Welcome Callie to the St. Louis River Alliance team!

We’re excited to welcome Callie Grones to the St. Louis River Alliance team as our new Communications and Outreach Coordinator!

While Callie may be new to the Alliance, she is no stranger to the St. Louis River Estuary, or to helping people connect with and care for this special place.

Callie grew up in Kimberly, Wisconsin, near the shoreline of the Fox River. After earning her BA in Environmental Ethics from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, she moved to Superior in 2024 and was introduced to the St. Louis River Estuary through an AmeriCorps position with the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve and Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve.

It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the estuary and the community surrounding it.

During her AmeriCorps service, Callie coordinated more than 100 volunteers for invasive species removal and beach cleanups, helping collect nearly 600 pounds of trash. She also helped coordinate efforts to return cultural fire, or ishkode, to Wisconsin Point and participated in the first prescribed burn there in more than a century. Her service and impact earned her recognition as one of Wisconsin’s 2026 AmeriCorps Members of the Year through the Governor’s Service Awards.

Now, she’s bringing that experience and enthusiasm to the St. Louis River Alliance.

As Communications and Outreach Coordinator, Callie will help plan community events centered around education, stewardship, and recreation along the St. Louis River Estuary She’ll also develop newsletters, social media, and other communications while connecting with community members about the many ways they experience and care for our local waterways.

For Callie, that work is especially meaningful because of the connections she has already formed here.

“I'm so excited to work for the St. Louis River Alliance because I get to help connect community members with the amazing restoration and stewardship projects that are happening around the St. Louis River Estuary. You don't have to go far to see some incredible ecosystems right in our neighborhoods, and you also don't have to go far to find many, many people who are caring for the lands and waters here. I cherish the small role I get to play in helping folks create their own connections with the River and Lake.”

That connection is personal, too.

“The River is important to me because it is alive. The River and its relationship with Lake Superior sustain our communities and provide us with benefits both seen and unseen. My reliance on the River helps me remember that I am one small part of a much larger story, and I have a choice about how I want to contribute to the protection of the River and Lake Superior for future generations.”

Outside of work, Callie loves exploring the places surrounding the St. Louis River and Lake Superior through trail running. She also draws creative inspiration from the landscape through writing and poetry.

Callie’s passion for this place, experience engaging volunteers, and enthusiasm for helping people build their own relationships with the River make her a wonderful addition to the Alliance.

Please join us in welcoming Callie to the St. Louis River Alliance team!