Through a slide presentation, Leigh Youngblood will illustrate the impact and potential of collaboration rather than competition as realized by the work of the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust. In cultural times that too often emphasize competition and differences, the Mount Grace Trust has been a model of collaboration and received the 2022 National Land Trust Excellence Award. As Trust director, Youngblood worked with many partners creatively to protect tens of thousands of acres of woodland and agricultural land across north central Massachusetts. This presentation will focus on local stories to demonstrate innovative applications of collaboration that serve as national models while securing the integrity of the local region's colorful mosaic of forests, fields and waterways.