Diversity and Inclusion in Natural Resource Education
Webinar Series Provided by the Virginia Master Naturalist Program
Fall 2021
In this webinar series, we aim to share with Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers and others several stories and examples of people connecting diverse audiences to natural resources. Please register for each webinar separately. Recordings of the webinars will be posted on this page 1-2 weeks after the events, once the videos have been captioned.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Michelle Prysby at 434-872-4571/TDD* or [email protected] during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations at least 10 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.
Funding for this webinar series was provided through a grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Michelle Prysby at 434-872-4571/TDD* or [email protected] during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations at least 10 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.
Funding for this webinar series was provided through a grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment.
Connecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to Nature in Baltimore
Monday, November 1, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Watch the video
Monday, November 1, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Watch the video
Backyard Basecamp, Inc. and its BLISS Meadows project are providing culturally relevant environmental education and connecting people of color to to local outdoor spaces in Baltimore.
Description
This webinar has two parts, followed by a joint question-and-answer session.
Part 1: Black by Nature founder, Diamon Clark, shares her lessons learned as a diversity advocate in the outdoor community, her journey as an environmental educator, and her success facilitating the first all-Black cohort of Maryland Master Naturalists this year.
Part 2: Hear from Atiya Wells, founder of Backyard Basecamp in Baltimore City, as she discusses the importance of equity in greenspace design, creation, and community cultivation. With their BLISS Meadows project, Backyard Basecamp has reclaimed 10-acres of vacant land in their neighborhood to be used as a place for environmental education and community greenspace.
This webinar has two parts, followed by a joint question-and-answer session.
Part 1: Black by Nature founder, Diamon Clark, shares her lessons learned as a diversity advocate in the outdoor community, her journey as an environmental educator, and her success facilitating the first all-Black cohort of Maryland Master Naturalists this year.
Part 2: Hear from Atiya Wells, founder of Backyard Basecamp in Baltimore City, as she discusses the importance of equity in greenspace design, creation, and community cultivation. With their BLISS Meadows project, Backyard Basecamp has reclaimed 10-acres of vacant land in their neighborhood to be used as a place for environmental education and community greenspace.
Diamon Clark, founder of Black By Nature.
Presenters
Diamon Clark is a Baltimore city native, Maryland Master Naturalist, and has a B.S. in Environmental Science. She is also the founder of Black by Nature, a non-profit organization whose mission is to elevate Black joy and environmental literacy through naturalist training, outdoor programs, and science storytelling. Diamon has worked as an independent researcher, environmental educator, freelance writer, facilitator, and is an avid explorer. Most importantly, she is an advocate for diversity in outdoor recreation and environmental leadership.
Diamon Clark is a Baltimore city native, Maryland Master Naturalist, and has a B.S. in Environmental Science. She is also the founder of Black by Nature, a non-profit organization whose mission is to elevate Black joy and environmental literacy through naturalist training, outdoor programs, and science storytelling. Diamon has worked as an independent researcher, environmental educator, freelance writer, facilitator, and is an avid explorer. Most importantly, she is an advocate for diversity in outdoor recreation and environmental leadership.
Atiya Wells, Founder and Executive Director of Backyard Basecamp, Inc.
Atiya Wells is a registered nurse, outdoor educator, and the Founder/Executive Director of Backyard Basecamp,Inc. - a nonprofit with a mission to (re)connect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to land and nature. While learning more about our natural world, she often noticed that she was one of the few, if not the only, Person of Color in the room. By diving into research and history, she learned that ancestral wounding and historical trauma are key players to the lack of diversity in nature-based programming. She has since dedicated her time to slowly (re)introducing her community to nature by starting in their own backyards and eventually embarking on a journey into the many wild spaces across Baltimore.
Environmental Justice in Virginia
Thursday, December 2, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Watch the video
View and download a PDF of the presentation slides
Thursday, December 2, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Watch the video
View and download a PDF of the presentation slides
Elizabeth River, Portsmouth, Virginia. Photo from pxhere, CCO.
Description
In 2021, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality created a new office of Environmental Justice (EJ) as part of a larger initiative in the agency to incorporate and support EJ efforts in Virginia. Join us for a conversation with representatives of the office to learn what environmental justice is and why it is important, what Virginia is doing related to EJ, and in what ways EJ is relevant to the activities of Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers.
In 2021, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality created a new office of Environmental Justice (EJ) as part of a larger initiative in the agency to incorporate and support EJ efforts in Virginia. Join us for a conversation with representatives of the office to learn what environmental justice is and why it is important, what Virginia is doing related to EJ, and in what ways EJ is relevant to the activities of Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers.
Presenter
Jerome Brooks, DEQ Deputy Director of Environmental Justice, began his career as an environmental field inspector in DEQ’s Tidewater Regional Office and has remained a valuable member of DEQ for 24 years. His responsibilities as environmental justice coordinator included regular collaboration with citizens, non-government organizations, non-profits, other state agencies and the EPA on environmental justice concerns. He brings a wealth of agency knowledge, experience and exposure to DEQ’s new environmental justice office.
Jerome Brooks, DEQ Deputy Director of Environmental Justice, began his career as an environmental field inspector in DEQ’s Tidewater Regional Office and has remained a valuable member of DEQ for 24 years. His responsibilities as environmental justice coordinator included regular collaboration with citizens, non-government organizations, non-profits, other state agencies and the EPA on environmental justice concerns. He brings a wealth of agency knowledge, experience and exposure to DEQ’s new environmental justice office.
Birdability: because birding is for everybody and every body!
Thursday, December 9, 6:30-8:00 pm
Watch the video
Thursday, December 9, 6:30-8:00 pm
Watch the video
Birdability aims to help make birding and the outdoors accessible. Photo provided by Freya McGregor.
Description
Birding is an activity that can bring so much joy and empowerment to everybody, but not everybody is able to go birding easily. Birdability is a brand new non-profit, based in the US but with a global reach. Through education, outreach and advocacy, Birdability works to ensure the birding community and the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody. We focus on people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing or who have other health concerns. In addition to current birders, we strive to introduce birding to people with disabilities and other health concerns who are not yet birders so they too can experience the joys of birding.
Learn about why this should matter to you (even if you don't have an accessibility challenge), ways to be a more welcoming and inclusive birder, the Birdability Map (and how to submit a Birdability Site Review) and our resources for birders (and potential future birders) with accessibility challenges... because birding is for everybody and every body! Learn more and find resources at birdability.org or follow @birdability on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Birding is an activity that can bring so much joy and empowerment to everybody, but not everybody is able to go birding easily. Birdability is a brand new non-profit, based in the US but with a global reach. Through education, outreach and advocacy, Birdability works to ensure the birding community and the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody. We focus on people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing or who have other health concerns. In addition to current birders, we strive to introduce birding to people with disabilities and other health concerns who are not yet birders so they too can experience the joys of birding.
Learn about why this should matter to you (even if you don't have an accessibility challenge), ways to be a more welcoming and inclusive birder, the Birdability Map (and how to submit a Birdability Site Review) and our resources for birders (and potential future birders) with accessibility challenges... because birding is for everybody and every body! Learn more and find resources at birdability.org or follow @birdability on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Freya McGregor, Birdability Coordinator and Occupational Therapist.
Presenter
Freya McGregor, OTR/L, CIG is the Birdability Coordinator and Occupational Therapist. Birding since childhood, her ‘dodgy’ knee often creates an accessibility challenge for her. With a background in blindness and low vision services, she is passionate about enabling all birders and potential future birders to enjoy birding and nature as much as she does.
Freya McGregor, OTR/L, CIG is the Birdability Coordinator and Occupational Therapist. Birding since childhood, her ‘dodgy’ knee often creates an accessibility challenge for her. With a background in blindness and low vision services, she is passionate about enabling all birders and potential future birders to enjoy birding and nature as much as she does.