Unpacking the Free Press: Inside Our Second “Lunch, Unpacked” Event
This August, the Alliance Center kept the conversation going with the second installment of Lunch, Unpacked, our new lunch-and-learn series that brings the climate action community together to challenge assumptions, explore emerging ideas, and build deeper relationships, all over a shared meal.
The Free Press, Unpacked
For our second Lunch, Unpacked session, we turned the lens on the media itself; asking what a truly free press means today, and what happens when it's put under pressure. We were fortunate to host two speakers with deep, hands-on perspective:
Mark Winston Griffith, Co-Executive Director of Free Speech TV
Jason Salzman, Editor of the Colorado Times Recorder
Their hot takes sparked exactly the kind of conversation we hoped for. Attendees left thinking hard about media ownership concentration in Colorado. Several pointed to how much of the state's news landscape is consolidating, and one attendee summed up the moment memorably: "Nixon + Watergate would be a blip today." Others were struck by learning that outlets like the Colorado Times Recorder operate independent of billionaire ownership, and more than one person said the session changed how they think about consuming and paying for news going forward.
But the real highlight, the room didn't just listen, it connected! One attendee described reconnecting with a speaker they hadn't seen in years, and several tenants left with new contacts in hand.
What is Lunch, Unpacked?
Lunch, Unpacked is built around a simple idea: bring the climate action community together over lunch to challenge assumptions, explore emerging ideas, and build deeper relationships. In just 60 minutes, attendees hear stories, insights, and fresh "hot takes" from the people helping shape our more regenerative future. The format stays simple and fun; each speaker gets 8 minutes, timed, to share their take. Then it's over to the room. No long keynotes, no slides to sit through; just enough time to spark an idea before the conversation opens up into facilitated discussion and Q&A. There's food from local businesses, time to connect with fellow Alliance Center tenants and the broader climate community, and by the end, a fresh perspective on a big issue to take home. The response to this session (and to the series overall) has been fantastic: 26 survey responses across our first two sessions, with 8.6 / 10 average score on how much attendees' understanding of each topic increased, and 9.1 / 10 average likelihood to recommend the event to a friend, colleague, or community partner.
What's Next
We're just getting started. Lunch, Unpacked will keep unpacking big, timely topics in the months ahead, including:
The Colorado River — the future of the water system so much of our region depends on
How We Talk About Climate Change — the data, language, framing, and stories we use to inform and how that can shape public understanding of the climate crisis
If the Free Press session got you thinking (or if you missed it and don't want to miss what's next) keep an eye on our Community Calendar and your inbox for the next Lunch, Unpacked announcement. We can't wait to keep unpacking big ideas with you, one lunch at a time.
