Dr. Ashanté Reese, Associate Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin shares about her work at the intersection of critical food studies and Black geographies.

DC Greens is a D.C. nonprofit organization that advances health equity by building a just and resilient food system. We're excited to partner with them this weekend through a Day of Service at their community farm and wellness space, The Well at Oxon Run! We'll be tending to their fields and building their hydroponic system in their greenhouse.

The award winning, nationally syndicated documentary film, "Razing Liberty Square”, concerns three prevalent issues facing communities nationwide – climate change, housing insecurity, and economic inequity. These three issues are currently driving inequitable redevelopment in Liberty City, Miami.

Until recently, Liberty Square was home to the oldest segregated public housing project in the United States. Now, it is ground zero for a burgeoning trend: climate gentrification, a term coined by climate and environmental justice trailblazer Paulette Richards. As rising seas threaten Miami’s luxurious beachfront, wealthy property owners are pushing inland to higher ground, creating a speculators’ market in a neighborhood previously ignored by developers and policy-makers alike.

Located 12 feet above sea level, Liberty City becomes more attractive with each rising tide and as a result, the original Liberty Square is demolished, displacing residents and erasing a decades-old community.

Speaker: Valencia Gunder, Liberty City native, activist, and organizer. Valencia is the Co-Director of the non-profit organization, The Smile Trust, and Executive Director of The Black Collective. Her work both locally and nationwide, has equipped Black communities with resources for freedom and liberation, especially in the environmental and climate space.

Moderator: Nkosi Muse, Environmental Science and Policy PhD Candidate at the University of Miami, Black in Environment organizer, and resident meteorologist for numerous local community organizations. His work with Valencia and The Smile Trust has been centered around climate education and hurricane preparedness in South Florida.

Outdoor recreation offers numerous benefits for physical, mental, and emotional well-being, yet green spaces have long been marred by systemic barriers that perpetuate whiteness and exclude marginalized communities. ”Overcoming Mountains: A Circle Discussion on Dismantling Whiteness in Green Spaces” will delve into the significance of deconstructing whiteness within these natural environments through guided roundtable conversations led by the founder of Black Eudaimonia, Lamia West.

By convening stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including environmental activists, community organizers, students, and outdoor enthusiasts from Black communities, our discussion aims to confront the legacy of racial injustice embedded in green spaces. Through academic data, reflective dialogue, and shared experiences, participants will explore strategies for fostering inclusivity, equity, and belonging in these spaces. Together, we will examine critical topics, including access to land, community building, representation within media, historic preservation, and environmental justice, to unearth the intersections between race, power, and nature.

Our discussion will highlight the importance of centering Black voices, challenging dominant narratives, and implementing anti-racist practices to create green spaces that are genuinely welcoming and accessible for all. By collectively overcoming the mountains of systemic racism, this circle discussion aims to pave the way for transformative change in the environmental movement toward equity and justice.

Speaker: Lamia West

Speakers: Russel Armstrong and Stephone Coward

This interdisciplinary panel session brings together five early career researchers who study the transmission and effects of vector-borne diseases (VBD’s) on global health, each specializing in the complex dynamics of VBDs against the backdrop of environmental and social change. Their research spans ecological and evolutionary biology, epidemiology, microbiology, public health, and community engagement strategies, offering a diversity of approaches to combating infectious diseases. Emphasizing the importance of integrating scientific research with public health initiatives and education, the session seeks to foster a dialogue on how early career scientists can contribute to sustainable, community-centered health outcomes. Panelists will share insights into ongoing research endeavors, career aspirations, and the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration to advance global health goals.

Speaker: Jasmine Childress

Michael McKenzie, Executive Director of People Over Plastic, shares a bit about his background and his experience working with frontline organizations and communities to advance strategies and solutions that address environmental and social injustice.

This workshop will focus on 2 things. 1. expanding the knowledge of hemp as a crop, its history in America, prohibition, its 3,000 uses. 2. it will focus on its potential global environmental impact, the impact it can have on black farmers economic stability, how to navigate the hemp licensing system, and why the world needs black farmers to become innovators in hemp production, processing, and distribution.

Speaker: Mukaji Ambila

OurSpaces’ Project Teach22 team presents an interactive skillshare workshop session to dig deep into what cooperative environmental education looks and feels like in a culturally-centered context. Using the blueprint from programs such as Camp EarthPact, Earth School, Farm 2 Food Sovereignty Academy/Apprenticeship, Wild Child to Wild Womanhood, Black Land Brigade, and the Black Food Black Futures internship, participants will workshop program designs for Pre-K-5, adolescents and young adults, adult apprenticeships, and professional educational training & development. Engage in collective brainstorms, cooperative games, and generative knowledge sharing!

Facilitator: Eshe Armah

Dr. Michelle Dovil, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology & Criminology at Howard University welcomed us to Day 2 of the 2024 Black in Environment Conference!

The proposed workshop will include three components: (1) an overview discussion on the link between climate change, environmental challenges, and cultural relations to nature; (2) engage with stakeholders (community of students, practitioners, activists etc.) to identify cultural opportunities and obstacles to knowledge dissemination and application; and (3) distribute findings from the workshop to the broader Black Environmentalist community.

Speaker: Maureen Kinyua

A safe space for Black Women in environmental careers by cultivating intergenerational Black women's mentorship. The primary objective of this session is to foster a supportive community for Black women in the fields of environmental sciences to create opportunities for career development and skill sharing.

Speaker: Jaren Hill Lockridge

Play is not a four letter word - it is something that we should be incorporating into everything we do. From the satisfaction of breaking a sweat to the surprise of imagination, play teaches us to be human. According to Gallup Employee Reports, 76% of employees experience burnout on the job and that increases for those working in the environmental field and those working to eliminate inequities and disparities in our society. This is serious work and that is why we need more fun! Organizations and societies depend on our ability to “play well together.”

Through play, we not only discover the joy of physical activity but reinforce the social and emotional skills needed in the workplace, and in life. My proprietary Formula For Fun will help people reconnect to the wonder within so that they can continue to fight the good fights and maintain their sanity in the process.

Speeaker: Larissa Johnson

This session explores the intersectionality of climate, environmental stewardship, and sustainability as we delve into the unique perspectives employed by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The session also highlights UNCF's recent climate and sustainability report.

Speaker: Julian Thompson

Dr. Treva Gear is the Georgia State Manager for Dogwood Alliance and the Founder & Chair of the Concerned Citizens of Cook County, a community-based organization in Adel, Georgia.

She is an Army veteran, educator of 17 years, and a community organizer. Dr. Gear holds a doctorate in Adult and Career Education from Valdosta State University.

Black in Environment cofounders, Dr. Dominic Bednar, Ph.D., EIT & Dr. Regan F. Patterson, Ph.D. will join US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Michael S. Regan in a fireside chat to launch our in-person conference programming!

Public health practitioner, Tamika Francis, and Black in Environment co-organizer, Drew Powell, chat about how different Black ethnic groups prepare rice and demonstrate how to make Veggie Limpin' Susan.

Atiya Wells from Backyard Basecamp and Black in Environment co-organizer, Justice Madden, forage food and track animals through Bliss Meadows.

Bliss Meadows is a 10-acre urban farm and land reclamation project located in Baltimore, MD.

We unravel the intricate connections between cultural heritage and environmental activism. Join us for a dynamic discussion as our panelists share their diverse experiences and profound insights, fueled by a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.

Meet Our Panelists:

• Dr. Chijioke Emenike, a scientist who investigates the impacts of chemical pollutants on a wide range of ecosystems

• Corrin Breeding, a business owner and landscape architect who blends the natural and built environment and preserves historic infrastructure

• Dizzanne Billy, a climate journalist and environmental activist who captivates audiences with Caribbean climate stories

• Jacqueline Patterson, winner of the Earth Award at the 2024 TIME Women of the Year Gala and founder of the multi-faceted nonprofit, Chisholm Legacy Project

Listen while Black in Environment co-organizer, Davitia James, and Samunda Jabini discuss the impacts land rights, concessions, and deforestations have on Caribbean communities and way of life.

Introduce yourself during our annual Black in Environment Roll Call! Share a bit about who you are and your love of nature.