The Roaring Fork Valley's public lands, water, and rural livelihoods are at a crossroads — and the journalism covering them needs to be, too.

On May 11, the Aspen Daily News is hosting Headwaters: A Conversation on Public Lands & Local Journalism — a small, curated evening at Marble Distilling Co. in Carbondale bringing together community leaders, advocates, and changemakers who care deeply about the future of this valley.

We're hiring a dedicated reporter to cover public lands and water issues across the region. It's a beat that has never existed at the paper before. And we're inviting you to help shape that work from the ground up.

The evening will open with a brief presentation from Aspen Daily News Associate Publisher Megan Tackett, followed by open conversation, connection, and a chance to ask the questions that matter most to you. This is a room built for listening — and for deciding, together, what comes next.

Monday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Marble Distilling Co., 150 Main St., Carbondale. Space is intentionally limited.

Headwaters is presented by the Aspen Daily News Journalism Fund in partnership with Report for America. Contributions made at or following this event support the hiring and sustaining of ADN's dedicated public lands and water reporter, and are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsorship with Tiny News Collective.

Questions? Contact Megan Tackett at [email protected].