Here are three equity-centered workshops, brought to you from NAAEE. The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has many resources to explore. Their Virtual Conference also offers over 400 workshops, and once you register, these workshops are available through September 2021.
Whether you are an interpreter, parent, student, researcher, #BlackinSTEM scientist, equity advocate, or outdoor educator, these webinars offer something for everyone. The NAAEE Bookstore from the conference is also still open. When you purchase through the conference bookstore, a portion of the sale of each book sold will be donated to NAAEE.
With over 400 recorded sessions to choose from, there is much to explore, no matter what field you are in. Webinars also continue to be offered by NAAEE as part of their eeINSPIRE series too. The first webinar highlighted below is part of that series. Before continuing, we offer two definitions that may be useful for entering these conversations and webinars. Or if you’re all ready to go, head over to NAAEE and see how you can register today!
Equity vs. Equality
As many scholars, activists, and educators have explained, equity is making sure that everyone gets what they need. Equality is making sure everyone gets the same exact thing. These are working definitions and an important part of entering these conversations.
Why equity and not equality? In America, historically marginalized groups have been navigating oppression for centuries. Efforts towards equality do not account for the historical traumas and discrimination that so many people have faced and continue to face. Shifting the focus to equity allows a forward-thinking mindset that puts equity first, to account for these historic and ongoing injustices.
As Ibram X. Kendi notes in his book How to Be an Antiracist, “The defining question is whether the discrimination is creating equity or inequity. If discrimination is creating equity, then it is antiracist. If discrimination is creating inequity, then it is racist.” This is a key aspect of any equity work.
3 Webinars and Discussions to Explore
The first webinar here is available via the NAAEE YouTube Channel. The second and third webinars listed here require registration to the NAAEE Conference.
- Small Marvels: Reflective Writing to Understand Place and Equity with Naamal De Silva. According to their website, this workshop focuses, “[…] on place, equity, and the possibilities inherent in exploring what is nearby. We use excerpts from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, Gathering Moss, as inspiration […].” You can watch the entire workshop on YouTube here. Naamal De Silva is the Founder of Mayla, an organization that “help the people who protect nature to thrive.”
- Abolitionist Facilitation for Youth Eco-Action with Jamie Repasky and Lake Thelen. This webinar offers a space to explore “culturally relative pedagogy,” and is perfect for anyone who feels wants to “[…] create sustainable change within your community by centering efforts on youth voices.” Jamie Repasky is a school-based youth education coordinator and Lake Thelen is an education specialist for Metro Regional Government.
- Advancing Equity in Environmental Education with Brittany Jayroe, Abby Randall, Jennifer Dowd, Tiffany Carey. This roundtable discussion invites you to “[…] join staff from EcoRise and National Wildlife Federation to discuss the intersections of environmental education and equity.” Brittany Jayroe is the Program Director at EcoRise, and Abby Randall is the Deputy Director at EcoRise. Jennifer Dowd is a Principal Consultant at Access Liminality LLC. Tiffany Carey is the Senior Education and Engagement Coordinator for National Wildlife Federation.
What Equity Workshops Moved You?
Let us know in the comments what workshops or webinars from NAAEE have moved you. Are there are any other videos, discussions, books, lectures, etc., that have helped you or your organization advance equity?
We look forward to hearing from you!