EcoWeek's 'Outdoors For All' Tuesday

Arlington MA

10 May, 2021

3:09 PM

Description

Your Arlington Last Updated: 10 May 2021 Written by Joan Roman Who has access to our local conservation areas? You might answer, "everyone, right?" But that may not be the case for those facing discrimination on a daily basis. And how might unequal representation of people of color in nonprofit and environmental organizations affect policies and practices in some of our most beloved environmental institutions?Arlington welcomes environmental educator and conservation advocate Parker McMullen Bushman as the featured speaker at EcoWeek and also the first presentation in the 2021 Community Conversation series. All are welcome to attend this online conversation at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 11. Register here >> This talk comes at a time when not only are Arlington residents more attuned to racism and the need for greater equity in our public institutions, but also as we are raising a more environmentally aware generation of youth to become the nature and land stewards of our future. Arlington EcoWeek aims to involve all of our residents in local environmental initiatives. Jill Harvey, director of the diversity, equity and inclusion Division of Arlington Health and Human Services, adds, "I am grateful that complex issues of accessibility, racial equity and inclusivity are being brought to the forefront during EcoWeek, highlighting the importance of environmental justice for all community members." Arlington youth's interest in environmental stewardship is growing strong, according to school sustainability coordinator Rachel Oliveri. She oversees the school system's Green Team program, which hosts groups in almost all the schools, including three groups at the high school. When AHS graduating senior and DPW intern Julia Wallace was asked why youth in our community get involved with environmental issues, she responded, "younger people feel like it's up to us." Bushman believes in the importance of community-based environmental education programs to empower local community members to take an active role in sustainable development of their communities while protecting their environmental resources. Her background in the education, conservation, outdoor recreation and interpretive fields spans miore than 23 years. Teachers, students, administrators, and parents are especially encouraged to join this conversation. Bushman is a dynamic speaker who engages audiences in new thinking around what it means to be a diversity change agent, an inclusive conservation leader and build capacity for transformational change. Complete EcoWeek schedule of activities can be found at arlingtonma.gov/ecoweek YourArlington.com has provided news and opinion about Arlington, Mass., since 2006. Publisher Bob Sprague is a former editor at The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Arlington Advocate. Read more at https://www.yourarlington.com/about.