Opening our Hearts
Peone for our opening hearts
Comfrey to heal what’s broken
Motherwort, another heart mover
Corn, for the kernels of new commitment
Open space, making room for new relationships
We at Nature Learning Community are heartbroken to witness physical harm and loss of life at the hands of those who should be protectors. We recognize this disproportionately impacts Black lives, who also suffer from institutionalized racism and inequality.
Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles – these losses tear the fabric of humanity. Our hearts reach out to families and communities affected by recent acts of violence.
The mission of Nature Learning Community is to change the world for the better by facilitating the process of deep nature connection. This mission does not exist in a vacuum. If we are to truly live out our mission, we must acknowledge that individuals' experiences of nature connection, and access to nature, are inseparably related to inequities in our society.
Given this background, as an organization, we commit to listen deeply and thoughtfully to the stories and grief of Black people, and to listen to Black leaders calling on us to speak up, stand up, and act for social justice. We believe it’s time to amplify and elevate the voices and stories of Black people. Below are a few resources that have been shared by our members.
Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles – these losses tear the fabric of humanity. Our hearts reach out to families and communities affected by recent acts of violence.
The mission of Nature Learning Community is to change the world for the better by facilitating the process of deep nature connection. This mission does not exist in a vacuum. If we are to truly live out our mission, we must acknowledge that individuals' experiences of nature connection, and access to nature, are inseparably related to inequities in our society.
Given this background, as an organization, we commit to listen deeply and thoughtfully to the stories and grief of Black people, and to listen to Black leaders calling on us to speak up, stand up, and act for social justice. We believe it’s time to amplify and elevate the voices and stories of Black people. Below are a few resources that have been shared by our members.
Black Birder’s Week promotes diversity outdoors aiming to boost recognition and representation of Black people enjoying and studying the natural world. We’ve enjoyed exploring this national initiative sparked by a recent racist incident in Central Park NYC.
A2 Dismantling Racism Discussion Group, a facilitated local conversation you're welcome to join. In this group we get honest around issues of racism in our own lives and community in order to become true allies for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).
Outdoor Afro a national non-profit organization working for inclusion in outdoor recreation, and conservation.
A2 Dismantling Racism Discussion Group, a facilitated local conversation you're welcome to join. In this group we get honest around issues of racism in our own lives and community in order to become true allies for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).
Outdoor Afro a national non-profit organization working for inclusion in outdoor recreation, and conservation.
Black Nature Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry a collection of nature writings by Black poets. |
Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors is a book about why African Americans are so under-represented in nature, outdoor recreation, and environmentalism, which we look forward to diving into.
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There’s no better time to prioritize and deepen conversation and action around equality in nature, as well as systemic racism. We encourage your thoughts as we look at how we can become ever more resolved in this mission. We invite all members to reply to this email with suggestions of other resources to promote, individuals or organizations in the community that NLC may wish to partner with, or further ideas for continuing this work.
Sincerely,
The Administrative Team at Nature Learning Community
Sincerely,
The Administrative Team at Nature Learning Community
Nature Learning Community Welcomes Everyone!
People of all races, national origins, ages, sexes, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, religions, political beliefs, family and marital statuses, income levels, or language backgrounds are warmly encouraged to participate in Nature Learning Community as teachers, students, volunteers, or in any other capacity that people engage with us.
We're strongly committed to building good relationships, and know there's always more to learn about how to do this. We welcome your input into how we can make Nature Learning Community a welcoming place for all.
People of all races, national origins, ages, sexes, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, religions, political beliefs, family and marital statuses, income levels, or language backgrounds are warmly encouraged to participate in Nature Learning Community as teachers, students, volunteers, or in any other capacity that people engage with us.
We're strongly committed to building good relationships, and know there's always more to learn about how to do this. We welcome your input into how we can make Nature Learning Community a welcoming place for all.