Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Caldwell.
Hi Wendy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I grew up on a farm in west-central Minnesota, where I was active in 4H. One activity 4H got me started on was entomology. I began collecting insects to exhibit at the county fair and quickly fell in love with the challenge and intriguing nature of insects and their habitats. This launched my career in insect conservation, beginning with a student researcher position at the University of Minnesota Monarch Lab. There, I did many things, including researching monarch parasitoids and heat/cold tolerance, supporting professional development workshops for educators, and coordinating international monarch conservation meetings. I quickly gained experience and a tremendous appreciation for the monarch butterfly as a research, education, and conservation tool that inspires people from all walks of life. I was given the opportunity to lead a growing network of organizations working on monarch conservation across the United States, the Monarch Joint Venture. I had been involved with the group since its inception in 2008 and began leading it in 2013. From there, our efforts to leverage the charisma of the iconic monarch butterfly have grown into an international and powerful conservation movement.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Just as the monarch endures a long-distance and often challenging migration, my journey has not been smooth sailing. One of the major challenges I faced on this trajectory was transitioning the Monarch Joint Venture from its home as a program within a University to become a standalone nonprofit. One of the most complicated and taxing things I’ve ever experienced was legally extracting a 10-year foundation from the University while simultaneously preparing a nonprofit foundation to acquire its staff, information, etc. With support from an amazing team, we did it. In enduring what I thought would be the biggest professional challenge of my career, our nonprofit launched only a year before the pandemic struck, putting new barriers on our path to success, and creating new leadership opportunities to navigate with a young organization. Throughout all of this, my husband and I are raising three wonderful children, ages 8, 6, and 3. While I wouldn’t change it for the world, it brings ALL of the distractions and challenges of being a hard-working mom, all without letting the wheels of our important mission work fall off.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The needs of monarch butterflies are relatively simple – milkweeds to grow their young, nectar to sustain adult butterflies and specific forest locations to accommodate their overwintering needs. A coordinated and robust approach stretching across North America is required to ensure the amazing monarch migration persists for generations to come. The charisma and decline of this insect icon present a unique opportunity to engage people and partners from all backgrounds in a robust conservation movement that yields benefits far beyond the monarch butterfly. Leveraging the unique strengths and resources of a network of over 120 partner organizations across the U.S., the Monarch Joint Venture brings stakeholders together to increase the scale and effectiveness of species conservation measures. The MJV coordinates and engages its partners to design and deliver effective habitat conservation, education campaigns, and research to support monarch butterflies and promote biodiversity and broader ecosystem functions. Only through coordination and collaboration can we engage All-Hands-On-Deck to protect the monarch butterfly migration. Everyone has a role to play, and the MJV’s role is to help you engage in a meaningful way for you and the monarchs!
I wish I had more to recommend, but I primarily read emails, online articles, and children’s books, and when I have downtime, I often appreciate silence in nature (or the car) to reset! I also love photography, so whenever I get the chance, I spend time sorting and admiring thousands of images of nature and wildlife (and kids!).
Contact Info:
- Website: monarchjointventure.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchjointventure
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monarchjointventure
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MonarchsJV
Image Credits
Wendy Caldwell Pheasants Forever
