to heal the planet and heal ourselves at the same time.”
The shift from exclusion to relationship-building is central to the work he now leads through Lacy Consulting Services.
Leadership Born From Trauma and Healing
One of the most powerful themes in the conversation is the connection between leadership and lived experience.
Leander openly shares the racism, microaggressions, and systemic barriers he experienced while working in environmental spaces where few people looked like him or shared his background. Those experiences pushed him to leave traditional organizational work and launch his own company. What began as survival became clarity.
“I am an entrepreneur, period. That’s who I am. I am the leader. I am the CEO.”
Jennifer reflects on how many leadership journeys begin in spaces of exclusion or unmet need. Often, the companies people build are responses to problems others don’t even recognize yet.
“Stop Assuming. Start Knowing.”
At the core of Lacy Consulting Services is a deceptively simple idea: “Stop assuming. Start knowing.”
Leander explains that many organizations make assumptions about communities without really listening to them. His team specializes in changing that dynamic through:
- Community engagement
- Social science research
- Story collection
- Trust-building strategies
- Equity-centered facilitation
Importantly, their work intentionally reaches communities often excluded from environmental conversations:
- Mosques
- Latino community centers
- Barbershops
- Historically underrepresented neighborhoods
Rather than relying only on the loudest or most accessible voices, they focus on hearing from people who have historically been ignored.
Why Social Science Matters in Conservation
One of the most compelling insights in the episode is Leander’s explanation of social science as a bridge between communities and decision-makers.
He notes that leaders often demand data before acting, even when communities are already clearly communicating their needs. Social science helps translate lived experiences into information that institutions can understand and use.
That means:
- Collecting stories
- Identifying patterns
- Understanding trust
- Measuring community impacts
- Translating human experiences into actionable insights
This approach helps organizations move beyond assumptions and toward more informed, equitable decision-making.
Navigating the Backlash Against DEI
Jennifer and Leander also discuss the current political and cultural climate surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion work.
Leander shares how his company adapted during a period when organizations became increasingly fearful about publicly engaging in DEI-related work.
Initially, survival required strategic changes, including removing DEI language from his website. But over time, he realized something important:
“My work speaks for itself.”
He focuses on what his work accomplishes:
- Building trust with communities
- Understanding civil rights history
- Exploring how social movements intersect with conservation
- Teaching organizations how to engage people authentically
The language evolved as the mission stayed the same.
Trust Is the Future of Leadership
One of Leander’s most popular workshops focuses on trust-building within environmental organizations. Using the “Trust Ecology” framework developed by Professor Mark Stern, organizations learn practical strategies for building meaningful relationships with communities and partners.
And perhaps that’s the larger lesson from this episode:
Real change does not happen through protection alone.
It happens through trust.
Trust requires:
- Listening
- Representation
- Shared decision-making
- Vulnerability
- Accountability
- Relationship-building
Those principles apply not only to conservation work, but to leadership in every sector.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
Conservation Is About People and Nature
Protecting ecosystems without engaging communities creates incomplete solutions.
Representation Changes Outcomes
When people see themselves reflected in leadership and outreach efforts, engagement becomes possible.
Leadership Often Emerges from Pain
Experiences of exclusion can become catalysts for transformation and innovation.
Social Science Creates Better Decisions
Stories, data, and community insights help organizations move beyond assumptions.
The Work Is Still the Work
Even as language evolves, values-driven leadership remains essential.
Connect With Leander Lacy
www.lacyconsultingservices.com
www.linkedin.com/in/leander-lacy
Listen to Leander's episode on the ALC ChangeMakers Podcast: https://www.jennifersconyers.com/podcasts/alc-changemakers-podcast
About Abundance Leadership Consulting
The ALC ChangeMakers Podcast is brought to you by Abundance Leadership Consulting (ALC), a certified MBE/WBE consulting firm helping nonprofits, foundations, associations, and mission-driven organizations navigate change with confidence.
At ALC, we specialize in strategic planning, leadership development, organizational change management, board governance, facilitation, and nonprofit mergers, acquisitions, and mission continuity planning. Through our proprietary F.A.B.R.I.C.™ Framework - Fairness, Accountability, Belonging, Relationships, Inclusion, and Collaboration - we help organizations strengthen culture, build sustainable systems, and achieve long-term impact.
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