Our Social Impacts
I (Barb Bickford) have always enjoyed being in and around
water, and I have been fortunate to have had access both to
clean drinking water and to wild rivers and lakes.
But the dramatic stories of water pollution in the early 1970s
made me realize not everyone has these privileges. Read about
the day I decided to do something about water quality.
That decision led me into a career of being a hydrogeologist.
I was able to prevent impacts to groundwater from landfills
and degradation of surface water from healthcare wastes,
such as highly pathogenic waste, mercury and pharmaceuticals.
Now I help scientists, healthcare professionals and other
data-driven people to contribute to better water quality
and health by improving their working relationships
and their meetings.
We value:
-- providing and protecting clean water (now and for the future),
-- improving science communication and education, and
-- involving young people in protecting water and wilderness.
Because taking care of ourselves and improving our relationships enhances our ability to contribute to the well-being of others, we also offer courses and events related to self-facilitation, listening, and life transitions.
Who we support
Each year, we donate time and/or funds to organizations that improve water quality, involve young people in protecting water and/or provide clean water to those who do not have access to it.
The organizations we are currently supporting are:
-- Friends of Lily Lake
-- Green Business Directory
-- Wild Rivers Conservancy
-- Freshwater
-- American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG)
-- The Matt Gear Boundary Waters Fund
-- Haiti Allies
-- Water for Good
Each one is described below, in order of increasing distance from us, from hyper-local to international.
We invite you to pick one and support it, too!
Friends of Lily Lake
Lily Lake is a small urban lake in Stillwater, Minnesota. The Friends of Lily Lake exist to improve and protect the lake’s water quality, to enhance the wildlife habitat near the lake and to help people enjoy nature. Thanks to the efforts of this group and others, Lily Lake was removed from the Minnesota list of impaired waters in 2023.
Barb serves as the secretary of the Friends' Board of Directors. In 2021-22, she helped the Friends develop a new mission statement and run a community engagement process to identify next steps, as described in her blog and on the FLL website.
Green Business Directory
This organization evaluates and promotes businesses in are near Stillwater Minnesota that have met rigorous standards for being green businesses.. Learn more about the Stillwater area Green Business Directory.
Bickford Collaboration joined the Green Business Directory in 2021 and has helped organize its networking events. Read our Green Business scorecard.
Wild Rivers Conservancy
Wild Rivers Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. It exists to inspire stewardship to forever ensure the rare ecological integrity of the St.Croix and Namekagon Riverway.
Barb and WRC staff are exploring how she might help this organization with pro-bono training for summer interns, scientists, educators or community members. If you would like, you may support WRC's summer internship program.
Freshwater
Freshwater is a Minnesota nonprofit on a mission to inspire and empower people to value and preserve water. It uses science to engage communities from small towns to the Capitol on how to equitably improve water today and for future generations.
As one of Freshwater's Minnesota Water Stewards, Barb volunteers on water-related projects. For example, in 2023, she nurtured over 50 tree seedlings in a gravel bed and gave them away to be planted in the Lily Lake watershed.
American Institute of Professional Geologists
The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) is the largest association dedicated to promoting geology as a profession. In addition to serving practicing geologists, it provides scholarships and learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. AIPG members also present "Rock Talks" for K-12 students. Donate to AIPG's scholarship funds.
In 2024, Barb led webinars for AIPG members wanting to improve engagement in their meetings.
Matt Gear BWCA fund
The Matt Gear Boundary Waters Canoe Trip fund enables youth living in or near Madison, Wisconsin, to experience the Boundary Waters wilderness. It makes the Boundary Waters and other canoe trips affordable to them.
Barb co-founded this fund after her son, Matt Gear (the tall boy in the center of the photo), died in a car accident in 2003. As a teenager, going on Boundary Waters canoe trips helped Matt appreciate clean water and teamwork.
The fund is now administered by the the Madison Christian Community, the progressive church that sponsors the trips, so that donations can be tax-deductible. Please contact Barb if you'd like to donate to this fund or know of a young person who would benefit from going on such a trip.
Haiti Allies
Haiti Allies helps empower Haitians to better their lives and country through education, meal programs, adult literacy, and job creation. Among other things, Haiti Allies operates a school in City Soliel, a shanty town on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. City Soleil is one of the poorest places in the world.
Join Barb in helping young people in Haiti. Your gift of $50 can provide clean water for the students of the school for a week. Donate here. And when you do, please put a note in the comment field that your gift is for the water fund, and that you heard about it from Bickford Collaboration. Let's see how many weeks we collectively can sponsor this year!
Water for Good
Water for Good and Lifewater International merged in 2024. The new organization serves vulnerable people living in extreme poverty by providing access to reliable water, sanitation, and hygiene. When combined, these practices can nearly eliminate waterborne diseases and water-related deaths. Find out how you can get involved.