Bringing DEI to Nature Education: A Community Based, Culturally Specific Approach

Hanna Dornhofer and Kesia Tosh expand on the topic, "Bringing DEI to nature education: a community based, culturally specific approach." during a lunch and learn presentation. Since 2022, Beaverton Black People’s Union (BBPU) and the Tualatin Hills Nature Center at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) have partnered to offer the annual Black & Green Fellowship, a paid four-day experience for Black high school students in the Beaverton area. The Fellowship empowers youth to take up space and gain comfort in nature by building a relationship with a park site and building community with each other. Sessions are led by professional facilitators and subject matter experts on topics associated with nature and mental health. We focus on increasing students’ understanding of the connection between nature and mental health, offering techniques for nature-based self-care and wellness and providing take-home tools to integrate self-care into their lives. We would like to share the results of this partnership program, entering its fourth year, including both successes and lessons learned. This program gives insight into the creation of culturally specific programming using a community-led model. Additionally, the Black & Green Fellowship Program has led to a deeper, more trusting relationship with the BBPU, and is currently resulting in new program ideas and events planned for 2025 and beyond, illustrating an example of how community-based equity and inclusion work can succeed