A Few Words from the JHLT

/in , /by

Those of us who call America home are quite literally connected by one common thread- land. In order to do our work to protect land and uphold our values, our culture must be one of inclusivity and we must work to protect all people with whom we share this common thread. Today we raise our voice both in opposition to systemic racism and oppression and in solidarity with the Black community and all People of Color. We recognize that while words of acknowledgment are important, what truly matters are the actions we take moving forward that will substantiate these words and create change.

This week our feed and our emails have been intentionally silent in order to provide space for the messages from people and institutions of color that are important to this movement, messages that at their core reflect the values that this organization strives to uphold – commitment, integrity, collaboration, partnerships, community, sustainability, and RESPECT. Our regular Thursday programming will be canceled today and in its place, as our first course of action in listening and learning, we will be sharing a list of resources that amplify diverse voices in conservation from people who have done incredible work to defend our future. It is now our turn to help defend theirs.

 

Resources to Amplify Diverse Voices in Conversation:

Videos:

Planet Walker: Walk the Earth: My 17-year Vow of Silence

Greening the Ghetto

Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies- Diverse Voices: Defining Environmental Leadership for the 21st Century

Diverse Voices to Celebrate and Follow:

Dr. Dorceta Taylor, James E. Crowfoot Collegiate Professor; Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, University of Michigan

Raya Salter, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CONSULTANT & EDUCATOR; MEMBER, NY STATE CLIMATE ACTION COUNCIL

Parker McMullen Bushman, Vice President for Community Engagement, Education and Inclusion at Butterfly Pavilion

Robert G. (Bob) Stanton, Director of the National Park Service (1997 – 2001)

Dr. Robert Bullard. A distinguished professor of urban planning and environmental policy at Texas Southern University in Houston, Robert Bullard is often called the “father of environmental justice.” 

John Francis, Planet Walker

Francisco “Paco” Ollervides, Executive Director, Green Leadership Trust

Dr. Ingrid Waldron, Dalhousie University professor; Co-producer of the Netflix documentary “There’s Something in the Water

Dr. Shivani Bhalla

Kristy Drutman

Dr. Adrienne Keene

Social Media Accounts:

@breaking_green_ceilings

@browngirl_green

@gogreensavegreen

@greengirlleah

@VanessaNakate1

@GenesisBulter_

@HeyAshleyRenne

@MikaelaLoach

@IAmTabithaBrown

@WasteFreeMarie

@SweetPotatoSoul

@ZeroWasteHabesha

@IsraHirsi

@queerbrownvegan

@waldroningrid

@em_cee_

@greengirlmagic

@nativeapprops

Organizations:

Land Loss Prevention Project

Planet Walk

Reclaiming Native Truth Project

Books:

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans in the Great Outdoors

Planet Walker: 22 Years of Walking. 17 Years of Silence

Environmental Health and Racial Equity in the United States: Building Environmentally Just, Sustainable, and Livable Communities

There’s Something in the Water

Confronting Environmental Racism: Voices from the Grassroots

Clean and White: A History of Environmental Racism in the United States

Braiding Sweetgrass

As Long as the Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock

Books for Children (compiled by Brittany Smith, an inclusive pre-kindergarten teacher):