Private Practice Public Practice Academic Practice & Research Non-profit & Non-Traditional Practice   * Click on the thumbnail then to view image. Natural Lands Trust: Randall Arendt Located on a farm in Pennsylvania, the Natural Lands Trust is dedicated to the conservation of open space and rural areas. Landscape planner Randall Arendt says that with proper design, rural places can maintain their natural character while accommodating development. He contends that communities can "grow greener" by incorporating landscape sensitivity into local ordinances. (Photo by Tony Ward) ESRI: Jack Dangermond Jack Dangermond is known worldwide as the father of commercial geographic information systems (GIS) and founder of the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). ESRI has been committed to the notion that this space-age technology should be used not only by governments or the military, but the rank and file, including landscape architects. After starting out on rented computers, ESRI now has produced many editions of its famous ARC/INFO package, which helps map all kinds of geological and environmental conditions. (Photo by Ed Caldwell) SLUG: Mohammed Nuru Leader of the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners, also known as SLUG, Mohammed Nuru is a different kind of landscape architect. SLUG is located in the heart of a low-income, minority community, and the organization is dedicated to social uplift through landscape programs. The organization, which has one hundred employees, administers several successful programs, including the innovative "adopt-a-sidewalk" effort, in which welfare recipients are put to work cleaning up streets and sidewalks. A native of Nigeria, Nuru likes to work hands-on with communities because it reminds him of home. (Photo by Bob Swanson)