@article {Shenk245, author = {L. Shenk and J. Eells and W. Almitra}, title = {Women taking action: Multisession learning circles, storytelling, and an ecosystem of relationships for conservation}, volume = {78}, number = {3}, pages = {245--259}, year = {2023}, doi = {10.2489/jswc.2023.00129}, publisher = {Soil and Water Conservation Society}, abstract = {Current conservation outreach largely focuses on single-day, presentation-heavy events typically addressed to farmers, mostly men. Our project created a multisession learning circle series for a cohort of women landowners that introduced conservation education through storytelling and a more conversation-driven format. Its objective was to build relationships that would empower women landowners to take action. Its outcomes, however, far exceeded expectations. The program{\textquoteright}s facilitators and the women landowner-participants not only built relationships of action but also developed a partnership that resembles what researchers call a cognitive ecology. This cognitive ecology involves collaboration among diverse and equal partners who expand each other{\textquoteright}s thinking and capacity, use tools and technologies to extend cognition (maps, soil tests, lease agreements, and simulation models), and interact with the environment. As a cognitive ecology, our group{\textemdash}facilitators and women landowners{\textemdash}produced this article together, as coauthors. Our collaboration offers a storytelling- and exchange-based framework to engage individuals whose needs have not been fully met through conventional programming. Our preliminary findings suggest that conservation programming might better empower a larger range of underinvolved stakeholders by offering multisession programming that builds an ecosystem of relationships for action.}, issn = {0022-4561}, URL = {https://www.jswconline.org/content/78/3/245}, eprint = {https://www.jswconline.org/content/78/3/245.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Soil and Water Conservation} }