When I stepped out of academia four years ago to co-found the National Trust for Local News, I was answering a call that felt bigger than myself. I believed then, as I believe now, in the profound importance of preserving and reimagining our nation's local storytelling institutions. Like the Nature Conservancy's work to protect our natural heritage, we set out to conserve and transform the vital institutions that help communities understand themselves and each other.
In these four years, we've built something extraordinary together. We've demonstrated that a new model of stewardship is possible - one that honors both preservation and innovation, tradition and transformation. We've shown that what unites us truly is stronger than what divides us, and that local journalism can be a powerful force for reweaving our civic fabric. The challenges ahead are real, but so too is the strength of what we've built together.
As I reflect on this journey, I recognize that the very principles that guided our work - trust in community wisdom, belief in the power of transformation, and faith in our shared stories - now guide me to make a transition. I have decided to step down as CEO and am working closely with the board to transition to new leadership.
This moment arrives not as an ending, but as evolution: the vision that called me to build now calls me to step back, trusting in the foundation we've laid and the wisdom of those who will carry it forward. What began as a mission to build has become a lesson in letting go, in trusting that what we've created together has its own wisdom and momentum.
I look to the horizon of local news and see the seeds we've planted taking root in ways we may not yet imagine. I envision our work flowering into a thousand expressions of community storytelling, each uniquely adapted to its place and people. I see newsrooms becoming not just repositories of information, but sacred spaces where community wisdom is gathered, preserved, and shared across generations. I believe the National Trust will continue to be a crucible where tradition and innovation meet, where storytelling finds new forms, and where the threads of community are constantly rewoven into ever-stronger fabric.
To our generous supporters who believed in this vision from its earliest days: Your faith in what was possible, your willingness to invest in new models, and your commitment to community storytelling have made everything possible. You understood that preserving local journalism requires both innovation and deep respect for tradition. May your courage in supporting new paths forward inspire others to join in this vital work.
To those who will carry this work forward: May you find joy in being stewards of these community treasures. May you have the courage to preserve what is precious and the wisdom to welcome necessary change. May you feel the support of all who have contributed to this mission, and may you trust in the profound importance of your work.
I step back with profound gratitude for how this journey has transformed me even as we've worked to transform the landscape of local news. The story of the National Trust continues, evolving as all good stories do. I look forward to watching and supporting its next chapter, knowing that the work of preserving and reimagining local journalism is more vital than ever.
With deep respect and enduring belief in our shared mission,
Elizabeth
