Equity and Inclusion

Best Practices for Environmental Educators to Engage Diverse Audiences. By Tony DeFalco and Marcelo Bonta, this article is important for anyone, not just environmental educators, trying to build effective relationships with communities of color.

By the Numbers: Building a Better Board. Blog post from the Land Trust Alliance highlighting the need for diversity when establishing a board of directors.

Challenging the White Narrative of Conservation. Article from Melanin Base Camp on the need to challenge the white narrative in the conservation movement.

Changing the Face of the Environmental Movement. Video from the Environmental Leadership Program on the need to encompass diversity in the environmental movement.

Community Perspectives. A blog run by a group of community researchers known as “The ICBOs” (Independent Community-based Organizations). Individuals behind this blog represent underserved communities across North America, collectively using strengths and expertise to delve deeper and more meaningfully into research that represents our communities’ perspectives.

Delaware River Watershed Racial Justice Resource Hub. A resource hub for a variety of materials about racial justice, gender justice, intersectionality, and other topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Diversity and the Conservation Movement. Module on diversity developed by the National Audubon Society, the North American Association for Environmental Education, ToyotaTogetherGreen, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and EECapacity.

Diversity & Inclusion Resources for Trail Advocates & Community Allies. Collection of resources from the Partnership for the National Trail System.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Toolkit: Volume 1, Internal Organization Practices. Toolkit from the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Toolkit: Volume 2, External Engagement. Toolkit from the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed.

DEIJ Programming Survey Results. Google form survey conducted by the WeConservePA Programming Pod between May 18 – June 1, 2021.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Terminology Guide. A guide created by the Chesapeake Bay Alliance on how to appropriately communicate with audiences in a way that is sensitive to DEIJ considerations.

Diversity in the Great Outdoors: Is Everyone Welcome in America’s Public Lands and Parks. Article from Resources on barriers to participation in outdoor recreation and paths forward.

Engaging Latino and Hispanic Communities: Best Practices for Water Groups. Article from the River Network on engaging Latino and Hispanic populations in water conservation groups and organizations.

Environmental Groups Say They’re Committing to Racial Equity. What Does That Mean? Article from WHYY on the statements, commitments, and actions taken by environmentalists and conservation organizations to address racial equity.

Environmentalism’s Racist History. Article in The New Yorker on the history of racism in the environmental movement.

Environmentalism & White Supremacy. Article from Hirschman Water & Environment, LLC on the connection between the environmental movement and white supremacy.

For the LGTBQ Community, Birding Can Be a Relief – and a Source of Anxiety. Article from the Audubon Society on how birders are working to make birding more inclusive and welcoming.

Green Girl Leah on Why Environmentalists Must Speak Up for Black Lives Matter. Article featuring Leah Thomas on why environmentalists and environmental organizations need to stand with the black lives matter movement.

How Environmentalism Can Center Racial Justice in 2021. Article on how the voices of the people who have been most impacted by environmental racism need to be the loudest.

How Outdoor Companies Can Back Up Their DEI Pledges. Professional climber Kai Lightner maps out how the outdoor community can build successful diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Leaking Talent: How People of Color are Pushed Out of Environmental Organizations. Report from Green 2.0 on diversity, equity, and inclusion in environmental organizations.

Moving Towards Anti-Racist Community Engagement in Conservation Land-Use Programming. A University of Washington research study.

Nature & Privilege: How COVID-19 Has Unlocked Equity Gaps in Nature Access. Article from the Children & Nature Network on the equity gaps in nature access as revealed by COVID-19.

Nature for All: The Groups Bringing Inclusion Outdoors. Interview with José G. González, the founder of Latino Outdoors.

Nicole Jackson: Environmental Educator – Black Birders Week. Blog post from PBS’s Nature featuring an interview with Nicole Jackon (one of the co-organizers of Black Birders Week), who discussed how to make environmentalism more inclusive.

Operationalizing Racial Justice in Non-Profit Organizations. Reflections and experiences to five commonly asked questions regarding operationalizing racial justice in non-profit organizations.

Partnerships for Impact: A Workbook for Informal Science Educators and Outreach Specialists Working with Diverse Communities. This workbook is for anybody from a predominately white institution looking to build equitable partnerships with communities of color. This is a companion workbook to the Meaningful Community Collaborations Research Poster.

Philanthropy Can’t Support the Common Good When It Supports White Supremacy (Letter to the Editor). Letter to the editor of explaining how the Chronicle of Philanthropy must reflect on the role of philanthropy itself in promoting, funding, and sustaining organizations committed to white supremacy.

Racist Roots, Lack of Diversity, Haunt National Parks. E&E News article on the history of racism in the National Park Service.

Respect Differences? Challenging the Common Guidelines in Social Justice Education. Paper examining the limits on established guidelines for social justice education and alternative strategies.

Standing for Black Lives. Collections of educational resources compiled by the Conservation Trust for North Carolina about systemic racism, the radicalized history of land, and how we as a conservation community can become strong allies to people of color.

Statements About George Floyd Are a Start, but How Will Organizations Live Their Values? Conversation from the Chronicle of Philanthropy on how organizations can abide by their statements against racial inequality.

Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR). Article from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities focusing on the opportunity for minority landowners to increase family income and land asset value through improved sustainable forest management, with a broader goal of land ownership retention.

The A.T. and Race. Article examining how the Appalachian Trail has been a place for White people, and how hikers, Trail clubs, and the ATC take ownership of the entire history of the Trail’s past to the door for a just and equitable future for the Appalachian Trail.

The Conservation and Diversity Program. Blog post from the Land Trust Alliance providing an overview and results of the Conservation & Diversity Program created by the Conservation Trust of North Carolina.

The Real Reason Many Organizations are Still Unable to Diversify Their Board, Staff, Fundraising Committees, etc. Discussion and reflections on why attempts to diversify organizations has been discouraging.

Transforming a Movement: How Foundations Can Support Effective Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Capacity Building Efforts in Environmental Organizations. Report from J.E.D.I. Heart on how DEI can support capacity building efforts in environmental organizations.

What Conservation Efforts Can Learn from Indigenous Communities. Article from Scientific American outlining how a major U.N.-backed report says that nature on indigenous peoples’ lands is degrading less quickly than in other areas

Why the Climate Fight is a Social Justice Fight. Post from the Climate Reality Project on the interconnection between climate action and social justice.

Why Every Environmentalist Should be Anti-Racist. Article in Vogue on the importance of combating racism within the environmental movement.