PGM ONE 2019 Summit: Full Schedule

8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Wednesday May 8, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Galleria

Meal, N/A

8:00am EDT

Registration Opens

Wednesday May 8, 2019 8:00am - 4:00pm EDT
East Alcove

9:00am EDT

Multiracial w. Non-White Identities

Speakers

Jamie Diaz

Chapter Leader, Outdoor Asian

Wednesday May 8, 2019 9:00am - 10:50am EDT
Asia Rm

Affinity Group

9:00am EDT

Multiracial w. White Identities Affinity Group

We know that PGM are not a monolith, and that oppression is intersectional. Affinity groups are
intentional spaces for people who share a particular identity to network, build community, talk through shared successes and challenges, and identify what they need out of a space like PGM ONE. A reminder that these groups are only for folx who share a specific identity and not for allies. So this affinity group is only for folx who identify as multiracial w. White identities.

Speakers

Courtney Rae

Associate Director, Bark

Wednesday May 8, 2019 9:00am - 10:50am EDT
South America Rm

Affinity Group, Block 1

9:00am EDT

QT2SBIPoC Family Affinity Group

We know that PGM are not a monolith, and that oppression is intersectional. Affinity groups are
intentional spaces for people who share a particular identity to network, build community, talk through shared successes and challenges, and identify what they need out of a space like PGM ONE. A reminder that these groups are only for folx who share a specific identity and not for allies.

This affinity group is for folx who identify as Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit (QT2S) to learn, grow, heal and celebrate the beauty of our diverse experiences.

Speakers

Narinda Heng

Instructor, Stanford Adventure Program, GirlVentures

Narinda Heng (sher/her/hers) is a Bay Area-based writer, potter, and outdoor educator. She is an instructor for GirlVentures and Stanford University's Adventure Program. Since leading her first backpacking trip with GirlVentures in 2014, she has been on wilderness trips with young... Read More →

Wednesday May 8, 2019 9:00am - 10:50am EDT
North America Rm

Affinity Group, Block 1

9:00am EDT

Collaborative Art Project

Wednesday May 8, 2019 9:00am - 1:00pm EDT
Australia Lounge

9:00am EDT

Bartram's Garden Field Trip--Kayaking and Garden Tour

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Join representatives from Bartram's Garden for kayaking on the Schuylkill River and a tour of Bartram's Garden. There will be an 80-minute paddle along the lower Schuylkill River followed by a 45 minute walk around the Garden to talk about the Garden’s current programming.

Meeting Location + Transportation: Meet in the Galleria of the International House for a shuttle to the field trip location (Bartram's Garden: 5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19143) . Shuttle back to the International House will also be available.

FAQs:

What sort of paperwork is involved?
Every adult must sign a waiver. Once a waiver is signed, it is good for the whole season. And adult may not sign a waiver for another adult. Minors under 18 must have the waiver signed by their parents or supervising adult.

What should I wear?
In cooler weather, avoid cotton (no jeans!). Cotton does not trap heat when wet and puts boaters at risk for hypothermia. In all weather, it is recommended you wear synthetic materials, silk or wool. Avoid wearing heavy boots. In cooler weather, we may not allow you in a kayak if you are wearing heavy jeans and/or boots.

Will I get wet?
Yes, you will get wet, especially in a kayak. In some of our tandems (2-3 seater kayaks), your seat and legs can get soaked. The rowboats are drier, but water still finds its way into most of the boats. Dress to get wet.

Wednesday May 8, 2019 9:00am - 1:00pm EDT
Galleria

Field Trip, Block 1

9:00am EDT

Engineering A Solution: The History of Philadelphia's Water Supply!

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Participants will experience the history, vibrance and connection of Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River, the primary source of the City’s drinking water. Our journey will begin with a scenic walk along the Schuylkill River Trail, and an exploration of the beautiful grounds of the historic Fairmount Water Works. During the walk, educators, Tarsha Scovens and Bria Wimberly, will offer historical references of Philadelphia’s water source, and the people who used, managed and cared for our precious resource. Attendees are invited inside the Interpretive Center to discover “what’s in the river” through a hands-on water sampling activity, and a behind the scenes look at our latest exhibition, Rivers Restoration Project: A Freshwater Mussel Hatchery @FWW. This field trip experience is perfect for visitors to Philadelphia, outdoor enthusiasts and/or those seeking a deeper knowledge of water supply systems. http://fairmountwaterworks.org/

Meeting Location + Transportation: Meet in the Galleria of the International House. Participants will take public transportation to the trailhead together. A shuttle back to the International House from the field trip site will be available.

Speakers

Karen Young

Executive Director, Fairmount Water Works

Tarsha Scovens

Founder and Director of Programming, Let's Go Outdoors

Through her vision, dedication and unfailing commitment to see more people of color experiencing nature and/or the outdoors, Tarsha (she/her/hers) laid the foundation for Let's Go Outdoors, LLC, a leading provider of outdoor-themed experiences for urban communities in Philadelphia... Read More →

Bria Wimberly

Environmental Educator/Coordinator, Fairmount Water Works

Wednesday May 8, 2019 9:00am - 1:00pm EDT
Galleria

Field Trip, Block 1

9:00am EDT

Silent Storytellers: This Looks Like a Nicetown

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

The People of Color Environmental Coalition will be leading a walk through place, reflecting on the landscapes of North Philadelphia, through the work of Planetwalker, John Francis, PhD. Come prepared for quietude and a little bit of context around the current climate of environmental health in Philadelphia's Nicetown neighborhood. In the spirit of John Francis, we will be hitting the trails by foot, and we welcome you to join us in Fairmount Park, beginning at 33rd and Oxford St. The walk will be beginner-moderate (some steep inclines/declines, some large rocks), and will not be wheelchair accessible. Please contact us with any accessibility questions (pocenviro@gmail.com): https://goo.gl/maps/GPEh9d6F9qo6paEcA

Meeting Location + Transportation: Meet in the Galleria of the International House for a shuttle to the field trip location. Shuttle back to the International House will also be available.
What you'll need: Water, bug spray, comfy close-toed shoes, a snack (if desired), ya whole self
What we'll bring: Snacks, our joyful spirits, extra water, extra bug spray, tweezers
Please take note: Long socks with pants tucked in, and loose fitting, light colored clothes, help prevent tick-bites and the transfer of Lyme disease/tick-borne illness.

Speakers

Gennifer Rollins

Founder/Co-President, People of Color Environmental Coalition

Gen (she/they) comes from Black and Jewish ancestry, and holds the importance of communal connection in their work. Coming from generations of small farmers and pastoral peoples, they advocate strongly for the land rights and remembrance of Indigenous, Black, Brown and POC histories... Read More →

Stanley Morgan

I am from North Philadelphia section of the city. This was where I spent part of my childhood until my family relocated to the Uptown section of the Philadelphia. The most important commitment in my life is to sustain the positive energy I created in my existence. Also display acts... Read More →

POCEC & THE PGMONE png

Wednesday May 8, 2019 9:00am - 1:00pm EDT
Galleria

Field Trip, Block 1

11:00am EDT

Asian & Pacific Islander Affinity Group

We know that PGM are not a monolith, and that oppression is intersectional. Affinity groups are
intentional spaces for people who share a particular identity to network, build community, talk through shared successes and challenges, and identify what they need out of a space like PGM ONE. A reminder that these groups are only for folx who share a specific identity and not for allies.

This affinity group is for folx who identify as Asian--including East, Southeast, & South Asian--and/or Pacific Islander. There is another affinity group for folx who identify as Middle Eastern & Central/West Asian.

Speakers

Kristen Lee

Custom Education Fellow, NOLS

Lisa Pradhan

Earthjustice

Wednesday May 8, 2019 11:00am - 12:50pm EDT
South America Rm

Affinity Group, Block 1

11:00am EDT

Native & Indigenous Affinity Group

We know that PGM are not a monolith, and that oppression is intersectional. Affinity groups are
intentional spaces for people who share a particular identity to network, build community, talk through shared successes and challenges, and identify what they need out of a space like PGM ONE. A reminder that these groups are only for folx who share a specific identity and not for allies.

This affinity group is for folx who identify as Native and/or Indigenous.

Speakers

Lance Tsosie

Colorado Program Manager, Big City Mountaineers

Born and raised on the Navajo Nation, Lance grew up immersed in his ancestral tradition, culture, and with a deep connection to nature. He grew up herding his grandmother’s goats, riding horses, and exploring the canyonlands surrounding his home – it was here where his sense of... Read More →

Wednesday May 8, 2019 11:00am - 12:50pm EDT
North America Rm

Affinity Group, Block 1

12:00pm EDT

Lunch

Participants will be able to grab lunch "to-go" for field trips.

Wednesday May 8, 2019 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Galleria

Meal, N/A

1:00pm EDT

Mindfulness Meditation

Limited Capacity filling up

For beginners to long-time meditation practitioners, this mindfulness-meditation session offers a space to connect with internal and external subtle experiences. Starting with a few yoga postures to stretch out our bodies, we will move into using mindfulness to practice anchoring and awakening ourselves into the present. The session is composed of a sitting and walking meditation – using modifications to support all bodies. As we close, participants have the option to briefly share their experience about the practice.

Wednesday May 8, 2019 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Europe Rm

1:00pm EDT

Tools for Healing Our Relationship to Swimming & Water

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This workshop provides a safer place for BIPOC to explore our relationship and innate connection with water. We will be in the pool for part of this workshop! We will examine the barriers our communities face to physically and emotionally safe swim environments, and gain understanding about how to create a setting where water is a source of joy, healing, health, and balance. Participants will gain tools to incorporate water into their program/life/self care regiment from a decolonized framework. We will spend some time on land in discussion, as well as in the water for an embodied experience. Complete Beginner (zero experience needed) to advanced swimmers welcome!

Meeting Location + Transportation: Meet in the Galleria of the International House to take public transportation to the field trip location: 52nd St YMCA pool (5120 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19139). Participants will be provided a SEPTA transit pass.

Speakers

Chandrika Francis

Founder, Oshun Swim School

Chandrika (she/her/hers) has been supporting BIPOC to reconnect with the earth for seven years in the form of leading backpacking trips, camping trips, conservation work, classroom teaching, and youth development. She studied Environmental Education through the Islandwood Program... Read More →

Wednesday May 8, 2019 1:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Galleria

Field Trip, Block 2

1:00pm EDT

Collaborative Art Project

Wednesday May 8, 2019 1:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Australia Lounge

1:00pm EDT

Connections in Tacony Creek Park: Historical, Personal, and Communal

Limited Capacity filling up

Meeting Location + Transportation: Meet in the Galleria of the International House for a shuttle to the field trip location (Tacony Creek Park: 799 E Tabor Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19120). Shuttle back to the International House will also be available.

Tacony Creek Park is a 300 acres woodland park and trail located in Lower Northeast Philadelphia. It touches upon 10 neighborhood gateways, each with its personal cultures and characteristics. This trip is intended to be a traveling dialogue exploring the multidimensional history of land-use and changing communities in and around Tacony Creek Park as we too, face the stories that live within us. Personal stories will be shared by wonderful people through creative facets and wildlife species that are home to this green space will be discovered. As we celebrate collective memories and our breaths, join us for an adventurous, engaging, thought-provoking, relaxing walkthrough of a local park in Philadelphia!

We'll be joined by park community member as well as representatives from the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, a non-profit organization working to rally community members, local partners, and City agencies together to protect and restore this green space. https://tcpkeepers.org/about/

Organizer: Nagiarry Porcena-Meneus, lover of places and people. She/Her

Guests: Pamela Miller, a community member of the Juniata neighborhood for 22 years that is active in the Tacony Creek Park Keeper friends group for the past three years. As a lover of words and of nature, she loves walking in green spaces, immersing herself in its meanings and participating in environmental activities. She/Her.

Alexis Rosario, Trail Ambassador for Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership. He/Him.

Robin Irizarry, Philadelphia Watershed Coordinator for the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership. He/Him.

*Families of all ages are welcomed

*Be aware of tick-borne illnesses

*Let us know if you have any questions about accessibility.

Speakers

Nagiarry Porcena-Meneus

Nagiarry Porcena-Meneus (she/her/hers) is passionate about village-building, existential celebration, collaborative spaces, human advocacy, and representation of land-based voices that are commonly muted from legitimacy. Her ancestors birthed from the mountains and urban landscapes... Read More →

Wednesday May 8, 2019 1:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Galleria

Field Trip, Block 2

1:00pm EDT

Practicing Embodiment to Support Self and Community Work @ John Heinz Wildlife Refuge

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Join us for a meditative break outside at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum! We call on bodily awareness as a means of recognizing how the historical trauma of environmental violence is manifest in the interwoven narratives of individual identity, community connections, and relationships with land. We will begin with simple embodiment practices and will emerge to share the day-to-day experiences of our bodies as they work jobs in the environmental field. John Heinz NWR will serve as both case study of land-based community engagement work and beautiful backdrop for self-inquiry and healing. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/john_heinz/

Meeting Location + Transportation: Meet in the Galleria of the International House for a shuttle to the field trip location. Shuttle back to the International House will also be available.

Accessibility: This field trip is wheelchair accessible.

Speakers

Wingyi Kung

Visitor Service Specialist, USFWS

Wednesday May 8, 2019 1:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Galleria

Field Trip, Block 2

1:10pm EDT

Body Positive Affinity Group

Speakers

Brionte McCorkle

Executive Director, Georgia Conservation Voters

Renee Bryant

Litigation Assistant, Earthjustice

Wednesday May 8, 2019 1:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
North America Rm

Affinity Group, Block 2

1:10pm EDT

Latinx Affinity Group

Speakers

Jorge Moreno

Account Manager/Field Instructor, NOLS

Stephanie Fenniri

Education and Social Impact Director, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

Stephanie is a nonprofit professional and social impact strategist with more than 9 years’ experience in developing and implementing initiatives to promote the improved quality of life for underserved populations through increased levels of capacity building in the form of community-based... Read More →

Betsy Lopez-Wagner

Communications Officer, Packard Foundation

I'm Liam's mom. My background is in bilingual environmental communications, political and advocacy campaigns, branding, and media relations with a racial justice lens. Proud Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice board member. I lead ocean communications at the Packard Foundation... Read More →

Andres Esparza

Grassroots Engagement Director, Conservation Lands Foundation

Andrés Esparza (he/him/his) is CLF’s Grassroots Engagement Director. Andrés has worked in the conservation and education field for the better part of a decade on public lands throughout the western US. Through his time in a variety of roles, Andrés has always strived to engage... Read More →

Wednesday May 8, 2019 1:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
South America Rm

Affinity Group, Block 2

1:10pm EDT

Middle Eastern (Including West Asian/Central Asian/North African) Affinity Group

We know that PGM are not a monolith, and that oppression is intersectional. Affinity groups are
intentional spaces for people who share a particular identity to network, build community, talk through shared successes and challenges, and identify what they need out of a space like PGM ONE. A reminder that these groups are only for folx who share a specific identity and not for allies.

This affinity group is for folx who identify as Middle Eastern (Southwest Asian, West Asian, Central Asian, and North African). There is another affinity group for folx who identify as Asian + Pacific Islander (including East, Southeast, & South Asian).

Speakers

Athena Motavvef

Legislative Assistant, Earthjustice

Wednesday May 8, 2019 1:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Asia Rm

Affinity Group, Block 2

2:30pm EDT

Tools for Healing Our Relationship to Swimming & Water

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Speakers

Chandrika Francis

Founder, Oshun Swim School

Wednesday May 8, 2019 2:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Galleria

Field Trip, Block 2

3:10pm EDT

Black & African Diaspora Affinity Group

We know that PGM are not a monolith, and that oppression is intersectional. Affinity groups are
intentional spaces for people who share a particular identity to network, build community, talk through shared successes and challenges, and identify what they need out of a space like PGM ONE. A reminder that these groups are only for folx who share a specific identity and not for allies.

This affinity group is for folx who identify as Black and/or of the African Diaspora. There is a separate affinity group for people who identify as Middle Eastern (including North African).

Speakers

Brionte McCorkle

Executive Director, Georgia Conservation Voters

Teju Adisa-Farrar

Regional Advocacy Strategist, Earthjustice

I'm an urban geographer, poet and writer currently working at Earthjustice. My foundation is in spatial equity, environmental justice and urbanism, which I use to address the pressing topics of our time. I support artists and activists, as well as communities and organizations who... Read More →

Keon Monroe

Student, Master of Environmental Studies UPenn

Leah Thomas

PR Assistant, Patagonia

Wednesday May 8, 2019 3:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
South America Rm

Affinity Group, Block 2

3:10pm EDT

Dis/ability Affinity Group

Speakers

Vasu Sojitra

Director/Coordinator/Athlete, Eagle Mount Bozeman/Earthtone Outside MT/ The North Face

Vasu Sojitra (he/him/his) identifies as a cis-hetero first generation Indian-American living with a disability. When Vasu was nine months old, he was diagnosed with septicemia, resulting in the amputation of his right leg. Originally from Connecticut and India, he has now settled... Read More →

Wednesday May 8, 2019 3:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
North America Rm

Affinity Group, Block 2

5:00pm EDT

Happy Hour + Dinner

Wednesday May 8, 2019 5:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Meal, N/A

7:00pm EDT

Plenary: Welcoming, Trailblazer Award, and Keynote by Mustafa Santiago Ali

Welcoming & Opening Remarks
Performances by Local Artists
Presentation of Trailblazer Award
Keynote Address by Mustafa Santiago Ali

Speakers

Mustafa Santiago Ali

A renowned thought leader, international speaker, policy maker, community liaison, trainer, and facilitator, Dr.Mustafa Santiago Ali is the Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate & Community Revitalization for the National Wildlife Federation. Before joining the NWF Mustafa... Read More →

Wednesday May 8, 2019 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Plenary, N/A

7:30am EDT

Yoga

Limited Capacity filling up

A mix of gentle Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga, this class will feature personal modifications for all bodies with an emphasis on integrating mind, body, and breath. Supported by soft music, we will come into the breath to quiet the mind as we discover steadiness in each posture. The class will begin and close with a brief meditation – allowing us to be present for ourselves and our community.

Thursday May 9, 2019 7:30am - 8:15am EDT
South America Rm

8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Thursday May 9, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Meal, N/A

8:00am EDT

Career Fair Training

Limited Capacity seats available

Thursday May 9, 2019 8:00am - 9:30am EDT
North America Rm

Career Fair

9:00am EDT

Plenary: Keynote Address by Adrienne Maree Brown & Music by Aisha Fukushima

Music by Aisha Fukushima
Keynote Address by Adrienne Maree Brown
Book signing

Speakers

Aisha Fukushima

AISHA FUKUSHIMA (she/her/hers) is a Singer, Speaker, Educator, and ‘RAPtivist’ (rap activist). Fukushima founded RAPtivism (Rap Activism), a hip hop project spanning 20 countries and four continents, amplifying universal efforts for freedom and justice. She is a multilingual... Read More →

Adrienne Maree Brown

adrienne maree brown is author of Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds and the co-editor of Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction from Social Justice Movements. She is a writer, social justice facilitator, pleasure activist, healer and doula living in Detroit. @adrienn... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Plenary, N/A

11:00am EDT

Building Resilient Communities: Using Maps to Tell Your Own Story

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Maps can be a very powerful storytelling tool. They allow creators to represent their own experiences of place and to reclaim their community narratives, fostering community resilience. This session focuses on how maps have been used to build community and to forward social and environmental justice initiatives. We will share a variety of open-source tools and data, and different ways in which this information can be visualized and interpreted.

Speakers

Gina Rosa Cova

Gina (she/her/hers) is a biracial Latina geographer, geospatial analyst, and visual designer living in Oakland, CA. She works at the intersection of GIS and the environment for GreenInfo Network as well as the NASA DEVELOP program. She is passionate about using spatial data and mapping... Read More →

Yessenia Chaiu Zhang

GIS Analyst, GreenInfo Network

Yessenia (she/her/hers) is a first-generation Chinese immigrant from Panama. Her love for the outdoors began as a young child, from biking in urban parks to long hikes in redwood forests. Recognizing the importance of preserving these landscapes, she pursued an environmental science... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
Asia Rm

Breakout, Block 3

11:00am EDT

Land Protection is Cultural Protection: Telling the Story of Bears Ears and the Struggle for Protecting Sacred Sites and Ancestral Territory

Limited Capacity filling up

Utah Dine Bikeyah and Conservation Lands Foundation will share insights and best practices learned in the protection and defense of Bears Ears and empower indigenous and POC leaders to catalyze and support campaigns to protect sacred sites in ways appropriate to individual tribes/bands and areas. Participants will learn about tribal efforts of protection and connect and learn from indigenous perspectives on sacred site protection on ancestral territory.

Speakers

Ahjani Yepa

Pueblo Community Outreach Coordinator, Utah Dine Bikeyah

As an Indigenous person Ahjani (she/her/hers) sees public lands as dispossessed ancestral territories, lands that were illegally taken by the United States and placed into management by foreign systems of management. “It's important that the lands that are held in trust by the United... Read More →

Andres Esparza

Grassroots Engagement Director, Conservation Lands Foundation

Thursday May 9, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Breakout, Block 3

11:00am EDT

Community Resiliency with Plant Medicine: The History of Black Herbalism

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

We live in a country that’s trying to kill us and erase our ancestral plant knowledge. Orthodox medicine has used notorious practices on black bodies in the name of medical advancement, resulting in a system that refuses to honor the dignity and bodily autonomy of its black patients. There have also been systematic attempts to erase black medicinal practices that have been vital to community resilience, health, and autonomy. This session offers an opportunity for us to remember this medicinal wisdom. We’ll look at traditional medical systems, some ways African traditional medicine translated in the West, and even the medicinal properties of a few common herbs!

Speakers

Tabitha Skervin

Campaign Director, Earth Quaker Action Team

Tabitha (they/them/theirs) is a Jamaican-born organizer living on occupied Lenape territory, so-called "West Philadelphia". They have almost a decade of experience organizing for social justice movements including climate justice, student power, human rights, and reproductive justice... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
North America Rm

Breakout, Block 3

11:00am EDT

Ethical storytelling: Are our Stories Reinforcing Harmful Power Dynamics?

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

It’s no secret that storytelling is a powerful force when it comes to social change. Stories create meaning and connect us to our shared humanity. As advocates, we use stories to center impacted voices, fuel movements and disrupt dominant, harmful narratives. But who gets to tell our stories? And under what terms? In this workshop, we’ll make the case that storytelling must be trauma-informed to practice the art ethically and avoid exploitation and tokenization. We’ll discuss interview power dynamics, informed and ongoing consent, strength-based narratives and the importance of relationship-building. We’ll also provide tools and templates for practical application.

Speakers

Sarah Shimazaki

Program Coordinator, Resource Media

Sarah (she/her/hers) is a media creative and communications strategist with a passion for using storytelling to amplify marginalized voices and cultivate connection across issue silos. She is dedicated to creating and contributing to intentional media platforms where underrepresented... Read More →

Adam Hymans

Managing Director, Resource Media

Thursday May 9, 2019 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
South America Rm

Breakout, Block 3

11:00am EDT

Mobility Justice: Untokening Active Transportation

Limited Capacity seats available

The Untokening is an online and in-person space where a multiracial network co-designing equitable and just mobility can engage in peer-to-peer learning, healing, and strategy. Join our organizers in a session where we will tell the story of how we built a new social movement after burning out on working to diversify biking and walking advocacy.

Speakers

Adonia E. Lugo

Adonia (she/her/hers) is an anthropologist and mobility justice strategist based in Los Angeles. She teaches at Antioch University Los Angeles and collaborates with folks around the country to envision a sustainable transportation future centered in the needs and experiences of historically... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Europe Rm

Breakout, Block 3

11:00am EDT

Environmental Utopia: Moving Beyond Criticism with a Positive Framing and Visioning Exercise for Critical Practitioners

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

The environmental movement (and climate change activists in particular) has been accused of only pointing out the gloom and doom facing the world. People see environmentalists as asking great sacrifices of the individual, without helping people imagine a better world. We can certainly imagine a worse world. Join us for an exercise in Utopia building that will start with our own workplaces and the positive framing required to see an alternative personal future for ourselves, these skills will one day help us as changemakers to rally others towards a better world.

This session will take place outside--meet workshop leaders in Galleria.

Speakers

A. J. Hudson

Environmental Scientist, Science Communicator, Yale University

AJ Hudson (he/him/his) is a graduate student in Environmental Science at Yale University that is dedicated to diversifying the environmental movement and inspiring people through reflective practice. @StillAsLife

Vivian Breckenridge

Masters Candidate, Yale University, School of Environmental Studies

Vivian Breckenridge (she/her/hers) is a professional student pursuing a degree in Environmental Management at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. In both her professional and academic work, she focuses on on indigenous land rights, human rights, and and uplifting voices... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Galleria

Breakout (outside), Block 3

11:00am EDT

New Lens: Rethinking Resilience

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Resilience: “1. the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness” and “2. the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity”. How do we apply this definition to the way in which we view resiliency? Do we consider how our own uniquely conditioned values and experiences frame this viewing lens? Do we use the “correct lens” when observing each humans unique actions and their response to life experiences, thereby enhancing the relationships, empathy, understanding, and support we offer our CorpsMembers? Join us in this experiential and thought provoking workshop as we challenge ourselves to see and understand others through a “new lens”.

This session will take place outside--meet workshop leader in Galleria.

Speakers

L Aaron Smith

Aaron Smith (he/him/his) is a father, son, husband, therapist, facilitator, and social activist. Oakland native, Social Worker by trade for the past 11 years, operator of a burgeoning private practice for counseling, mentor and facilitator, Aaron Smith has been a leader in serving... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Africa Rm

Breakout (outside), Block 3

12:00pm EDT

Career Fair

Representatives from twenty environmental organizations will be on hand to present employment opportunities and share about the hiring process. Come meet and connect with folx from:

Sierra Club
EarthJustice
The Wilderness Society
University of Michigan
First Descents
Outward Bound Philadelphia
NOLS
Conservation Legacy
NAAEE
Patagonia
The Nature Conservancy
NPCA
Islandwood
TTF Watershed Partnership
Citizens' Climate Lobby
REI
PASA
New Jersey Future
Center for Aquatic Sciences
Wildlands Conservancy

*Please note: while the conference is for folx who identify as PGM/BIPOC, recruiters are not required to identify as such to participate as a vendor at the career fair

Thursday May 9, 2019 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Galleria

Career Fair

12:00pm EDT

Lunch

Thursday May 9, 2019 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Galleria

Meal, N/A

1:00pm EDT

Prayer Space (closed group)

Thursday May 9, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Africa Rm

Affinity Group

1:00pm EDT

Mindfulness Meditation

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Thursday May 9, 2019 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
South America Rm

about Starting in her early days as a graduate student, Adrienne has incorporated meditation practices into her spiritual development. With over 800 hours of silent retreat experience, she has facilitated yoga and Vipassana and Zen meditation practices and designed health and wellness programming to support various communities since 2006, including people of color, children, medical students, and teaching faculty. As of January 2018, Adrienne has been part of managing daily operations and teaching yoga classes at Studio 34.

2:00pm EDT

What Feeds You? Putting Healing Strategies Into Practice

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This workshop uses dialogue, mapping, and group cultivation to delve into the question: What Feeds You? Participants will have space to engage with what feeds them, physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc. They will develop a map of healing practices and build decolonized relationships with others. We aim to co-create an inclusive space where we can express ourselves freely and reflect on what we need in order to heal and to serve our communities. We will challenge norms, participate in radical healing, connect with our ancestors, honor our soil, and grow joy.

This session will take place outside--meet workshop leaders in Galleria.

Speakers

Kunal Palawat

Kunal Palawat (they/them/theirs) is a Desi-American, nonbinary, queer, Jain, educator and scientist. They love cooking, studying nutrient cycles, and picking kale with their poodle, Tango! They are interested in how people connect and relate over food and land, storytelling, healing... Read More →

Jennifer Alexandra Gil-Vinueza

Jennifer A. Gil-Vinueza (she/her/hers) is a Latinx womxn of color, queer, mestiza warrior. She is interested in community engagement and development around food equity, justice, and liberation. She values building relationships with the people she meets and fostering conversations... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 2:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Breakout (outside), Block 4

2:00pm EDT

Community Investment vs. Capital Investment: How Park Development Can Support Neighborhood Resilience

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Parks can be an essential piece of social infrastructure that supports community resilience against a variety of stresses, from climate events to gentrification. How can “big green” organizations share power with communities to ensure that green space projects not only invest in capital improvements but in people from the community? This interactive workshop, hosted by a diverse group of The Trust for Public Land staff, will explore different ways park professionals can use the power of the design process and leverage park development to build community capacity, strengthen local leadership and connect residents to resources that will increase neighborhood-scale social resilience.

Speakers

Seema Kairam

Program Manager, The Trust for Public Land

Seema Kairam (she/her/hers) is a Program Manager at the Trust for Public Land and Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow. In addition to managing on-the-ground park development projects, Seema’s work at The Trust for Public Land focuses on understanding the effects that new park investments... Read More →

Dayana Molina Patino

Community Organizer, The Trust for Public Land

Dayana Molina (she/her/hers) is a Community Organizer with The Trust for Public (TPL) working on Green Alley Projects in historically disinvested communities in South Los Angeles. She brings 18 plus years of community organizing experience with various nonprofits in the environmental... Read More →

Chandi Aldena

Project Manager, The Trust for Public Land

Chandi Aldena (she/her/hers) is the Project Manager of the Colorado Parks for People Program at The Trust for Public Land. Raised in Denver, Colorado Chandi learned to love the great outdoors at a young age. Her love of nature and interest in design led her to pursue a career in landscape... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 2:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Europe Rm

Breakout, Block 4

2:00pm EDT

Deconstructing Your Social Media Profile: Lessons on Self- Care in the Digital Age

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Social media has provided a space for people of color to explore and express their identity, healing, and resilience. Using these platforms, however, can lead to social media fatigue- a phenomenon that can cause great anxiety among social media users, especially those in the environmental field. In this workshop, we’ll explore how we can use our social media platforms to effectively communicate with communities while maintaining our own mental health. We’ll also reflect on our personal social media use, set measurable goals to reduce social media anxiety, and identify ways in which we can support ourselves and our colleagues in reducing burnout.

Speakers

Kristy Drutman

Environmental Media Host, Brown Girl Green

Kristy Drutman (she/ her/hers) is a digital strategist and the host of Brown Girl Green, a podcast and media series dedicated to critical conversations around building an environmentally just society. Kristy interviews environmental rights leaders and advocates who want to share their... Read More →

Jorge Castro

Outreach professional

Jorge Castro (he/him/his) grew up in Peru and immigrated to South Florida when he was thirteen years old. He graduated from Williams College with a BS in chemistry and geoscience in 2016. He is currently a business development consultant at Brown Girl Green where he helps promote... Read More →

Tianna Arredondo

Program Coordinator, 350.org

Tianna Arredondo (they/them/theirs; she/her/hers) is an environmentalist, social entrepreneur, and storyteller currently working as the Program Coordinator of the Frontlines to Power initiative with Power Shift Network. Tianna works to support youth leaders through centering equity... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 2:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Africa Rm

Breakout, Block 4

2:00pm EDT

Green Leadership: The Last Hurdle for Women of Color

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

An interactive session where we will name the challenges, claim and shift our ideas about power in progressive spaces that continue to miss the mark for WOC.

Speakers

Tamara Toles O’Laughlin

Co Chair, Green Leadership Trust

Tamara Toles O’Laughlin (she/her/hers) is a native New Yorker and an environmentalist focused on equity, access and community. She develops capacity building programs and creates multimedia campaigns to dismantle privilege and increase opportunities for vulnerable populations to... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 2:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Asia Rm

Breakout, Block 4

2:00pm EDT

Holding onto Yourself: Building Your Resilience Zone

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

To build healthy, resilient communities, we must develop into resilient people. Many of us may come to liberation and solidarity work with a history of trauma and abuse, lived through community violence, poverty, survived the effects of colonization and the deliberate erasure of our culture, racism, anti-blackness, sexism, transphobia, and homophobia (external and internal). We have navigated a world that favors people who are neurotypical and able-bodied. In this workshop, we will support each other in building individual strategies for self-care and resilience as we engage in activism and work for equity and representation in predominantly white institutions.

Speakers

Jamila Gaskins

Jamila K. Gaskins (she/her/hers) is an urban sustainability practitioner and social, economic, environmental and racial justice activist who grew up, in Kent, Oh, exploring the woods and climbing trees, and running after her older brother hoping to get into a football game. She recently... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 2:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
North America Rm

Breakout, Block 4

2:00pm EDT

Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism: Regaining our Capacity to Heal From the Scars of Oppression and Recovering our Full Initiative and Resilience

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This session offers people an opportunity to learn ways to undo the damage done to each one of us by oppression, disconnection, and fear. This personal healing work is the work led by Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism, an international grassroots project using the tools of Re-Evaluation Counseling to work toward ending climate change within the context of ending racism and internalized racism in the environmental movement. As we do this work we will expand our capacities to form and sustain the united movements that we need in order to face and end this threat and create a just world.

Speakers

Barbara J. Love

Barbara J. Love (she/her/hers) is an Emeritus Professor of Social Justice Education, UMASS, Amherst. A former public school teacher with a background in History and Political Science, Dr. Love works with individuals and organizations throughout the United States and internationally... Read More →

Hao-Li Tai Loh

Hao-Li Tai Loh (she/her/hers) is a mother and social change activist working to combat climate change as head of the Philadelphia Chapter of The Climate Mobilization, a national organization urging the United States to declare a World War II scale mobilization in order to achieve... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 2:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
South America Rm

Breakout, Block 4

6:30pm EDT

URBAN CREATORS DINNER + PARTY @ LIFE DO GROW FARM (OFF-SITE)

http://www.phillyurbancreators.org/

Speakers

Jeannine Kayembe

Jeannine Kayembe aka ( _Oro5_ ) is an Asian African queer woman. She and 30 other young people alongside native north philly teens co founded Urban Creators and Life Do Grow urban farm in 2010 which became an arts and culture hub in north philadelphia. 10 years and helping raise 1M... Read More →

Thursday May 9, 2019 6:30pm - 10:00pm EDT
OFFSITE--Urban Creators 2315 N 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19133

Meal, N/A

7:30am EDT

Yoga

Limited Capacity seats available

Friday May 10, 2019 7:30am - 8:15am EDT
South America Rm

8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Friday May 10, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Meal, N/A

9:00am EDT

Plenary: And All Abilities: A Deeper Look at Disability in the Outdoors

The "And All Abilities" session will highlight the existence of people with disabilities in movements where they are unconditionally neglected and forgotten. This will be a facilitated panel discussion with 4 folxs of color with disabilities, discussing the challenges they face as well as opportunities for the population without disabilities to make their lives more barrier free. We aim to listen and learn as well as educate.

Speakers

Vasu Sojitra

Director/Coordinator/Athlete, Eagle Mount Bozeman/Earthtone Outside MT/ The North Face

Kareemah Batts

Program Director, Brooklyn Boulders Foundation

Kareemah Batts is a force within the national climbing community and a core leader in the adaptive climbing community. In addition to being the first female paraclimber in a USA Climbing competition, Kareemah observed a large hole in the climbing and adaptive sports community and... Read More →

Teresa Nguyen

Policy analyst

Teresa Nguyen (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. As a woman with a disability who grew up in a multicultural household, Teresa holds unique insight to what quality of life means for people of color with disabilities. She has dedicated her career to focus on public... Read More →

Melissa Ruiz

Melissa Ruiz (she/her/hers) is a student of Special Education at New York University and 2 time USA Climbing Adaptive Nationals competitor. She is the Administrative Lead for Adaptive Climbing Group New York Chapter. Melissa comes from a unique family of 6 sibling with disabilities... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Plenary, N/A

10:30am EDT

Climate and Environmental Advocacy Training

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Representatives from Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), an organization dedicated to increasing political will for a livable world, will provide a workshop to train you on political advocacy and lobbying. PGM voices are important and need to take their places at the table. Learn what it means to be a citizen advocate, what research and planning you should do before meeting with an elected official, and what roles different team members can fill in a lobby meeting. We’ll discuss ways to effectively communicate through hot-button objections, and end with a mock lobbying scenario where you can practice your new skills.

Speakers

Debbie Chang

Debbie Chang (she/her/hers) has been a volunteer with Citizens Climate Lobby since early 2017. She is an active member of the Washington DC chapter and the CCL Diversity Caucus, and she serves on CCL’s Climate & Environmental Justice Action Team’s Steering Committee. Debbie joined... Read More →

Karina Ramirez

Diversity Coordinator, Citizens' Climate Education

Karina Ramirez (she/her/hers) has been the Diversity Coordinator for Latino Audiences for Citizens’ Climate Lobby since 2018. Prior to joining CCL, Karina spent a decade as a journalist, working for newspapers in the North Texas area. She covered immigration, education and community... Read More →

Princella Talley

Diversity Coordinator, Citizens' Climate Education

Princella Talley (she/her/hers) is a Diversity Outreach Coordinator at Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) focusing her outreach efforts in African American communities. She is the CCL Alexandria, Louisiana chapter leader and the head of the Climate and Culture Action Team, which works... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Asia Rm

Breakout, Block 5

10:30am EDT

Reimagining & Decolonizing Wilderness Readings & Writing

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

In outdoor education and conservation, there is a canon of readings and inspirational quotes about "wilderness" which are often rooted in European/settler-colonial/patriarchal perspectives. In this session, we will co-create a readings and quotes collection as well as author list to share with the ONE community. We'll share our favorite quotes, articles, and stories, and space will be open for writing and sharing our own voices.

Speakers

Narinda Heng

Instructor, Stanford Adventure Program, GirlVentures

Friday May 10, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Europe Rm

Breakout, Block 5

10:30am EDT

Resiliency Amidst Environmental and Natural Resource Conflicts: What keeps you going?

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Being involved in environmental and natural resources conflicts can have a heavy personal toll on mental, physical and emotional well-being. But resilience keeps us strong. In this session, hear from fellow environmental campaigner Verner Wilson III about his nearly over a decade-long involvement in some environmental and natural resource conflicts in Alaska he's been involved in, and some advice on how he’s kept resilient. A discussion will follow with the broader group, where participants can offer their own stories and advice to fellow attendees on what keeps them going strong while being involved in conflicting environmental and natural resource issues.

Speakers

Verner Wilson III

senior oceans campaigner, Friends of the Earth

Verner Wilson III (he/him/his) is the Senior Oceans Campaigner for Friends of the Earth US. Verner focuses on protecting the marine environment from shipping pollution in the Pacific Northwest and Arctic, and empowering indigenous peoples. He previously worked for an organization... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
North America Rm

Breakout, Block 5

10:30am EDT

Sacred Play/Ceremony For Scientists: An African American Perspective in Using Plant Consciousness and Magical Geography for Self Care

Limited Capacity filling up

Creating pathways for connection to country (including humans, non human person, spirits and essence of the land) can be difficult with present concepts of belonging. A sense of belonging in natural spaces and also scientific circles is a crucial aspect to self care and healing. Loretta Maps Bolt has used radical approaches in connecting to nature such as magical geography/ sacred play and making music with plants, to challenge western concepts of what is nature and what is native.

Speakers

Loretta Maps Bolt

Loretta Maps Bolt (she/her/hers) is an artist, healer, and technoshaman focused on interspecies collaboration with plants. For the past two years she has been making music with plants by taking the electrical response and translating it into musical notes. With an adventurous background... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
South America Rm

Breakout, Block 5

10:30am EDT

The Stories We Don't Tell About PGM and the Environmentalism Movement

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will explore how traditional narratives in the environmentalism movement have historically not reflected the values, experiences of people of the global majority. In this workshop, I'll present three of these common narratives -- or what writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie named "single stories" -- and discuss what they miss, particularly in terms of race, capitalism, and other systems of power. After, participants will have a chance to work together to share when they have seen these common narratives in their own work and experiences, and brainstorm how they can be replaced with new stories.

Speakers

Amanda E. Machado

Amanda E. Machado (she/her/hers) is a writer and facilitator who is passionate about exploring the intersection between storytelling, social justice and the outdoors. She realized her love for natural spaces when she embarked on a fifteen-month trip around the world that took her... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Breakout, Block 5

10:30am EDT

Radical Self-Acceptance: A Mindfulness Journey of Healing Reconnection to Ourselves, to Earth and Each Other

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This workshop will be an experiential time to reconnect to our individual and collective ancestral connections to Earth. As we come together, we will engage in mindfulness based exercises such as meditation, listening, and storytelling that will help deepen our understanding of our attachment to place and to each other. Our goal for this workshop is to provide a space where we can be present with all of the emotions that can arise when healing from the effects of racism, oppression and internalized racism and oppression.

This session will take place outside--meet workshop leaders in Galleria.

Speakers

Roz Katonah

Nature-Based Therapist, Private Practice Internship

Roz Katonah (they/them/theirs) is a curious soul who is fascinated by the spiritual experience of being in an intelligent human body. As a black latinx non-binary trans-masculine person, they find joy in living their best imagined life. Roz is passionate about exploring the healing... Read More →

Kriste Peoples

Program Director, Women's Wilderness

As a leader in Colorado’s BIPOC outdoor community, Kriste explores ways to increase the representation of women and people of color in nature. She serves on the executive boards of Running Start, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women overcome obstacles to fitness, as well as the... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 10:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Galleria

Breakout (outside), Block 5

11:45am EDT

Building Social Capital for Climate Resiliency: 5 Lessons from the Fields of Detroit

Limited Capacity filling up

Low income and POC communities are often most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Many scholars suggest that the key to climate resiliency for our communities may lie in intentional building of social capital. Take these tangible lessons we have learned from 15 years community building in Detroit's farming community.

Speakers

Anita Singh

Anita Singh (they/them/theirs) is a program manager and youth educator with Keep Growing Detroit (KGD), where they manage KGD’s Youth Leadership Program and Summer Youth Apprentice Program, and develop the capacity of gardens and youth-serving organizations working in the food system... Read More →

Tepfirah Rushdan

Asst. Director, Keep Growing Detroit

Tepfirah Rushdan (sher/her/hers) is a co-director at Keep Growing Detroit, which provides resources and technical assistance to hundreds of gardens in the city. Over the last 10 years she has combined her love for people and nature through various environmental projects in the city... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Breakout, Block 5

11:45am EDT

Watering Black Roots: Tapping into the Collective EcoCreative Resilience of Blackness

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This workshop is an invitation to celebrate the historical EcoCreative resilience of black lives at the face of racialized ecological oppressions in the United States. Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy interweaves story, visual arts, movement, voice, music, and literature with the natural world to evoke healing, attunement, and connection. Centering these narratives seek to restore the interdependent union of marginalized bodies and lands.

Speakers

Stormy Saint-Val

Stormy Saint-Val (she/her/hers) is a black, queer, Haitian-born woman raised in Houston, Texas committed to healing justice that promotes the wholistic well-being of marginalized bodies. She is anticipated to graduate Expressive Arts Therapy at Lesley University in Boston. Her history... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Africa Rm

Breakout, Block 5

11:45am EDT

We, too are Earth: Reclaiming Eco-Spirituality, Ancient Knowledge, and Resiliency

Limited Capacity filling up

Through the arts of story-telling, herbology, and earth/self-love, our ancestors created traditions as ways of passing knowledge to future generations. Included in these sources of knowledge were community-centric, holistic ways of nourishing and healing mind, body, and spirit. Historically, colonizing groups have successfully stripped people of their collective memories and sources of knowledge by banning these traditions. Embedded in this process are power differentials that may lead to feelings of detachment, confusion, and frustration in individuals who seek to return to their ancestral ways. Individuals who are in the lineage of these groups may feel a call to return to these sources of knowledge, specifically spiritual ecology. Through an Ecowomanist lens explore the individual and community benefits of revisiting and validating these sources of knowledge. Be empowered by constructing a foundation for a more resilient, creative, and sustainable life.

Speakers

Sakenya D. McDonald

Sakenya (they/them/theirs) is deeply committed to the development of healthy persons, healthy relationships, and a healthy planet. By merging Ecowomanist theory with academic inquiry and artistic interpretation, Sakenya strives to encourage and empower others with messages that are... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
South America Rm

Breakout, Block 5

11:45am EDT

Day of the Dead: A Tradition for Community Resilience

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

In México and across the Americas, there is a thriving tradition of honoring ancestors and nature through “Day of the Dead.” Participants will learn an in depth narrative of this tradition, followed by an artistic mapping of an ofrenda (altar), this will be explained in the session. Paper and art supplies will be provided to draw a plan/design of an ofrenda that honor ancestors, passed loved ones and/or tributes to the land.Those that are comfortable will be able to share stories of their ofrendas. Centering ancestral knowledge and nature, are ways to decolonize the outdoors and uplift community resilient culture.

Speakers

Aasia Mohammad Castañeda

Aasia Mohammad Castañeda (she/her/hers) is a mother, daughter of immigrants, descendant of Mexican farmers & South Asian liberation fighters, and a self-taught graphic designer. She is a member of the Advisory Council for the Environmentalists of Color Network (based in Chicago... Read More →

Sindi Palomino

Sindi Palomino (she/her/hers) is a Latina, Mexican, STEAMinst Anthropologist Union Supporter from the Southwest side of Chicago. Her environmental and cultural experiences are homegrown; learning lessons from parents and grandparents later to be fortified by a B.A. in Anthropology... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
North America Rm

Breakout, Block 5

11:45am EDT

Documenting the Outdoors

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Over 11.7 million people live in the country with no status. The undocumented community often marginalized from the great society, has additional limitation to going outdoors and making the connection with our public lands. This presentation will outline some of the barriers the undocumented community faces in being part of the environmental movement, and in participating in outdoor recreation activities.

Speakers

Mayra Pelagio

Mayra Pelagio (she/her/hers) is a current masters’ student at San Jose State University. She holds a B.S in Environmental Science and Management and a minor in Wildlife Conservation Biology from UC Davis. Mayra is passionate about social and environmental justice and is currently... Read More →

Nanci Torres-Poblano

Environmental science educator, Naturebridge

Nanci Torres (she/her/hers) is currently serving as an Environmental Science Educator in Yosemite National Park. She attended El Camino community college and transferred to UC Davis where she received a B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning in 2017. One of the major discussions... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
Europe Rm

Breakout, Block 5

12:00pm EDT

Lunch

Friday May 10, 2019 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Galleria

Meal, N/A

1:00pm EDT

Closing Remarks

Friday May 10, 2019 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Ibrahim Theater

Plenary

2:00pm EDT

Climate Grief: Addressing Mental Health and Community Resilience

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

How do we build practices and self-care that are anti-capitalist and sustainable? This workshop seeks to explore the intersection of mental health and how we build resilience both internally and in our communities. We will explore "climate grief," acknowledging the fears and feelings that come with facing climate change and how this vulnerability fuels our organizing.

Speakers

Susan Sunhee Volz

Susan Sunhee Volz (she/her/hers) is a local Philadelphian and socialist activist fighting for equitable environmental and climate justice. Currently, she organizes with the Ecosocialist Group in Philly DSA and also serves on the steering committee of the National Ecosocialist Working... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
South America Rm

Breakout, Block 6

2:00pm EDT

Burn Out: Spot It, Take Action, Heal

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

In this session we’ll be exploring the PGM relationship with burnout and the significant ramifications it can have on mental health, productivity and work satisfaction. Spoken of as only a warning to environmental and conservation professionals, PGM are often left vulnerable and unequipped to handle the issues it can cause. Left unaddressed, burnout is one of the largest barriers to PGM retention within the field, leading only to the return of homogeneity and exclusivity in the outdoors. We will use this space to spark a conversation around burnout and provide participants with helpful and hands on tools to conquer this issue as a community and individually.

Speakers

Briana Riley

Program Manager, Student Conservation Association

Briana Riley (she/her/hers) is a proud black and Indigenous woman with strong ties to the Philadelphia community. Over the past four years Briana has worked to provide young people with outdoor experiences that encourage exploration, curiosity, and imagination. While she is a... Read More →

Alandra Chuney

Alandra Chuney, LMSW (she/her/hers) is the founder of Detroit based organization The Sisters Couch. While working as a clinical therapist and through having her own therapist, she quickly learned that women of color lacked a safe space to openly discuss mental health with each other... Read More →

alycia

Mentoring Program Manager, Latin American Youth Center

Alycia Chuney (she/her/hers) is a proud Detroit native currently calling Washington DC her home. Alycia has committed her career and personal life to work for and advocate for marginalized young people. She currently works for the Latin American Youth Center, an organization whose... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Europe Rm

Breakout, Block 6

2:00pm EDT

Happiness Mapping: An Approach to Using Pedagogies of Joy as Acts of Resistance

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This session will share a framework for pedagogies of joy and a tool we use in the IslandWood Education for Environment and Community graduate program that supports graduate students in identifying and maximizing happiness. IslandWood believes that in a time of fear, joy is an act of resistance and that joyful learning centers learners’ experiences in the design, activities, and analyses of programmatic learning outcomes. Happiness mapping is a tool that helps educators combat anxiety, depression and leverages mindfulness to seek patterns in their own lives to determine what brings them joy and links to sustainable futures.

The purpose of this session is:

To support attendees in further developing mental and emotional resilience through reflection activities and skills practice

To continue to build community with one another by having this shared experience

To share additional resources for support

Speakers

Theresa Song Ichien

Graduate Program Coordinator, IslandWood

Originally born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia to her Korean immigrant parents, Theresa (she/her/hers) has committed her life’s work to making positive social change via environmental and cultural education and youth empowerment. For the last seven years, she has been training educators... Read More →

Déana Scipio

Déana Scipio (she/her/hers) identifies as a bicultural Afro-Caribbean and African American woman. Her work focuses on broadening participation for learners from non-dominant communities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). She designs and study learning environments... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Asia Rm

Breakout, Block 6

2:00pm EDT

Maybe He's Born with It. Maybe its Male Privilege

Limited Capacity filling up

What role do men play in the outdoor DEI community? What responsibilities should benefactors of male privilege have in our co-liberation? In this conversation we will hold space for these questions and discuss tools that implore men to use their privilege and systemic protections to center queer folx, women of color, and femmes. We will also hold space around each of our own social locations and consider how we can all use our positionality to center the most targeted among us. Ultimately, this conversation seeks to interrupt and question our existing notions of safe space, self-care, call-out culture, and “allyship”.

Speakers

Bam Mendiola

Principal Consultant, Bam Organization

Bam Mendiola (they/them/theirs) is a national speaker, published writer, and diversity consultant. Their work is informed by their social location as a queer person of color and has been recently featured by NBC, REI, and the Race and Pedagogy National Conference. On social media... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Africa Rm

Breakout, Block 6

2:00pm EDT

Making Environmental Stewardship Relevant and Inclusive: How I Went From Being an Outsider to an Insider, and What I have Learned Along the Way

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

The definition of land stewardship and conversations about taking care of the land are being re-envisioned. The time is now to amplify our voices, make our stories visible, and see a new narrative emerge. In this workshop, participants will first explore their relationship with nature through story sharing. I will share my own journey of challenging the status quo, and becoming an integral part of the Golden Gate National Parks. Through examples and a facilitated discussion, participants will learn what it took for me to create culturally relevant, intentional and welcoming community programs. I hope to empower participants with ideas and tools that will help them navigate through difficult conversations about environmental stewardship, and find new ways to engage in meaningful programs within their own communities.

Speakers

Yakuta Poonawalla

Community Programs Manager, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

Yakuta (sher/her/hers) was born and raised in India, and her love affair with the natural world began during her first trek in the Himalayas. Since that initiation, she has had the opportunity of working with various non-profits and social enterprises, both in India and the US to... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
North America Rm

Breakout, Block 6

2:00pm EDT

Making Space: How to Create and Navigate Affinity Spaces in the Workspace

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Whether this is your first time attending an affinity space or one of many, we often find ourselves defending and justifying their importance. We work hard to debunk the idea that affinity spaces are counter-productive to diversity, equity, and inclusion. But what we know to be true is that our self-care and self-worth as marginalized people in predominantly white industries is necessary and act of resilience. Join us as we create an open space to discuss experiences and tools to take back to our employers in order to make a case for affinity spaces.

This session will take place outside--meet workshop leaders in Galleria.

Speakers

Brittany Leavitt

Brittany Leavitt (she/her/hers) has created a more inclusive space in the Outdoors since 2014. She has worked to celebrate the Black community through her work with Outdoor Afro for the past five years and is the Regional Director for Brown Girls Climb. While not teaching at the Smithsonian... Read More →

Laura Edmondson

Regional Leader, Brown Girls Climb

Laura (sher/her/hers) identifies as female and uses she/her/hers pronouns. She is biracial, with both African and Scandinavian ancestry. She is also a trans-racial adoptee. Professionally, Laura works as a Program Manager for a non-profit called Best Buddies, where, among other things... Read More →

Friday May 10, 2019 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Australia Lounge

Breakout (outside), Block 6