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Diversifying Alabama’s Environmental Movement A targeted diversification path for With support from: Environmental Support Center. Call to Action!. Redefine your concept of diversity- see it 1 st , then work with it
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Diversifying Alabama’s Environmental Movement A targeted diversification path for With support from: Environmental Support Center
Call to Action! • Redefine your concept of diversity- see it 1st, then work with it • Begin the education process with yourself, then coworkers, family, friends and neighbors • Unconventional allies, build friends • Everyone’s Help Is Needed, Think Outside Your Box
What we do: Our purpose is to protect and restore Alabama’s rivers. To do to achieve healthy rivers, healthy people, and a healthy system of government for the state of Alabama. • 3 Programs: • Healthy Watersheds • Flowing Waters • Watershed Leadership
Historical Diversity Initiative • Not a new idea • With the advent of Environmental Justice, there was a push to reform our state agency. • ARA’s first conscious effort toward a diverse coalition was ADEM Reform Coalition.
Challenges Big Policy Changes, lack of interim victories Un-sustained key diverse groups lost funding and leadership Meeting culturedifferences pushed groups out, facilitation style, setting, comfort level Tension in the Decision Making Process between staffed and unstaffed, rural and urban.
Watershed Leadership Diversity Need appears in my work, over and over again Education, Outreach, Support, Networking 1st Training, Alabama Organizing Proj., October 2007 Opportunity provided by our funders The Need for New approaches and New supporters Whole Thinking Retreat with Center for Whole Communities in Summer 2009 2010 Rally on Friday, WSN Diversity Session
Conference: A Starting Point “We have the same people come year after year.”
Watershed Leadership Conference 2008 • “Bill Deutsche was my favorite, because of his theme of inclusivity.”
2009 Diversification of Existing Event, WLC Broader Appeal through increased use of social media- “hipping it up” Presenters and partners Tie in with faith based groups, Interfaith Tie in with political groups, Empower Alabama College Environmental Forum or Caucus- inform us
2009 Success “There were so many more young people at this conference. It was really great to see.”
2010 WLC Continued use of social media- “hipping it up” Moving out of the woods- urban setting, college campus Leaders of other social change movements: Alabama Arise, Sustainable Agriculture Network, United Mountain Defense
2010 Successes “Hearing the stories and experiences of activists who have stood against coal companies, racism, environmental and social injustices of all kinds, gives me courage. Courage is what I need more than anything to do my work.” “I was surprised at how well this conference went. I honestly did not like the idea of being in a downtown city environment, but it was Montgomery and the elections are around the corner. So it made sense, so I thought what the heck. The ARA folks just made it all work.” “We must educate our population about the environment or we're not going to survive.” “By offering scholarships, you reach many of the people that are actually out doing the good work but can't afford to attend both for the hotel and sessions and meals.”
Event+Response=Outcome Worst thing you can do is give out grant money when the pipelines open to get people there once. Identify volunteer leaders, build relationships Engage afterward, go to their community, explore commonality, overlap.
2010: A Targeted Diversification Path Seeking full and meaningful participation with community partners and partner organizations Building environmental leaders through engagement and relationships. Linking solutions to environmental degradation to basic justice issues. Infuse our work with these ideals, making inclusion and representation a part of everything we do. Share the love, spread the message
The Mighty Cahaba c. Beth Stewart
Duck River (Cullman, Alabama) c. Nelson Brooke
