Audrey Peterman

Life, Meaning, and Purpose: Protecting our National Parks

In 1995 on a road trip to visit the U.S. National Parks, Audrey Peterman and her husband discovered a noticeable lack of visitor and employee diversity. They resolved to activate change to ensure that public lands are accessible to all.

Her decades of advocacy influenced President Obama’s official memorandum requiring national parks to engage with diverse and underserved communities, laying the foundation for a more inclusive future, requiring that we all get to know and support the parks.

A renowned author, President and Co-founder of Earthwise Productions, and former Trustee of the National Parks Conservation Association, Audrey continues to model the ‘stewardship’ that we all share to protect our natural world for future generations.

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026

Time: 4pm

Registration for virtual presentation:

https://wegespeaker2026.eventbrite.com

About the Wege Speaker Series

The origins of who we are and what we do

About the Series

Every spring since 1997, the Wege Foundation has invited scientists, authors and thinkers to present a free public lecture on environmental and social justice issues and their connection to healthy economies and communities. Although the Foundation’s founder Peter M. Wege passed away in 2014, his work lives on. A visionary and leader, Peter believed in planting seeds that develop leaders in health, education, arts and Economicology, a term he coined to connect environmental with economic issues.

About the Foundation

The Wege Foundation’s main focus is Western Michigan, mainly in Grand Rapids. Peter M. Wege, founder of the family foundation, felt strongly about keeping the mission local because it honored the wishes of his father Peter Martin Wege, who created the Foundation’s resources. Peter Martin Wege founded Metal Office Furniture, today’s Steelcase, in 1912. His metal-working genius and entrepreneurial gifts started the company that became the world’s largest producer of office furniture.