Today, in collaboration with the Lawrence Hall of Science BEETLES project, we are proud to announce the kick-off of the 2-year training series, Working Toward Racial Equity, which supports environmental and outdoor science organizations to build capacity to foster equitable, inclusive, and culturally relevant work environments and organizations.
The National Science Foundation is funding this collaboration in part because of Justice Outside’s unique work at the intersection of racial justice and the environmental sector: we bring together systems analysis, organizational culture change, and a focus on the outdoor experiences of communities of color.
Participating organizations engage in a 5-month series of intensive workshops, and then receive ongoing technical assistance and support for another 19 months, for a total of two years of support. The workshop series is organized into two strands: one focused on organizational systems change and one focused on supporting professionals of color at participating organizations. Our first cohort began this month, and will continue through the summer of 2023, with organizations hailing from Wailuku, Hawaiʻi; to Stinson Beach, California; to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Building a more equitable movement requires radical and comprehensive change at all levels: individuals unlearning implicit bias, institutions doing away with organizational practices that marginalize People of Color, and the philanthropic sector adopting and prioritizing equitable practices. Rather than treating the symptoms of structural racism, our work seeks to change the system itself, charting a new future for the movement that places equity and justice at its center.
Change starts with us, and it starts now. Please spread the word by sharing this blog on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Thank you for your vital support of this critical work.