Keisha Hoerrner is leaving the Woodstock Land Conservancy, where she’s served as its communications and outreach manager for two years, for a new and more sustainable life in Bologna, Italy, seeking to cut her carbon footprint, better healthcare, and “a place where science is valued.”
“I want to go from just educating people about this to doing even more in my own life,” she said. “We’re all going to have to change the way we live–it’s just a reality. We can’t keep doing everything that we’re doing and expect that the planet is going to be able to keep up with us.”
Hoerrner, 56, joined the conservancy after moving to Ulster Park from Orlando, Florida, three years ago, following more than three decades working for nonprofits, companies and higher education, including time as a teacher and administrator at Louisiana State University, the University of Central Florida, and Kennesaw State University.
She knew at the time that she wanted to use her skills to combat threats faced by her now adult-age children. Battling climate change became the focus of her career and helps explain why she joined the conservancy. While there, she’s helped educate the community about climate change and preserving open space.
“Keisha has been a spectacular human being to work with,” said Andy Mossey, who has served as the trust’s executive director for the past five years. “She’s a strong believer in conservation and in climate and environmental protections as well as the mission that we have at the land conservancy.”
Hoerrner, who holds a master’s degree and doctorate in mass communications from the University of Georgia, is also looking forward to better health care in Europe. She and her husband, Mark, pay more than $16,000 a year through the Affordable Care Act – an unsustainable sum.
Given the political climate, Hoerrner isn’t convinced the act will survive into next year.
“We are both running away from a very scary situation in this country and running to a place where healthcare is treated in an entirely different manner,” she said. Bologna, which has an effective, expansive public transportation system, is also “a place where science is valued,” she said.
She said the couple isn’t too worried about working in Italy. They’re obtaining a so-called investor visa, allowing them to fund an organization of their choosing – in their case, a clean energy company.
The land sanctuary, a nonpartisan nonprofit, aims to preserve Woodstock’s open lands, forests, water resources, scenic and historic sites, as well as mitigating the effects of climate change. Environmental education and advocacy are often intertwined, underlining programs like its water education program and helping explain why it opposes the Zena Homes development.
That proposed development is adjacent to the Israel-Whitman Sanctuary, its largest plot of preserved land. The conservancy wants to keep the surrounding forest area undeveloped.
Hoerrner said she’s proudest of the group’s work to preserve those woods, as well as the proposed connection between Kingston and the Ashokan Rail Trail. She said she’ll keep donating to the group.
“If there were a way that I could somehow magically be in two places at the same time I would very happily keep working here, because I think it’s an incredible organization,” she said. “But Italy calls and we’re answering.”
Hoerrner’s last day is May 22. The land trust is accepting applications for the hybrid role, which pays between $50,000 and $56,000 a year, through April 1. It’s seeking a capable writer who can manage press releases, the Wednesday Weekly newsletter and organize yearly events.
“We’re certainly looking to fill the big shoes that Keisha will be leaving,” said Mossey. “We’re really looking forward to working with someone who is also looking forward to working with us.”
Mia Quick is an editorial assistant at The Overlook. Send correspondence to mia@theoverlooknews.com.