Rex Burkholder

Trained as a biologist, Rex Burkholder worked as a science teacher and in the Northwestern forests. He started the bicycling revolution in Portland, Oregon as a founder and policy director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. His current project is leading an effort to get kids outside to learn, beginning with restoring Outdoor School for All Oregon children. An early leader in sustainability and equity, Burkholder also co-founded the Coalition for a Livable Future, bringing together over 100 diverse NGOs in the greater Portland region. He was a member of the Metro Council from 2000-2012, where he led efforts to reform regional transportation policy and to integrate climate change into the decisions of all levels of government in Oregon. He has served on key task forces as well as national boards including Rail~volution and the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Recipient of numerous local awards, his work has been recognized internationally as well, being invited to speak in countries throughout Latin America on sustainable transportation and climate change. He was honored in 2010 as a Global Ambassador for Ciclovia, an international movement to reclaim cities from the automobile. His book, The Activist’s Toolkit (2015), is highly praised for it’s creative approach to leadership, helping many around the world be more effective community activists. He blogs about transportation, urban livability and climate change at www.gettingto2100.org. As a volunteer, Rex founded the Oregon Outdoor Education Coalition in 2014. He recently led a successful statewide campaign to raise $22 million annually for Outdoor School in Oregon.