Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Breaking Green Ceilings
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP 64: The Power of Indigenous Storytelling (Pt2) | 15 Nov 2022 | 00:42:20 | |
In the second part of a two part series, we will continue talking about The Whale Child, a book written and illustrated by Indigenous authors Keith and Chenoa Egawa. Keith and Chenoa are siblings and enrolled members of the Lummi Indian Nation and of Japanese heritage. This book is a reminder of why we are here, why I am here, and why I am doing this work and this podcast. In the first part of the episode, we hear more about the role of magic in telling the story and about the inspiration for the book. In the second part of the episode, Keith and Chenoa talk about influences, habits, and advices that helped them in their work and life. Magic is a part of life. It is also the potential that we all have that somehow gets limited through conditioning and socialization, especially in modern world. We are able to connect to that magic – if we wish to – through our dreams. It comes from the heart, not the mind. But now, we do not even know what the heart is saying any more. We want you to remember you’re important; this is who you are. You can be what you want to be. But what is your goal? Is it to make money? And, is it to make money at the cost of life? It does not matter if you’re a good engineer; if your job is destructive, you’re destroying the Earth. It is important to bring this reality to our children now and prepare them to what is happening and what is going to happen. Episode Highlights
Contact information and other Resources: Keith Egawa is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Creative Writing program and author of the novel Madchild Running. Keith’s extensive work experience in the fields of Child and Family Services and Indian Education Reform has provided him with both inspiration and insight into his subject matter. Chenoa Egawa holds a BA in International Business and Spanish from the University of Washington. In addition to being a writer, Chenoa is an activist for Indigenous communities and the environment, a ceremonial leader, medicine woman, singer, storyteller, and artist dedicated to bringing healing to our Mother Earth and people of all origins. Breaking Green Ceilings: Website: https://www.breakinggreenceilings.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breaking_green_ceilings/ Follow Keith and Chenoa Egawa: Instagram: The Whale Child Facebook: The Whale Child Website: http://www.swanclan.com/ E-mail: chenoa egawa Penguin Random House: The Whale Child Amazon: The Whale Child | |||
| EP 63: The Power of Indigenous Storytelling (Pt1) | 01 Nov 2022 | 00:42:06 | |
In this first episode of a two-part series, we will be talking about The Whale Child, a book written and illustrated by Indigenous authors Keith and Chenoa Egawa. Keith and Chenoa are siblings and enrolled members of the Lummi Indian Nation, and of Japanese heritage. Keith Egawa is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Creative Writing program and author of the novel Madchild Running. Keith’s extensive work experience in the fields of Child and Family Services and Indian Education Reform has provided him with both inspiration and insight into his subject matter. Chenoa Egawa holds a BA in International Business and Spanish from the University of Washington. In addition to being a writer, Chenoa is an activist for Indigenous communities and the environment, a ceremonial leader, medicine woman, singer, storyteller, and artist dedicated to bringing healing to our Mother Earth and people of all origins. The Whale Child is an inspiring book that introduces young readers to the environmental challenges facing the planet through the eyes of Coast Salish characters and authors. It is a story about two children: a young whale and a little girl. Her task is to follow the whale child as he shows her the threats of pollution and global warming to water and thus to all interconnected life and creatures on Earth. The book is a reminder of our severed and hurt relationships with nature. We were born with connections to nature. But as we grow older, we get socialized away from nature, which takes us away from our essence, who we really are. According to the authors, there is nothing wrong with awareness. We do not need to be afraid. We need to recognize what is going on, and realize that we still have the power to change the situation. Turning our backs and being afraid to look at the truth will not help us to overcome anything. Facing the reality of what is going on, whether it is within or around us, is part of the healing that we all came here to do. And now, perhaps, if we can come together and recognize our common humanity, we can see that together we can make these changes. It is on us to find a way to respect nature wherever we are. Episode Highlights
Contact information and other Resources: Keith Egawa is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Creative Writing program and the author of the novel Madchild Running (Red Crane Books Inc. 1999). Egawa’s extensive work experience in the fields of Children and Family Services and Indian Education Reform has provided him with both inspiration and insight into his subject matter. Egawa has been awarded several artists’ grants, including the ARTs Up grant through the Seattle Arts Commission, which was used to conduct a series of writing workshops for Native youth in the Seattle area. Chenoa Egawa is the Coast Salish of the Lummi and S’Kallam Nations of Washington State. She is a ceremonial leader, singer, speaker, environmental activist, and artist dedicated to bringing healing to our Mother Earth, and people of all cultures, backgrounds, and origins through recognition of our shared experiences as human beings. Chenoa has long been active in local and international work for Indigenous peoples, children, and the environment. For over 20 years, she has worked in Washington State schools, creating programs that integrate Native American culture and history, often teaching through songs and storytelling, empowering Native youth, and bringing greater appreciation for cultural diversity to all children in the public school system. Over the past 25 years, she has traveled throughout North, Central, and South America facilitating communication among indigenous peoples with the intent of protecting and preserving cultural heritage, languages, and homelands. Breaking Green Ceilings: Website: https://www.breakinggreenceilings.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breaking_green_ceilings/ Follow Keith and Chenoa Egawa: E-mail: chenoa egawa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chenoa.egawa/ Chenoa Egawa website: http://www.swanclan.com/ | |||
| EP 54: Tackling Food Insecurity in the United Kingdom | 29 Sep 2021 | 01:00:00 | |
One would think that food insecurity doesn't exist in one of the richest countries in the world - United Kingdom. Deidre (Dee) Woods who currently lives in London sheds light on the stark disparities that exist in the community she serves. As a food and farming action-ist Dee advocates for good food for all and a just, equitable food system, challenging the systemic barriers that impact marginalized communities and food producers. Having experienced food insecurity herself, Dee found a way to organize community to increase food access and eventually co-founded a food bank in London. Through policy action and decolonizing research and farming methods, Dee is committed to helping families struggling economically, often people of color, including immigrants and refugees. Of Trinidadian heritage, Dee talks about how her experiences of growing up on her father's farm in Trinidad made her passionate about food, farming and connecting to the land. In addition to being a food and farming action-ist, Dee is also an award winning cook! Follow Dee Woods:
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| Ep 53: Fighting for Food Sovereignty in Kenya and Uganda. | 15 Sep 2021 | 45:06:37 | |
In this episode we talk about the implications of free trade on African women especially from a food sovereignty perspective. Often free trade agreements are advertised to boost trade between countries, and ultimately encourage and strengthen economic growth in a geographic region. However, this is not the case, especially with African women farmers and small holder farmers who are the back bone of the agriculture sector on the continent. Susan Nacakwa and Leonida Odongo share their experiences of their work in Uganda and Kenya as it relates to helping empower small holder and women farmers to protect and preserve indigenous farming practices that are less harmful to the environment and ensure sustainable yields over the long term. Ultimately, Susan and Leonida want to help their farmers reclaim land to produce local and organic foods that achieve food and seed sovereignty not only in their home countries but also throughout other African countries struggling with similar threats from unfair government policies and corporate interests.
Follow Susan: Email - susan@grain.org Website - https://grain.org/
Follow Leonida: Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/public/Nana-Odongo Twitter: https://twitter.com/nanodo2001 Blog: https://leoconversations715036889.wordpress.com/ Email: leonida@hakinawiriafrika.org
Leonida's Organisation - Haki Nawiri Afrika
Website :https://hakinawiriafrika.org/ Blog: https://hakinawiriafrica.wordpress.com/blog-2/ You Tube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc1ez4ndJ0IDhqU6gQgBEyQ/about Email: info@hakinawiriafrika.org | |||
| EP 52: Collaborations in Environmental Justice Movements (Part 2) | 07 Sep 2021 | 00:39:17 | |
This is the second episode of a two part series with three wonderful changemakers - Laura Diaz, Samrat Pathania from Environmental Collective for Environmental Justice or EC-EJ and Isabel Lopez and Raizes Collective. This is yet another wonderfully informative and descriptive conversation with phenomenal environmental justice activists on what inspired them to create their own movements and how they are collaborating to help strengthen and empower their communities. Topics Discussed:
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| EP 52: Collaborations in Environmental Justice Movements (Part 1) | 01 Sep 2021 | 00:54:11 | |
This is the first episode of a two part series with three wonderful changemakers - Laura Diaz, Samrat Pathania from Environmental Collective for Environmental Justice or EC-EJ and Isabel Lopez and Raizes Collective. This is yet another wonderfully informative and descriptive conversation with phenomenal environmental justice activists on what inspired them to create their own movements and how they are collaborating to help strengthen and empower their communities. Topics Discussed:
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| EP 51: Decolonizing the Flower | 20 Aug 2021 | 01:10:44 | |
A queer farmer of color, Edgar Xochitl is the Farm Manager at Hummingbird Farm a collective farm in the Excelsior, San Francisco. Edgar focuses on cross-polinating traditional ecological knowledge. In this episode we talk about:
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| EP 50: Incorporating Social Sciences into Conservation | 03 Aug 2021 | 01:01:13 | |
Why is modern conservation failing? And what can we do to improve its effectiveness? As a social research consultant, Leander Lacy notes that traditional approaches are fragmented, not adequately considering the social dimensions of environmental issues. His transformative solutions— rooted in empiricism and critical Human-Nature connectedness, help conservation groups and eco-minded businesses achieve optimal outcomes from conservation action: business growth, stronger community relationships, stakeholder engagement, and increased JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion). In this episode we talk about:
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| EP 49: Uncovering the Innovative Genius that Resides in Nature | 20 Jul 2021 | 01:02:33 | |
Billy Almon is an Astrobiofuturist. Billy helps people explore solutions to improve human experiences on earth and in space. He is an inventor and immersive storyteller who aims to reach the next generation of inventors, designers, scientists and engineers – showing them how to design the future they wish to see. Billy is also the co-host of Little Giants, a new TV series on Animal Planet that features some of his global explorations of the nature-inspired design process called Biomimicry. In this episode we talk about:
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| EP 48: Art for Environmental Change | 06 Jul 2021 | 00:00:01 | |
Benjamin Von Wong is an award-winning Canadian who's work lies at the intersection of fantasy and photography and combines everyday objects with shocking statistics. It has attracted the attention of corporations, like Starbucks, Dell, and Nike and has generated over 100 million views for causes like ocean plastics, electronic waste, and fashion pollution. Most recently, he was named one of Adweek's 11 content branded masterminds. In this episode Ben talks about some of his conceptual photography projects where he tried to communicate the shocking impacts of pollution such as Strawpocalypse: a 10-ft sculpture made from 168,000 reclaimed straws to spotlight plastic pollution and the world’s tallest closet to encourage consumers to shop consciously. He also talks about his podcast Impact Everywhere Podcast and how it's a means to continue amplifying the positive impact of other creatives, entrepreneurs, innovators, changemakers around the world. Watch/Learn More:
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| Season 3 Launch! | 29 Jun 2021 | 00:04:16 | |
We're back! Here are some highlights:
Let's connect!:
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| EP 47: Water Affordability and Equity in America | 24 Mar 2021 | 00:50:46 | |
Stacey Isaac Berahzer, founder of IB Environmental, has spent more than 16 years in the environmental field, most of it immersed in water resource management as a senior project director with the Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. As a passionate proponent of clean, affordable water who is deeply connected to work in the water industry, she’s helps her clients overcome the constant challenges related to funding and managing these projects. Stacey’s passion for environmental work led her to earn a degree in Environmental Science from North Carolina Central University and a Master of Public Administration from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is past chair of the board of directors for the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership and teaches in the Georgia Association of Water Professionals Leadership Academy. Follow Stacey:
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| EP 62: Moving Resources to Benefit the Dreams of Environmentalists of Color | 18 Oct 2022 | 01:01:59 | |
Grace Anderson (she/her) is a network weaver, strategist, and dreamer working at the intersection of race, healing and the environment. While working in the outdoor and environmental sector, she recognized a lack of people of color in that space, not only in leadership, but also in the program. Their stories have not been being told. She soon realized she did not want to spend her time educating white folks. Instead, she wanted to spend her time, resources and energy on people of color and their experiences, moving resources towards what they needed. In this episode, we will hear about what made her become an independent environmental consultant, and what specific issues she is focused on. She shares her thoughts about DEI, volunteering, and philanthropy, among other things. Her insightful article about the problems related to DEI: “Is DEI work upholding the same systems it seeks to challenge?” is available on her web page. Episode Highlights
Contact information and other Resources: Grace Anderson (she/her) is a network weaver, strategist, and dreamer working at the intersection of race, healing, and the environment. She is committed to building the capacity of people of color in the environmental space by moving resources toward their dreams and creating structural programming to support their growth. With over a decade of experience in the outdoor and environmental sector, Grace has worked in several different capacities to uplift and center Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. At People of the Global Majority in the Outdoors, Nature, and Environment (PGM ONE), Grace co-directed the largest gathering of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who work in connection with the land. Her time in this role significantly deepened her commitment to building and sustaining the networks, dreams, and joy of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Breaking Green Ceilings: Website: https://www.breakinggreenceilings.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breaking_green_ceilings/ Follow Grace: Website: https://www.graceanderson.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amaze_me_grace/ | |||
| EP 46: Investigating the Illicit Vulture Trade in Nigeria | 16 Mar 2021 | 00:57:47 | |
Stephen Awoyemi is a PhD student at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy. For his PhD research, he looks at how sociological theories can help explain and solve the conservation problem of trade in vulture parts for traditional medicine in Nigeria. He holds an MPhil degree in Conservation Leadership (2014) from the University of Cambridge, UK and Bachelors degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Before starting this PhD program, Stephen worked with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the foremost conservation organization in Nigeria as Conservation Policy and Campaign Officer/Head of Abuja Office and has been a longtime volunteer with the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB). Follow Stephen Awoyemi:
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| EP 45: Making Space for Climate Justice and Clean Energy (RERUN) | 09 Mar 2021 | 00:54:31 | |
Raya Salter is an attorney, educator and clean energy law/policy expert, focusing on climate justice. She is a member of the New York State Climate Action Council, which is developing NY’s plan to reach the nation’s leading climate action goals, and a policy organizer with the NY Renews environmental and climate justice coalition. Raya is an experienced advocate, having practiced energy law and regulation in multiple jurisdictions, including New York and Hawaii. In prior roles she was a Senior Attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council and a Regulatory Attorney with the Environmental Defense Fund. She has written widely on energy policy and her book, "Energy Justice, Domestic and International Perspectives" was released in 2018. Follow Raya Salter
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| EP 44: Indigenous Environmentalism | 02 Mar 2021 | 01:02:38 | |
Deondre Smiles is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Geography and is a citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. His research interests include Indigenous geographies, science and technology studies, and tribal cultural resource protection/preservation. His current dissertation research focuses on historical and contemporary disrespect and disturbances of deceased Indigenous bodies and Indigenous burial grounds in his home state of Minnesota.
Deondre is also teaching a course this spring on indigenous environmental activism at The Ohio State University, which we talk about in-depth in this 44th episode of the Breaking Green Ceilings podcast. Follow Deondre:
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| EP 43: Diving With A Purpose | 23 Feb 2021 | 00:55:30 | |
Weldon Wade was born and raised in Bermuda and has been active in the Bermuda diving community for over 10 years. The first and only Bermudian certified as freediver/scuba diver/closed-circuit rebreather diver, Weldon is also the founder of an ocean conservation organization called Guardians of the Reef. With important missions that include inviting new divers to explore and protect the ocean, encouraging divers to continue diving, they empower more young Bermudians to see for themselves what lies beneath the waves. Ocean protection is at the core of Guardians, with hunting invasives and removing plastic pollution from the land and sea floor as two of the organization’s main goals. Follow Weldon Wade:
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| EP 42: Grassroots Action in River Protection (RERUN) | 16 Feb 2021 | 00:51:47 | |
This is a re-release of an episode from Feb 2020 season 1 of the podcast. This episode is with the only African American River Keeper in the world, Fred Tutman. Fred is the river for the Patuxent River in Maryland, a north eastern state in the US. This episode is especially meaningful for me because it was the first time I gained the perspective of an elder in the environmental justice movement. Fred’s words still echo in my thoughts because I learned about how segregated the environmental movement is and the challenges that Black and Brown communities face especially when competing with mainstream environmental movements for attention and resources for environmental justice causes. So, I am rereleasing old episodes every other week because I’d like for us to revisit some of the conversations that set the foundation for this podcast. I also want to continue honoring the guests. And another reason for rereleasing episodes is so that our new listeners can catch-up and older followers can reflect on these conversations. A new episode will be released next week. Until then please enjoy my conversation with the Patuxent Riverkeeper, Fred Tutman. Follow Fred:
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| EP 41: Finding Black Joy: Black Women in Nature | 09 Feb 2021 | 01:04:33 | |
Nicole Jackson, Ivory Levert and Angela Mitchell are co-creators of Black Women in Nature (BWN), an initiative to connect Black women with nature through meditation, nature, hiking, and reflection in Columbus, Ohio. Nicole is an environmental educator and co-organizer for Black in National Parks Week and Black Birder’s Week. Ivory Levert is a certified yoga guide and leads the meditation and mindfulness segments of the BWN sessions. Angela Mitchell is a professional athlete and health and wellness enthusiast who guides the discussions on the importance of holistic living in the BWN sessions. Together these women are helping Black women find and celebrate Black joy, and to connect with their natural environment through mind, body and soul. Follow Black Women in Nature:
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| S2 TRAILER: We're Back! | 09 Feb 2021 | 00:08:53 | |
Hey All! Season 2 is here! I can’t believe that we made it this far. Season 1 was exhilarating and hectic at the same time. We had 40 episodes in 9 months. At that time I didn't think to take a break for various reasons, I was exhilarated by all the amazing guests I found and their stories. I also wanted to get the hang of podcasting and it was new, fun and exciting to me so I just kept going. That said, we are not going to do a repeat of that. This year, I am breaking down the seasons into three months each with a break of one month in-between. I will also be releasing a new episode every other week and in between I will re-release an episode from season 1 with a look back discussion. I’m experimenting with this structure because when I spoke to a few of our listeners one of the pieces of feedback included that there were alot of episodes in season 1 and it was hard to keep up with so that’s why the schedule of every other week. And because I still want to honor the amazingness of our season 1 guests who you've probably not had a chance to hear from I am re-releasing them. I’m curious to see how that goes. If you have any thoughts please email me at info@watersavvysolutions.com or you can DM on Insta, Twitter, FB, LinkedIn. Links will be in the show notes. Another thing new that we’re doing is we’ve uploaded all 40 episodes on YouTube! It took a loonngg time but we thought it would be useful especially for those of us who need captions. Also, I will be recording videos of some interviews and I’ll let you know in the intros if it is available. So, still focusing on what’s to come in the next season, I’m also going to be experimenting with some formats. I am trying to do a series that focuses on a particular issue so that we can fully get a well-rounded understanding on issues by featuring various perspectives. I am also trying to have more than one guest per show just to show the nuance of environmental issues and themes. In season 1 we covered many themes and you probably noticed recurring themes around environmental justice, structural racism, colonialism this is expected since this podcast focuses on amplifying the voices of environmentalists from marginalized communities and their white allies and this is their experiences. That said, in a listener survey we conducted two months back one of the pieces of feedback we received is a desire to hear from environmentalists outside of the US. As a Kenyan Indian I love that idea and also released a series on Kenyan environmentalists in season 1. Those are episodes 14 through 17 if you’re interested. But, yes, we will be hearing from more international environmentalists! Other topics we will be covering include:
I’m getting excited sharing what’s to come this year. Finally, I am so grateful to you dear listener, you have given me hope that we can make a difference together. As an environmentalist I’ve often struggled with my theory of change because I wasn’t seeing favorable outcomes within the timeframe I wanted and I was always limited by somebody else’s agenda. Well, with the podcast I get to show what I think matters, which is a diversity of voices and how everything is connected. Our environmental solutions can’t be just from a single lens. We need multiple perspectives that include consideration of socioeconomic, political, and cultural influences. So, I hope dear listeners that you come to appreciate this approach and also implement it in whatever way you can in your work or daily life choices. Thank you for listening and I look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to share this podcast with you friends, family and foe. Please leave a review on Apple iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts and finally feel free to reach out to me:
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| EP 40: Bringing Back Buffalo to Native Lands and Peoples | 24 Nov 2020 | 01:06:58 | |
Jason Baldes is a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe from the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Land Resource Sciences from Montana State University. Jason's interests have led to work and travel with Indigenous peoples in East Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, Russia, and Denmark. Much of his work has been surrounding the restoration of bison to the Wind River Indian Reservation. Jason currently serves as the Eastern Shoshone Tribal Buffalo Representative, and Tribal Buffalo Coordinator for the Tribal Partnerships Program of the National Wildlife Federation. Jason provides workshops and learning opportunities about Tribal history, water, bison conservation, wildlife/fisheries, and cultural connections with animals through song, story, and language. His efforts help people understand the complexities of contemporary issues through an Indigenous lense, bridging cross-cultural gaps and creating positive relationships with those who wish to understand more about Native American people. Show Notes: https://watersavvysolutions.com/buffalo Topics Discussed:
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| EP 39: Lending a Voice to Disability Justice and an Outdoors For All | 17 Nov 2020 | 01:06:08 | |
Ambika Rajyagor is a 24 year old Indian-American Outdoor/Adventure Blogger, Special Needs Advocate, and Activist. She is also the cofounder of DisablednOutdoors an online BIPOC-run community focused on representation and accessibility in the outdoors, wants to ensure that these efforts are intersectional, too—especially after nearly four years of policies that worked against Americans with disabilities. As someone who goes outdoors to look within, she can’t stand silent knowing that there is no real “outdoors for all” experience when racism and ableism exists. Most of Ambika's work in both her personal and professional life has been motivated by her biggest inspiration— her little sister Devika. At a year old, Devika survived AML Leukemia, and because of the extent of her treatment, she has lived with the side-effects of the chemo her whole life. She's severely physically and cognitively disabled, and while she experiences pain and limitations everyday— she is Ambika's “little lotus”. Ambika believes representation matters-- especially in the Outdoors Industry, where so many different minorities are underrepresented, from racial differences, to wealth, and ability differences. Show Notes: https://watersavvysolutions.com/lending-a-voice Topics Discussed:
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| EP 38: Recreating in Color: Promoting Ethnic Diversity in Public Lands | 10 Nov 2020 | 01:12:49 | |
Francisco, recently retired from his position as the director of recreation tourism, heritage and wilderness resources for more than 22 million acres of national forests and grasslands and national monuments in the Forest Service’s Southwestern Region. He served at the U.S. Forest service for more than 35 years. Valenzuela helped guide the development of over $500 million in infrastructure at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. It is the largest comprehensively planned investment in recreation infrastructure and services in Forest Service history. Francisco has contributed creating a sustainable relationship between human communities and the rest of the living world around the globe. He is now the Board Chair of PUP Global Heritage Consortium, which works to unite people and organizations dedicated to emerging paradigms in heritage management for a more holistic sustainable and vital future. Show Notes: https://watersavvysolutions.com/recreating-in-color Topics Discussed:
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| EP 61: Bringing Water Equity to America | 04 Oct 2022 | 00:51:04 | |
Dr. Sri has a really interesting story about how he found himself on a path into environmental conservation and eventually water equity after starting as a construction engineer. When I reached out to Sri he was the leader of the water program at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center. Since then, he took a new and exciting opportunity at the Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc., as the Director of Water Equity and Climate Resilience. Over the past several years, Sri’s work has addressed national water issues such as affordability, aging water infrastructure, extreme weather impacts, financing, and non-point source pollution. In this episode, Dr. Sri talks about water equity challenges in the United States. Episode Highlights
Contact information and other Resources: Dr. Sridhar Vedachalam leads the water program at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center. His work has addressed national water issues such as affordability, aging infrastructure, extreme weather impacts, financing, and non-point source pollution. He currently serves on the advisory board for Water Hub and is a member of the Source Water Initiative led by the Great Lakes Commission and the Water Equity Task Force led by Virginia Health Catalyst. Dr. Vedachalam is also the Editor for Urban Water at the Global Water Forum, a resource for evidence-based, accessible, and open-access articles on freshwater governance. He brings water policy experience from his years in academia, government, and the non-profit sector. He holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. Breaking Green Ceilings: Website: https://www.breakinggreenceilings.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breaking_green_ceilings/ Follow Dr. Sri Vedachlam: | |||
| EP 37: Investigating Gender Dimensions of Wildmeat Trafficking | 03 Nov 2020 | 00:52:45 | |
Aalayna Green (she/her) is an undergraduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Zoology. Her research focuses on the nexus between conservation criminology and women's studies. She's specifically studying the gendered implications of urban wildmeat trafficking in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A self-proclaimed intersectional conservationist, Aalayna has plans to attend graduate school and focus on wildlife conservation, community sustainability, and women's empowerment. See Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/trafficking Topics Discussed:
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| EP 36: Understanding and Connecting to Nature Through Art | 27 Oct 2020 | 01:01:04 | |
Dr. Lee Ann Woolery, is an educator, researcher, scholar, and practicing artist of over 30 years. She pioneered Art-Based Perceptual Ecology, an art-based field research method to study ecological change. Dr. Woolery has accomplished a diverse array of actions varying from designing and facilitating arts programming for communities, schools, etc., to working with multicultural and intergenerational constituencies in several states, to developing a multi-disciplined community-based creative arts and mentorship program for inner-city youth of color in Chicago. She is currently the CEO and Research Director for EcoArt Expeditions and Citizen Artist, where she leads field research employing art-based research methods in concert with traditional scientific methods to study ecological systems. You can find more information about her current research and educational programming at http://www.ecoartexpeditions.com See Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/ecoart Topics Discussed:
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| EP 35: Ninjasticking Through the Woods to Bring Intersectionality to the Outdoors | 20 Oct 2020 | 00:54:49 | |
Vasu Sojitra is a professional adaptive athlete. His main passion is for skiing as well as for mountain sports ranging from trail running, rock climbing to packrafting and everything in between. Vasu has climbed peaks like the Grand Teton and climbed and skied peaks in Montana’s Beartooth and Bridger mountain ranges. When Vasu was only nine months old, he was diagnosed with septicemia, resulting in the amputation of one of his legs. Since then, Vasu has not looked back; with the help of his parents, brother, and friends, Vasu has built up the confidence needed to face new challenges with grace, courage, strength, humor, and unwavering determination. With the motto of “ninjasticking through the wood to bring intersectionality to the outdoors” Vasu leads outdoor activities for people of marginalized backgrounds and challenges the biases that go with being a person of color with a disability through his work with the In Solidarity Network and first adaptive athlete for The North Face as well as his previous work as the Adaptive Sports Program Director for Eagle Mount Bozeman and Co-Founder/Program Coordinators for Earthtone Outsideᴹᵀ. See Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/ninjasticking Topics Discussed:
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| EP 34: Building a Successful Career in the Marine Sciences | 14 Oct 2020 | 01:03:44 | |
Dr. Dominique Lazarre has been an Associate Research Scientist at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in Saint Petersburg, Florida, since 2017. At FWRI, she leads a data management team that provides fisheries data to state and regional partners for stock assessments. Dominique also has experience working in academia: she is currently an adjunct professor for the Department of Biological Sciences at University of South Florida Saint Petersburg and was previously a visiting professor in Environmental Studies at Eckerd College. She completed her doctorate in Marine Biology and Fisheries at the University of Miami, where her dissertation focused on the dynamics of invasive lionfish and the factors that helped lionfish become established in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. Her current position allows her to work at the intersection of stakeholder engagement and fisheries management, providing data that support sustainable fisheries in Florida. See Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/marine-sciences Topics Discussed:
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| EP 33: Creating Inclusive Spaces in the Water Industry – One Queer Professional’s Experience | 06 Oct 2020 | 01:12:49 | |
Ari Copeland works at Black & Veatch Corporation as an Operations Specialist. Ari has a BS in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Masters in Environmental Engineering from University of Cincinnati. Ari has been a member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and has been in the water and wastewater industry for 16 years. Ari is a queer, transgender man who transitioned on the job in 2011. Ari is passionate about inclusion efforts within the water industry and all aspects of life. Ari is a member of the AWWA Diversity and Membership Inclusion Committee and the current Chair of Black & Veatch’s Pride Employee Resource group – working towards fostering a safe and inclusive work environment for LGBTQIA+ professionals and Allies. Ari is a New Englander at heart (originally from Waterbury, Connecticut) but enjoys traveling within the USA and all over the world. See Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/inclusive-spaces Topics Discussed:
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| EP 32: Finding Your Spiritual Connection to Mother Nature | 29 Sep 2020 | 01:00:06 | |
Rabiah Nur is an Indigenous healer, activist, storyteller, speaker, ceremonialist and daughter of the Great Mother. Her work in the world is to heal and empower women through connection to nature, to spirit, and to their innate wisdom. She works to facilitate a rebirth of a new and healthy society where women are valued, empowered, whole and are held as the sacred beings that they are. If women are unhealthy, the whole society is unhealthy.Currently, Rabiah consults with and teaches at conferences, gatherings, schools, religious organizations, and retreat centers to offer Earth-based spiritual teachings, grounding energetic work, collective healing for teams and work groups, and education about appropriate use of Indigenous practices and traditions. Rabiah recently co-designed an initiative in partnership with the Patuxent Riverkeeper called Honoring Our Sacred Waters, which exists to increase awareness of the spiritual connection between people and water through honoring, ceremony, and education. Show Notes: https://watersavvysolutions.com/spiritual Topics Discussed:
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| EP 31: On the Miseducation of Our Youth | 22 Sep 2020 | 01:08:27 | |
Dr. Diego Román is an Assistant Professor in Bilingual/Bicultural Education at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Fall 2019). Prior to this appointment, he was an Assistant Professor in Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Román holds a B.S. degree in Agronomy from Zamorano University in Honduras and a M.S. degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He earned a M.S. degree in Biology, a M.A. in Linguistics, and a Ph.D. degree in Educational Linguistics, all from Stanford University. Dr. Román's research interests are located at the intersection of linguistics, science education, and environmental studies. Specifically, he investigates the implicit and explicit ideologies reflected in the design and implementation of bilingual programs and in studying the best practices of teaching science and environmental topics, particularly to bilingual students. Dr. Román has researched the language used to teach climate change at the middle school level and is currently leading an initiative that seeks to improve the quality of science, environmental, and bilingual instruction (Kichwa/Spanish and Spanish/English) in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/on-the-miseducation-of-our-youth Topics Discussed:
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| EP 30: Advocating for Racial Equity in the Environmental Movement | 15 Sep 2020 | 00:53:36 | |
Sarika is a first generation Indian-American, who grew up in the suburbs of Rochester NY. Her family comes from the foothills of Himachal Pradesh. Sarika was deeply influenced and inspired by the East Bay Area’s rich activist traditions while studying at the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned dual degrees in Peace and Conflict Studies and Conservation and Resource Studies. Before returning to graduate school, she worked for several years with her partner to build Restorative Formulations, a socially and environmentally responsible natural medicine company. She was able to pursue her twin interests in social and environmental justice while earning a Master's degree in Advocacy for Social Justice and Sustainability from Antioch University New England’s Department of Environmental Studies. Sarika lives with her family in Vermont. Currently, Sarika is an equity strategist and racial justice advocate. She consults, teaches, writes, researches, and collaborates at the intersection of race, equity, and environmental issues. Sarika is deeply committed to working within the environmental movement to address issues of racial and environmental injustice and to support the inherent power, brilliance, and well-being of communities of color. She is also interested in supporting racial equity in nonprofit, education, criminal justice reform, and cultural spheres. Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/racial-equity Topics Discussed:
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| EP 29: Being an Ally for Environmental Justice | 08 Sep 2020 | 01:00:00 | |
Andrew Kricun is a Senior Director with Moonshot Missions, a non-profit focused on providing technical assistance to water utilities in underserved communities. He is also a Senior Fellow with the US Water Alliance working on their national water equity initiative. He is also working as a Senior Advisor at the Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania on various projects related to the Delaware River watershed. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director and Chief Engineer of the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, operators of an 80 million gallon per day wastewater treatment plant in Camden, NJ. He has 35 years of wastewater and biosolids management experience. He graduated with honors from Princeton University with a degree in chemical engineering. Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/being-an-ally/ Topics Discussed:
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| EP 28: How to Diversify Environmental Organizations | 01 Sep 2020 | 00:57:44 | |
Whitney Tome is the former Executive Director of Green 2.0. Prior to joining The Raben Group as a principal, Whitney served as the director of diversity and inclusion at the National Parks Conservation Association where she led, defined, and crafted metrics and measures for the organization’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Whitney has advised complex ocean stakeholder processes as a Program Manager and Mediator at the Meridian Institute including facilitating public meetings for regional ocean planning bodies that included state, federal and tribal partners. At Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Whitney served as a strategist, cat herder and trusted advisor in dozens of state and federal political campaigns. She also developed, launched and grew the Fisheries Leadership and Sustainability Forum – a partnership between EDF, Duke, and Stanford. Whitney earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Middlebury College and a J.D. from American University’s Washington College of Law. She also won the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Mediation Competition in Paris, France. Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/how-to-diversify/ Topics Discussed:
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| EP 60: The Power of Faith in Environmentalism (PT2) | 20 Sep 2022 | 00:31:50 | |
This is the second episode of a two-part series with Afnan Khairullah and Sofia Gilani. Afnan and Sofia are volunteers with the Green Muslims organization that works to connect Muslims everywhere to nature and environmental activism. In this episode, Afnan and Sofia continue sharing about the role nature played in their life and how they are using their religion, Islam, to educate and connect fellow Muslims to nature. They also give some good examples of how to live responsibly and be good stewards of this planet. According to them, keeping it simple, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is the way it is supposed to be. Simple life gives you clarity and a better perspective on what is important in life, and helps you prioritize. Episode Highlights
Contact information and other Resources: Afnan is a New Jersey native who moved to Northern Virginia in 2020 to start a career in the federal government. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies and an MS in Sustainability Science with a concentration in sustainability leadership. Throughout her life, she has been drawn to the outdoors and is happiest hiking, bouldering, or exploring Washington, DC. Time and again Afnan has found herself drawing parallels with faith and eco stewardship, so working with Green Muslims was a natural fit to address environmental stewardship in the Muslim community while also promoting environmental awareness. She hopes that more people will one day share the same affinity for the well-being of the Earth. Sofia Gilani (she/hers) is the Climate Action Advocate for Green Muslims. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Sofia spent much of her youth outdoors with her family & later traveled to her parent’s home countries of Pakistan and Nicaragua. This travel experience shaped her view of an interconnected world that influenced her passion for environmental and social justice. She holds a BS in Environmental Science from George Mason University where she was involved with the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition and Mason Environmental Justice Alliance (MEJA). During her participation with these two organizations she was a collaborator for events to address activist burnout, conflict resolution discussions, prepare for marches, and organize clean-ups. Sofia has a strong passion for education and advocacy that she utilizes in her work with Green Muslims to help involve the Muslim community in environmental advocacy. Professionally, Sofia has worked in environmental compliance for solid waste, as well as construction. In her spare time outside of work and advocacy, Sofia enjoys kayaking, biking, boxing, and hanging out with her cat. Here's a link to a video that created by Peter Toscano of the Citizens Climate Lobby for the “Religious Communities and the Planetary Crisis” hosted by the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network, the Hartford Seminary, and CT Interfaith Power and Light. https://www.facebook.com/528075872/videos/10158758547730873/ Breaking Green Ceilings: Website: https://www.breakinggreenceilings.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breaking_green_ceilings/ Follow Afnan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afn%C3%A1n-khairullah-78aab910a/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khairful/ Follow Sofia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreengilani/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegreengilani Green Muslims: https://www.greenmuslims.org/ | |||
| EP 27: Activating Communities to Cleanup New York City | 25 Aug 2020 | 00:41:08 | |
Alyssa Perez is many things but among the most important are a mother, an environmentalist, and the founder of Stay Blooming. She's a Puerto Rican and has lived in the Bronx, New York her entire life. She has had a passion for our natural world since young and found herself wanting to protect these spaces over the years. Environmental awareness, education, and stewardship encompass much of her professional and personal lives. Stay Blooming reflects these values. She has also worked with Queens Botanical Garden as a Farm & Compost Intern and with GrowNYC as a Compost Coordinator. Alyssa recently graduated with her BA in Environmental Studies at CUNY Queens College. Her goal is to make environmental education common knowledge, accessible, and digestible for anyone and everyone but especially her community. Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/cleaningup-newyork/ Topics Discussed:
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| EP 26: A Day in the Life of an Interpretive Naturalist | 18 Aug 2020 | 01:05:54 | |
Jeremy Lin is an interpretive naturalist for California State Parks. Based at Donner Memorial SP, Jeremy is the lead interpreter for several parks in Sierra District. As lead interpreter Jeremy manages several park programs including nature education, docent volunteers, and infrastructural and long-range planning. Jeremy has been involved in creating a number of park programs to increase public engagement – California State Parks Backpacking Adventures (CASPBA) program, Wilderness Patrol volunteer program. Jeremy has also managed all interpretive programs Rancho del Oso – Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Programs include recruiting/facilitating low income communities/schools for field trips. Previously, Jeremy worked as a program director for an outdoor science school. He graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Environmental Studies and is on track to graduate from Prescott College, Arizona with a M.A. Environmental Studies in Spring 2020. His main area of study for grad school is Evaluating the Impact of Volunteers Serving Public Lands. Show Notes: https://watersavvysolutions.com/podcast/naturalist Topics Discussed:
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| EP 25: Reclaiming Indigenous Rights to Food Sovereignty | 04 Aug 2020 | 00:53:24 | |
Dr. Mariaelena Huambachano, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Society and Community Studies and Director of Biodiversity Protection and Indigeneity at UW, Madison. Dr. Huambachano’s work explores public policies for food sovereignty, social movements, sustainable development, and the role of Indigenous knowledge to improve food security and environmental policies. Dr. Huambachano utilises a novel theoretical approach by using the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) theory and rights-based approaches to food security complemented with community-based participatory research. To give voice to and recognize unique knowledge systems, she developed the ‘Khipu Model,’ an Indigenous research-based framework, which she uses in her work with Indigenous communities. She is also an active member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and a Lead Author in the global report on the ‘values’ assessment of nature of the Intergovernmental Panel of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES). Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/podcast/indigenous-rights Topics Discussed:
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| EP 24: Bringing Fire Back to the Karuk Tribe | 28 Jul 2020 | 00:54:22 | |
Bill Tripp is a Karuk Tribal Member and Interim Director of the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources. He began learning how to work with fire from the age of four from his Grandmother. His work to restore fire into the hands of Karuk People through an integrated Traditional Ecological Knowledge and western science framework has been instrumental in shaping state and federal policy changes in regards to prescribed fire.
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| EP 23: Making the Outdoors Accessible to Disabled Hikers | 21 Jul 2020 | 00:51:47 | |
Syren Nagakyrie (they/she) is a long-time disabled activist and community builder who is passionate about liberation through connection. Syren grew up with multiple invisible disabilities; they found connection with nature to be a source of comfort in times of social isolation. Syren is the founder of Disabled Hikers, (www.disabledhikers.com), an organization providing resources, events, and advocacy. Syren is a freelance writer, consultant, and presenter. They are the author of The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon: outdoor adventures accessible by car, wheelchair, and foot, to be published by FalconGuides. Syren currently resides on traditional lands of the Quileute, in Forks, Washington. Syren identifies as a white, queer, and poor person from a disabled and working-class background. - Topics Discussed:
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| EP 22: Stories From a Black Ecologist and Aspiring Hunter | 14 Jul 2020 | 01:21:13 | |
Dr. Jonathan Hall is a wildlife ecologist by training with a broad interest in wildlife conservation, human/wildlife interaction, environmental justice, and species movement ecology. Much of his research experience is in the semi-arid environment of Western Rajasthan, India, focusing on the ecological and cultural relationships that exist between human populations and vultures. In addition to research in India he is also interested in understanding landscape and other environmental dynamics involving the recovery and range expansion of California Condors. The primary goal of his research is to develop comprehensive conservation strategies for non-human species that accounts for and incorporates human livelihood practices. Jonathan founded the Wilderness Geography Lab (previously the Conservation Geography Lab) in 2014 in the Department of Geology and Geography at West Virginia University. The lab currently conducts research in West Virginia, California, Yellowstone National Park, and Rajasthan India. Dr. Hall holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from the Ohio State University and a B.S. in Biology from Morehouse College.
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| EP 21: Finding a Place to Belong | 07 Jul 2020 | 00:50:11 | |
Belinda’s environmental journey began when she was growing up in New York. As the first-born child of immigrant parents from south east China, Belinda found herself caught between two worlds. As a young child, she faced discrimination from white peers who saw her as “other” and faced the pressure of her parents’ desire to pursue a “respectable” and economically beneficial career path. To find solace from the pressure and the discrimination, Belinda would seek out the peacefulness of the wooded parks in her neighborhood to “cut down on the voices” in her head so she could hear her own thoughts. She became familiar with the trees and understory plants and “their beauty just helped to quiet the noise”. Those woodlands became sacred and safe spaces for her. From then on, she made a promise to the woodlands to use her life to pay it forward and improve the relationship between humans and nature. Building Environmental Education Programs As an adult, Belinda decided to pursue a career in environmental education. Currently, she is the coordinator for the Urban Food Systems (UFS) Program at Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR). She oversees 23+ acres of SPR public space dedicated to growing food. Race & social justice are at the center of her work as she has dedicated herself to equitable access for learning in outdoor spaces in service to a vast diversity of people in a variety of urban settings. Through her work experiences she has witnessed a lack of representation of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in her environmental education programs and in the organizations she's worked in. She writes, “The disproportionality is disturbing in light of the diversity of peoples borne from the wilds of this earth. The trees call to me to act.” As a result, Belinda uses her position to cultivate diversity by using intergenerational logic models and racial justice tools, and by serving on the The Race & Social Justice Change Team with the city of Seattle. This helps but she stresses that “we have a long way to go! Empowering Environmentalists of Color Often being the only person of color in her workplace, Belinda felt isolated and yearned for a community that could see and accept her for who she is. Her white workplace peers often tokenized and dismissed discriminatory acts towards her. Wanting to understand the prejudice of dominantly white environmental organizational culture, she started to educate herself on issues of environmental history and environmental justice and attend workshops on the same. Belinda attended a Center for Diversity and Environment (CDE) workshop facilitated by Marcelo Bonta and Queta Gonzales where she had an opportunity to connect with other like-minded people and from different cultural backgrounds. She was also uplifted when she saw leaders of color facilitating the workshop. It was only until she attended that CDE workshop that she felt like she found a place she belonged - “I was in community with people who could see me! See me as a professional!” It was a watershed moment that inspired Belinda and a few colleagues to co-found the Seattle chapter for the Environmental Professionals of Color - affiliated with the CDE. The Seattle Chapter has been successful and growing; Starting with three co-organizers in 2012 to nine co-organizers and over 400 members in 2020! Other Themes Explored Belinda is inspiring and a true pleasure to listen to as she explains the intricacies of her work, the realities of institutional racism, tokenism, and so much more, on this week's episode of Breaking Green Ceilings. Follow Belinda Chin: Related Resources:
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| EP 20: On Being a Black Feminist Environmental Ethnographer | 30 Jun 2020 | 01:08:50 | |
Traveling from New Jersey to North Carolina, Frances was able to experience urban city living as well as life in a rural area surrounded by hog farms. Through that, she and her family remained tight knit as her mother inspired her from all angles. With the house matriarch as a teacher and enthusiastic environmentalist, Frances was able to get the support she needed to obtain a BA in Sociology & Anthropology, Environmental Studies & Science Minor, from Spelman College, and currently working on a PhD in Society & Environment at UC Berkeley. With her degree, she has charged into the realm of scientific research in a noble effort to make positive material changes in peoples’ lives, particularly indigenous and communities of color who have been marginalized and silenced for centuries. Frances’ current PhD dissertation focuses on Gulf Coast women of color’s climate justice activism and strategies to resist environmental racism while navigating contradictory relationships with energy and petrochemical industries. It is titled, “Post-Apocalyptic Environmental Politics: Women of Color, Climate Justice and State-Corporate Crime in Louisiana.” Ethnography and Climate ChangeEthnography is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures. In contrast with ethnology, ethnography explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study. Described as community based research, or participatory action research, this is a feminist research method that focuses on non-invasive and minimal-extractive methods, empowering the community to be hands on and involved in every step of the process. Frances’ life work is shaped by environmental justice geographies including Carolina hog and chicken farms, Jersey urban landscapes, and Louisiana petrochemical-plantation corridors. She currently lives and teaches on Indigenous land known as Bulbancha (i.e. New Orleans, Louisiana) that is historically home to the Chitimacha, Choctaw, Houma, Atakapa-Ishak and various other African and Creole Indigenous peoples, which is at high risk to experience adverse climate change effects. Other TopicsFrances is incredibly inspirational and knowledgeable. From sharing the importance of mentorship and navigating imposter syndrome, to empowering everyday people to claim the title “activist”, to describing the different impacts of climate change for different people in varying locations, this week’s episode of Breaking Green Ceilings is going to leave you motivated and inspired to do your part. Follow Frances Roberts-Gregory Related Resources | |||
| EP 19: Going Rogue: Life After Being an LGBTQ Environmental Educator | 23 Jun 2020 | 01:02:14 | |
Growing up in Ohio, Katie spent a lot of her childhood outside during the summer months. She spent a year at her grandmother’s house where she immersed herself in nature. Katie was able to take her love and interest for animals and nature into a career. While in attendance at Ohio University, she created her own bachelor’s special studies degree which she used to conduct research around snakes and then salamanders in Kentucky. After graduating, she worked at the OSU Stone Lab as a maintenance crew worker and has also gained experience in working for the National Parks Services and for the Cleveland Metro Parks at the Zoo and Wildlife Rehab Center. Currently, Katie has created a company called Legacy 3D which uses 3D scanning as a conservation tool. The company strives to make 3D scanning available and affordable to everyone. Salamanders In this episode, we learn a little bit about Salamanders. Ambystoma Salamanders are dual-gendered salamanders which reproduce by cloning themselves. They are often found in the between Southeast Ohio to Quebec. We also learned that Salamanders often live in dead wood which up until around 200 years ago caused them to be associated with fire because people would see them running out of the fire (because they were in the dead wood) and thought of as magical/evil creatures. Working in the National Parks Service Working in the Environmental Education Center and on the tourist train at the Cuyahoga National Park, Katie shared her experience working for the National Parks Services. The National Parks Service was less bureaucratic than the Cleveland Metro Parks which she mentioned as having frequent red tape and limited funding. Seasonal jobs are highly common in NPS, which lead to the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act. Each national park is managed by a different president, so there is often a different tone and management of conflict park by park. Some parks are culturally more conservative and seem like more of a “boys club” than others, normally the more remote the park is, the more conservative it is - either by the visitors or by the employees. One specific example is the Grand Canyon, generally, the “harder work” was done by men at the bottom of the Canyon and often when a woman tried to work down there they were hazed by the male workers. Once a new manager was hired, the harassment ceased. Other Topics We talked briefly about Katie’s research with Snakes and Salamanders. Katie also explained how she started her business about Legacy 3D and why conservation is so important. Towards the end of the podcast, Katie shared a shocking story about some of the inequities she experienced as an LGBTQ+ woman in her work field. Follow Katie Burns Related Resources
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| EP 18: Unearthing the Lives of Enslaved Africans | 02 Jun 2020 | 00:52:47 | |
Dr. Justin Dunnavant always had a passion for history and it was only after a study abroad trip to a Mayan site in a rainforest in Belize did he discover his love for archaeology. During that trip he realized that a lot of early history books are written from an archaeological perspective but that balck, indigenous, and people of color were not doing the work. And so, he saw it as an opportunity to bring his background and unique experiences to make a contribution to a profession that lacks racial representation. Upon his return and learning that less than 1% of archaeologists identify as black, he became determined to open the door for other people of color in the realm of archaeology.This journey led him to co-found the Society of Black Archaeologists. Currently, Justin’s research focuses on the environmental implications of the slave trade and slavery. He also conducts amazing underwater archeological research to investigate where slave ships landed, what courses they took and when. Ecology and Enslavement The natural environment is more entangled in slavery than most realize. Why were roughly 4.8 million Africans taken to the Caribbean and only 389,000 to the United States? Two main reasons, both involving the environment - Plantations were more common in Central America, where desired crops, mainly sugarcane, could be grown. The other reason being the trade winds that blow from Africa to Central America, which carried the slave ships and deposited them in the Caribbean, where they may have been later sold off to other areas. During the Transatlantic slave trade, swaths of land were cleared for agricultural production, port cities were established for import and export, and flora and fauna were transplanted across hemispheres in a process known as the Columbian Exchange, causing an immense amount of change to the ecology of the world. Justin and his team of archaeologists are on a mission to uncover the impacts of that change. Other Topics Our conversation with Justin is a true lesson in history. Covering topics from the history and intracicies of Caribbean slavery, to the importance of integrating diversity in archaeological projects, to the importance of trees, prepare yourself to be much more informed on the background of the transatlantic slave trade after this week’s episode of Breaking Green Ceilings.
About Dr. Justin Dunnavant: Dr. Justin Dunnavant is an Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Fellow at Vanderbilt University’s Spatial Analysis Research Laboratory. He holds a BA in History and Anthropology from Howard University and an MA and Ph.D. from the University of Florida. While his former research interrogated the history and representation of minority groups in southern Ethiopia, his current work in the US Virgin Islands investigates the relationship between ecology and enslavement in the former Danish West Indies. Justin is co-founder and President of the Society of Black Archaeologists, an AAUS Scientific SCUBA Diver, and consults for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture Slave Wrecks Project. Follow Dr. Justin Dunnavant:
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| EP 59: The Power of Faith in Environmentalism (PT1) | 06 Sep 2022 | 00:42:44 | |
In this first episode of a two part series, we will hear from Afnan Khairullah and Sofia Gilani, who are volunteers with Green Muslims. Green Muslims is an organization that works to connect Muslims everywhere to nature and environmental activism. Their mission is to serve as a source in the Muslim community for spiritually-inspired environmental education, action, and reflection. Afnan and Sofia share with us about the role nature played in their life and how they are using their religion, Islam, to educate and connect fellow Muslims to nature. They both see their religion closely connected to environmentalism. According to Afnan and Sofia, all creatures are important, and our responsibility is to treat everything that the Creator has given us with kindness, compassion and respect. It is important to be humble and respectful of others. Episode Highlights
Contact information and other Resources: Afnan is a New Jersey native who moved to Northern Virginia in 2020 to start a career in federal government. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies and a MS in Sustainability Science with a concentration in sustainability leadership. Throughout her life she has been drawn to the outdoors and is happiest hiking, bouldering, or exploring Washington, DC. Time and again Afnan has found herself drawing parallels with faith and eco stewardship, so working with Green Muslims was a natural fit to address environmental stewardship in the Muslim community while also promoting environmental awareness. She hopes that more people will one day share the same affinity for the well-being of the Earth. Sofia Gilani (she/hers) is the Climate Action Advocate for Green Muslims. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Sofia spent much of her youth outdoors with her family & later traveled to her parent’s home countries of Pakistan and Nicaragua. This travel experience shaped her view of an interconnected world that influenced her passion for environmental and social justice. She holds a BS in Environmental Science from George Mason University where she was involved with the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition and Mason Environmental Justice Alliance (MEJA). During her participation with these two organizations she was a collaborator for events to address activist burnout, conflict resolution discussions, prepare for marches, and organize clean-ups. Sofia has a strong passion for education and advocacy that she utilizes in her work with Green Muslims to help involve the Muslim community in environmental advocacy. Professionally, Sofia has worked in environmental compliance for solid waste, as well as construction. In her spare time outside of work and advocacy, Sofia enjoys kayaking, biking, boxing, and hanging out with her cat. Here's a link to a video that created by Peter Toscano of the Citizens Climate Lobby for the “Religious Communities and the Planetary Crisis” hosted by the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network, the Hartford Seminary, and CT Interfaith Power and Light. https://www.facebook.com/528075872/videos/10158758547730873/ Breaking Green Ceilings: Website: https://www.breakinggreenceilings.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breaking_green_ceilings/ Follow Afnan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afn%C3%A1n-khairullah-78aab910a/ USGS: https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/afnan-khairullah Follow Sofia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreengilani/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegreengilani Green Muslims: https://www.greenmuslims.org/ | |||
| EP 17: Securing a Future for Lions in Kenya | 26 May 2020 | 00:37:30 | |
Dr. Shivani Bhalla is a fourth generation Kenyan Indian who grew up going on safaris with her family, which nurtured her obsessionwith wildlife. Her passion has always been big cats, in particular, Cheetahs. When Dr. Bhalla moved to Samburu to research cheetahs for her master’s project. But she never saw any cheetahs. Instead, she saw lions that tended to be solitary or in pairs, which piqued her interest because she was only familiar with seeing lions in large prides as a child. Dr. Bhalla was soon curious to learn more about the lion population and decided to create Ewaso Lions in 2007, a nonprofit dedicated to conserving lions and other large carnivores by promoting coexistence between people and wildlife.
Lion Conservation Africa’s lion population has declined by some 90 percent over the past 75 years, primarily due to loss of habitat and human-animal conflict. In Kenya, there are fewer than 2,000 lions left. Ewaso Lions took a community-based conservation approach where they work hand-in-hand with local communities - Samburu warriors, women and children - to provide education, training and improved conservation practices that help people and wildlife. One of the ways in which Ewaso Lions collaborates with local communities is through Warrior Watch, which is a group of Samburu warriors who conduct daily patrols around the region to prevent lions coming in contact with herders and their livestock “They themselves really understand what it is like to lose livestock to carnivores, they can empathize with the person who has lost his cow or camel, and they are able to really convince them why it’s important not to retaliate.” Because of Ewaso Lion, Shivani, and the Samburu Warriors, nearly 100s of lion killings have been ceased.
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Ewaso Lions, Shivani and the Samburu Warriors are a powerhouse in lion conservation. From the intricacies of funding conservation, to Kenyan Indian conservation, to her hopes of the future, this week's episode is one you don’t want to miss. About Dr. Shivani Bhalla: Born and raised in Kenya, Shivani believes the key to lion conservation is working in partnership with local communities. She founded Ewaso Lions in 2007 to promote coexistence between carnivores and people. Together with her team, she works with Samburu communities to reduce livestock loss to carnivores, and monitors the existing lion population within the Samburu-Isiolo landscape in northern Kenya. Follow Dr. Shivani Bhalla https://ewasolions.org/Related Resources: https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/samburu_warriors_are_safeguarding_kenyas_lions/ | |||
| EP 16: Being a Voice for Forests in Kenya | 19 May 2020 | 00:46:46 | |
Journey
Dr. Dr. Walubengo Walubengo is a Kenyan Forest/Natural Resources and Environment Management Specialist with experience in institutional capacity building, project planning, monitoring, evaluation and analysis, and engineering. With an emphasis on managing forests of Kenya, Dr. Walubengo has made huge strides in the realm of forestry, from establishing small, neighborhood forests through individual tree planting, to teaching local communities the importance of forests and empowering them to planting some of their own. Forests in KenyaThe Forest Sector is key to Kenya’s social and economic wellbeing. The Sector contributes about Kenya Shillings 7 billion to the economy and employs over 50,000 people directly and another 300,000 indirectly. Forest ecosystems also enhance landscape resilience to climate change. Kenya’s forest cover is estimated to be about 7.4% of the total land area, which is a far cry from the recommended global minimum of 10%. On the other hand, Kenya’s closed canopy forest cover currently stands at about 2% of the total land area, compared to the African average of 9.3% and a world average of 21.4 per cent. Most of the closed canopy forests in Kenya are montane forests that are also the nation’s water towers. Although the population of Kenya has gone from less than 10 million people in the 1960’s, to surpassing 50 million people in recent times, the most recent forest policy was established in 1968, over 50 years ago. There is a lack of government initiative to properly manage forests throughout Kenya, ranging from extreme protection in the name of conservation, excluding the local communities completely from sustainably harvesting necessities or conducting rituals, to solely considering plantation forests, such as coffee plantations, under the umbrella of manageable forest resources. Dr. Walubengo believes with proper governmental influence, the forests could be managed for their resources, while also being conserved, creating an assortment of environmental jobs for local communities and environmentalists. Other TopicsDr. Walubengo has spent many years in the environmental sector, and with that comes a great deal of wisdom he shares with us this week. From how he convinced his neighbors to let him plant a forest in his yard, to the political obstacles of developing governmental forest management, to what inspired him to join the environmental movement, Dr. Walubengo is a force to be reckoned with and we are happy to have him on Breaking Green Ceilings. Follow Dr. Dominic Walubengo: Related Resources: | |||
| EP 15: Fighting Vulture Poisoning in Kenya | 12 May 2020 | 00:55:12 | |
Although still early in her environmental career, Valerie Nasoita is already making a large impact in conservation efforts towards vultures in Kenya. Originating from the Maasai tribe, Valerie is currently working hands-on as a Vulture Liaison Officer for The Peregrine Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to the global conservation of birds of prey. In many parts of Africa, only 1-2% of previously abundant vulture populations remain today. This is a result of many agricultural producers poisoning the vultures, in hopes to deter them from their livestock. Unfortunately, this has proven ineffective in preventing predation upon the livestock, but also has contributed heavily to the rapid decline in vulture populations. Valerie focuses her conservation efforts on educating the public on the importance of vultures in an ecosystem and how devastating the effects of poisoning these birds prove to be. A wide range of discussion takes place in this week's conversation with Valerie Nasoita. She shares fascinating insight about the struggle as a woman conservationist in a male dominated society, and how she navigates getting work done despite these obstacles. From vulture facts to what it’s like growing up in the Rift Valley of Kenya, we are very grateful for what Valerie presents to Breaking Green Ceilings. Follow Valerie Nasoita: Related Resources: | |||
| Empowering Youth to Become Advocates for their Environment | 05 May 2020 | 00:37:52 | |
Sam Dindi has been working in the field of environment conservation for eight years now. As the co-founder of Mazingira Yetu, Sam is engaged in:
Trained in sustainability development, tourism and wildlife management, Sam was awarded the Head of States Commendation (HSC) by the Government of Kenya for his exemplary service to the Republic of Kenya. He also received the IUCN-CEC award for his efforts in educating the public on environment conservation and sustainability development. Sam enjoys nature walks, bird watching and travelling. Youth Education and Empowerment Environmental education is crucial in inspiring children to understand the importance in conserving and protecting their natural spaces. Unfortunately, many primary and secondary schools fail to incorporate this into their curriculum, which ultimately stunts the environmental movement. Sam emphasizes the importance of not just educating students, but empowering them to take action in their local environment and claim their right to protect and restore the land and waterways as well. Because of the many young adults who have never had the opportunity to plant a tree, or grow their own garden, Sam’s vision is to give these students the tools they need to understand the importance of these tasks. Nairobi River Restoration The Nairobi River is a prime example of a waterway that is heavily polluted. Used for everything from bathing to washing clothes to waste disposal to industrial drainage, the Nairobi River is riddled with garbage and contaminants. Sam inspires a group of around 100 local individuals to take control of cleaning their portion of the river by teaching them the ropes of water restoration. Empowering communities in this way allows for them to rely less on governmental intervention, which often proves to be ineffective, and creates space for a shift in the idea that environmentalism is a white person commodity. Other Topics This week's conversation with Sam Dindi is full of insight and inspiration. From the intricacies of dealing with bureaucracy and corruption, to Sam’s vision of Kenya’s environmental future, to his advice on keeping a level head in the hectic sector that is environmentalism, this is an episode of Breaking Green Ceilings that you won’t want to miss. Follow Sam Dindi: Related Resources:
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