Leadership Transition Announcement: A Fond Farewell to Julia Blatt, Champion for Our Rivers

From Emily Scerbo, Board President on behalf of the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance Board of Directors

Dear Members,

We are writing to you to announce that our esteemed Executive Director, Julia Blatt, will be stepping down at the end of this year after 16 dedicated years with Mass Rivers. In her role as our leader, Julia has been instrumental in growing Mass Rivers from a fledgling organization to the environmental powerhouse we are today.

We have all benefited from Julia’s steady leadership, but no one more so than our rivers. Under Julia’s guidance, our membership has grown to 80+ organizations, fostered multiple partnerships, and created innovative programs to benefit rivers across the Commonwealth - and the people who care about them. We are proud of this work, of our many accomplishments, and of the collaborative culture she has encouraged, both within our organization and beyond it.

As we prepare for this transition, Mass Rivers’ Board of Directors is committed to ensuring a smooth and successful succession process. We have partnered with Eos Transition Partners to facilitate a comprehensive search for a new Executive Director who will build upon Julia’s achievements and lead us successfully into the next chapter of our journey. We will share more details when the search launches later this summer; in the meantime, feel free to contact Erin Cox (ecox@eostransitions.com) should you wish to learn more.

We will honor Julia’s outstanding contributions appropriately – look for details to come! We encourage all members to join us in celebrating Julia’s remarkable career and expressing our heartfelt gratitude for her years of service.

We thank you for your continued support and dedication to our mission during this period of change. Together, we will continue to make a difference for our rivers and uphold the values that Julia has so passionately championed.

Sincerely,

Emily Scerbo

Board President

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From Julia Blatt, Executive Director, Mass Rivers

I am writing to let you know that I will be moving on from my position as the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance’s executive director at the end of this year.

Since stepping into this role in 2009, I’ve been inspired by our community, excited to help it grow, and amazed at what we have been able to achieve together. We’ve championed a major piece of legislation that became law, successfully advocated for over $40M in increased annual state funding for agencies and programs that protect rivers, helped improve scores of new and updated regulations protecting and restoring rivers, educated hundreds of people about stormwater finance river restoration and dam removal, successfully opposed harmful legislative initiatives, and occasionally litigated on behalf of our rivers. Our staff currently sit on over 30 committees, commissions, and advisory groups to ensure rivers and water are considered whenever state policies are developed.

I am immensely proud of our shared achievements. However, for me, one of the best parts of being at the center of a large network has been the connections I have made to so many people. Whether it’s listening to a staff member gently suggest ways to better organize my to-do list, watching a colleague in a tense meeting demonstrate how to advocate effectively without alienating anyone, or more recently, picking up tips from a longtime donor over tea on how to have a good retirement, I am always learning from all of you. I have found close colleagues and kindred spirits on our staff, our board, from the ranks of organizational members and individual supporters, and within the legislature and government agencies tasked with protecting our environment. I am so grateful for your support and partnership.

This is a critical time for river protection and for the environment in general. We need the courage to keep speaking up for our rivers, environmental justice, and climate resilience. Thus, my top priority this year is to ensure that the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance is stronger than ever, and I am working to facilitate a smooth transition to the next leader. With the support of our wonderful board, staff, and supporters, I’m confident the organization will continue to thrive and grow in its next chapter. The board is initiating a search for our next executive director, so please be on the lookout for more information, if you or someone you know might be interested. Thank you for all the ways you lift up our organization and its work.

This work has been exciting, rewarding, sometimes frustrating, but also a lot of fun over the years. While I am sad to be leaving Mass Rivers, I am looking forward to spending less time in front of my computer, and more time in my kayak.

With love and gratitude,

Julia Blatt

Executive Director