The modern environmental justice movement is rooted in the galvanizing
recognition that our fates are linked to the places we live and
work…and that often for people of color, those places are ignored,
under-resourced, and overly burdened with polluted air, water, and
soil. And yet these places are also home to the environmental justice
community’s pride, strength, and motivation. Place holds multiple
meanings. In the sciences, we often describe an organism’s place in
its ecosystem with two parameters: its habitat (physical location) and
its niche (role in the community). From those two dimensions, a
complexity of interactions emerge which define sources of both
resilience and vulnerability. Our human ecosystem is no different.
This year at BGJF, we want to examine the layered ways that place
speaks to EJ history, identity, and, perhaps most importantly, our
potential to transform the entire environmental movement to center
equity. Through speakers, workshops, and focused discussions at this
year’s forum, we will lay out the locations and roles that define
EJ’s place today and where and how it can grow in impact and in
resilient strength. We are thrilled to announce this year's keynote
speaker: Professor Chris Schell, University of Washington, Tacoma
Chris Schell is an urban ecologist whose research integrates
evolutionary theory with ecological application to disentangle the
processes accentuating human-carnivore conflict. Specifically,
Chris’ interests lie in understanding the endocrine mechanisms that
underpin carnivore behavior, as well as explicitly examining the
anthropogenic drivers (i.e. human densities, roadways, pollution,
interactions) that select for bold, habituated, and less fearful
individuals in metropolitan areas. His research is uniquely tied to
the community: urban ecology is inherently a synergy of anthropogenic
forces and natural processes. Hence, he often works closely with
underrepresented communities, wildlife managers, cultural
institutions, and philanthropic organizations to help foster mutually
enriching relationships among people and wildlife. Forum is free and
open to the public. Events will run 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM on the
Huston-Tillotson University campus. Forum Schedule: 8:00-8:30 am
Arrival and Light Breakfast 8:30-9:00 am Forum Welcome - HT President
Colette Pierce Burnette and Forum Co-Organizers Dr. Karen Magid and
Dr. Amanda Masino 9:00-9:30 am - Opening Speaker - Dr. Rosalee Martin
9:30-9:45 am - Local Organization Spotlight 9:45-11:25 am - Panel
discussion 11:30 am-12:30 pm - Lunch (provided, vegetarian options
available) 12:30-1:45 pm - Keynote speaker - Dr. Chris Schell,
University of Washington-Tacoma 2:00-3:00 pm - concurrent Workshops 1
3:00-4:00 pm - concurrent Workshops 2 Light breakfast and lunch will
be provided. Informal community happy hour being organized from
5:00-7:00 pm and venue will be announced soon. Map of Forum locations
found here.
food
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16/10/2019 Last update