Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) is launching a new Outdoor Voices speakers’ series that features environmentalists who will share stories about their experiences in nature. These programs are open to the public, free of charge.
“The conservation movement often acts as if we all enjoy nature in the same way, and have the same access, but this is simply not true, ” said Sally Purrington Hild, Engagement and Events Manager for the organization.
The Outdoor Voices series kicks off on August 24 at Wolbach Farm in Sudbury. The program will feature Amarachukwu Ifeji, Director of Policy at the Maine Environmental Education Association.
Ms. Ifeji, who is of Igbo descent, will explore the history of the conservation movement in the United States, which has traditionally excluded people of color from outdoor spaces. She will share her personal experiences of environmental exclusion, discuss how she combats these injustices through environmental education, and highlight the critical importance of centering historically marginalized voices in environmental, climate, and conservation movements.
The August 24 program is co-sponsored by Professionals of Color in the Environment (POCIE), a statewide community that strives to dismantle barriers and advance racial equity within the environmental discipline.
Nia Keith, cofounder of POCIE and vice president for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice at Mass Audubon, will moderate a question-and-answer session at the conclusion of Ms. Ifeji’s presentation.
“Amara is a brilliant and poetic speaker who wowed a crowd of 185 guests at an SVT event this past spring,” said Cecil Hynds-Riddle, Director of Development at SVT. “Prepare to challenge your assumptions and think deeply about how conservation and social justice interact in our local community.”
Ms. Ifeji’s presentation will be held on Saturday, August 24, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Barn at Wolbach Farm, 18 Wolbach Road, Sudbury. The public is invited to attend this free event, but registration is required at www.svtweb.org/voices.
SVT is a nonprofit land trust that conserves natural areas and farmland in 36 communities around the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers. The organization has protected more than 70 miles of trails and also hosts public programs on nature topics.
