Making Environmental Education Accessible

Download Free Eco-Education E-Book

Designed by Sara P. Mendes (@sara.p.mendes) and written words by Isaias Hernandez (@queerbrownvegan). Eco-Learners is a collaborative project that brings together creativity and environmental education. This is a free downloadable e-book that has 18 beautifully designed illustrations of environmental terms.

During my time in college, I had a hard time interconnecting terminology and concepts together. Upon graduating, I realized how important it was to simplify and breakdown each term. As someone who didn’t have support when navigating the environmental field, I asked myself who I wanted to be for others, and that’s an educator.

queerbrownvegan

Not every low-income student of color you see has

Not every low-income student of color you see has a full-ride scholarship, straight A's, or the tools to study efficiently. "If you can pass, everyone else can pass" is such a toxic mentality professors and teacher assistants perpetuated when I was an undergraduate. While each college and university has different challenges along the way, there are common trends that continue to be perpetuated in academia, which was one reason I have doubted myself going to higher education (graduate school) in the future. Here are some struggles I experienced as an undergrad.
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1.) Elitism: The amount of students + professors that talked down on me of "you should've learned this in high school" always made me cringe. Not all high schools are designed equally or have access to private tutors.
2.) Classism: I always had 2-3 jobs per semester to afford rent, groceries, and other amenities. I remember hearing from some peers + professors, "You need to prioritize your studies and stop working." How can I think about my studies if I were to be evicted from my housing if I don't pay? I never
3.) Racism: In a research lab, I had one of the professor advisors told me, "I know people born in Mexico aren't the best writers when they come to the United States" when I was never born in Mexico. I was baffled.
4.) Homophobia: While everyone has dealt with annoying frat men, one happened in a lab with other graduate students. I felt pretty disturbed by how these people freely said harmful rhetoric to the Queer community and me.
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While there are other issues that I did not experience, we must recognize how misogyny, sexism, and ableism are still apparent in colleges and universities for many low-income students of color. Finding my community in college helped me get through my undergraduate. At this point in my life, I always think it's too late to go back, but I also want to be in a better state if I decide to go to graduate school. It's not normal having to act like an adult from the age of 18, constantly worrying about grades, whether or not you have enough money to pay rent, and most importantly, enough money to eat and nourish your body.
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#academia #undergraduate

Veganism should never be focused on purity but rat

Veganism should never be focused on purity but rather the advocacy for justice of life itself. Getting vaccinated is essential to climate justice. As someone who has been Vegan for a few years, we need to recognize that Veganism seeks to exclude — as far as possible and practicable all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or other purposes. With that being said, if for medical and health reasons you need to partake in the consumption of medication or vaccinations, you should do it for your future livelihood. Unfortunately, the anti-vax Vegans are an issue in some parts of the community that have also upheld QANON stances which is devastating to see.
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Vaccines save lives and save money. These past few months, I have lost loved ones in my life who came from low-income BIPOC communities that did not have the same resources as higher-income communities to be treated. When I got vaccinated last month (first dose), I received hate messages on my stories of why I was getting vaccinated and how I was a fake Vegan. I got vaccinated to help my community and to ensure the protection of my loved ones. Studies show that Moderna and Pfizer were effective and led to a 92% decrease in hospitalizations. Our essential workers, especially healthcare workers, are already overworking themselves to protect our lives.
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Do you like to travel? Then get vaccinated. Workers who are already exploited working at resorts don't get to have the same resources as those who travel.
Do you like to go to an animal rights protest? Get vaccinated and protect your loved ones that are advocating for animal rights.
Do you like helping at animal sanctuaries? Great, get vaccinated because workers who run sanctuaries are already doing more work to protect animals.
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Veganism isn't a purity test, as we all are trying to divest away from harm as least as possible. If you get vaccinated, you still are Vegan. Saving lives is essential in our Vegan work. It's not controversial for saving your community.
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#veganism #vegancommunity #intersectionalveganism #queerbrownvegan

What's around your environment? From the water, ai

What's around your environment? From the water, air, soil, and light — elements give life to this environment. I've teamed up with the lawyers for the environment, @earthjustice who are here for the Earth. The biodiversity crisis is a huge issue globally, with nearly half of species facing extinction by the end of the 21st century. According to scientists, they predict that the current trajectory of habitat loss and climate change may result in between one-third to one-half of species facing extinction. Indigenous communities have played an enormous role in fighting against environmental injustices and paving the way for biocultural conservation. Protecting and fighting for Earth's biodiversity is not an individual task but a collective-efforts action.
- - Protecting all species encompasses planetary justice and we have a responsibility to mobilize with our community to demand justice. Many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color have been at the forefront of conservation practices that instill cultural-based experiences that sustain natural ecosystems. Protecting your home means protecting your body. - - Biodiversity is rooted in cultural diversity. Without it, we may not be able to sustain natural resources. As an environmental educator, my earliest memories of biodiversity were exploring different fields in California and being exposed to the history behind ecosystems. As an environmental educator, learning about biocultural conservation and biodiversity is essential to our understanding of environmental justice. Earth Justice is one of my favorite environmental organizations that continues the long fight. Until we can liberate ourselves from the environmental crisis, we will never rest. #NeverRest #DidYouKnow #Until #Earthjustice #earthjusticepartner

More and more, I've noticed that people in my gene

More and more, I've noticed that people in my generation don't like working 9-5 jobs. It's been nearly five months since I went full-time freelance as an eco-creator and while it has been a blessing, I did want to share some of my stories. Working full-time, in my opinion, is unsustainable for my physical and mental health. While not everyone can opt-out of their full-time careers, I knew that I was burning out at a young age at my first full-time job. When I created QueerBrownVegan, I didn't realize this would end up being my full-time career, but when I started to get more jobs, I knew that I genuinely wanted to make this my career. Even while working a full-time job and producing content on here, I was physically and mentally exhausted from working both a full-time job and being a content creator online. I felt like I was decaying inside. Being freelance can be scary, especially when no one around you has done it before, or you come from a family that instilled a full-time job career is the best thing for a comfortable life. Here are some ways I organized myself to go freelance.
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1.) Sponsored Content: While not everyone has the option to opt out of sponsored content, I have to remind myself that I work with businesses that are aligned with my values. I measured my monthly income from what I was generating solely from ads.
2.) Speaking Engagements: I love talking, doing webinars, keynotes for college students or organizations. I generally set a mini goal to get at least 1-2 speaking engagements a month.
3.) Consulting: While consulting is a different realm, I currently work with @intersectionalenvironmentalist for a few hours during the week and have made a solid weekly flow income.
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Going freelance can be scary and I'm not going to lie. There have been days where I doubt my ability and skill. However, I know that I don't regret leaving the full-time job landscape because I am not structured by hours but instead how I feel that day. If you are ever someone wanting to go freelance, I am always here for you to listen!
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Graphics: @ecoinprogress
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#queerbrownvegan #sustainability #sustainablecareer #ecofriendly

I am so excited to announce that I am a Huffington

I am so excited to announce that I am a Huffington Post (@huffpost) 2021 Culture Shifters, alongside many BIPOC creatives who are doing unique work along the intersections of social, racial, and environmental justice. Interviewed by Emily Gutierrez (@algorhythmc.ily) and Photographed by Gioncarlo Valentine (@gioncarlovalentine), my story to become an Environmental Educator is rooted in experiencing social, racial, and environmental injustice. I created QueerBrownVegan back in 2019 to share and emphasize the importance of why environmental education is a human right. Over the last few years, I've met so many inspiring environmentalists and I'm thankful to have cultivated a small community.
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For centuries, many Queer / Trans BIPOC folks have been at the forefront of environmental movements and are often erased from environmental narratives. The environmentalism I was taught at a young age centered on people who did not look like me or shared the same identity. I never thought I was normal growing up and that there was something "wrong" with me. But in reality, the capitalistic system we live in today tells our Queer selves that we are an issue and that we are to be corrected by society when in fact, Queer ecological leaders have always existed in this movement.
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I want to continue to fight for justice and liberation while recognizing my role in the environmental movement. My lived experiences, cultural-based experience and identity mean so much in the work I do. You can read the full article at Huff Post!
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Photography: @gioncarlovalentine
Interview Writing: @algorhythmc.ily
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#queerbrownvegan #queerness #queerecology #ecology #environmentalscience #ecoeducator #environmentaleducation #environmentaleducator #sustainability #ecofriendly #veganism #zerowaste #environmentaljustice #environmentalracism #intersectionalenvironmentalist #intersectionalenvironmentalism

AD | My goal is to build a cleaner home this Earth

AD | My goal is to build a cleaner home this Earth Month. I've teamed up with @ecoscleans to bring you all about the importance of phasing out from conventional cleaning products that contain harmful chemical ingredients in your home. For so long, low-income communities of color have the highest rates of exposure to toxic air pollutants, one being inside their own homes by the products they are using. Unfortunately, many people do not have the option always to buy greener products in their own home, which is why ECOs clean is creating a world where these rights are guaranteed for everyone regardless of their socioeconomic status. #AJustClean
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I received their bundle with an All-Purpose Cleaner, Laundry Detergent, Liquidless Detergent that comes in a paper form, hand soap, and fruit + veggie wash. I love Ecos Clean because it is their mission to be transparent as much as possible by ethically sourcing their products in their supply chain by working with local farmers that grow locally.
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I'll be sharing some of my favorite products with you all on my IG stories, so make sure to check it out! Are your household cleaning products safe for your home and loved ones?
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#ecocleans #ecosclean #ecofriendlyliving #zerowasteliving #ecofriendlyhome #toxicfreelifestyle #sustainability #sustainableliving #ecofriendlyproducts #queerbrownvegan

What are biocultural approaches to conservation? I

What are biocultural approaches to conservation? In a Livestream I had a few weeks ago with climate activist (@genwhitlock ), she emphasized the importance of biocultural diversity and biocultural conservation being intertwined in the fight for climate justice. Western conservation has often tried to separate humans and ecosystems as separate, deeming humans responsible for destroying ecosystems. In reality, many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities have had intrinsic relationships caring for the land. Biocultural conservation approaches are characterized as actions made to sustain both biophysical and sociocultural components of dynamic interacting and interdependent social-ecological systems. We cannot separate both biophysical and sociocultural as they are linked to supporting the future of life.
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Biocultural heritage encompasses Indigenous and local community knowledge, innovations, and practices that are developed within and linked to social-ecological context. Fighting to conserve diverse sets of expertise can provide human and biological communities with greater resiliency and cope with future ecological disturbances (Gavin, 2015). Biocultural conservation approaches should recognize the multidimensional goals, natural design mechanisms of incorporating them, trade-offs, and establish conflict resolutions. It also acknowledges that the methods respect the right of Indigenous and local people to natural resource use and continued presence on their native lands.
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Historically, western conservation programs have solely relied on academic scientific knowledge for setting goals and designing actions for conservations while seeing traditional science as less than. However, other sources of expertise exist, such as Indigenous environmental knowledge, which complements scientific knowledge. Indigenous ecological knowledge is powerful because it represents human interactions with local environments through periods of time and has rich, locally adapted knowledge systems that Western science systems cannot produce.
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Graphics: @ecoinprogress #bioculturalconservation #bioculturalheritage #queerbrownvegan

The sun keeps me inspired and energized for the da

The sun keeps me inspired and energized for the day, but my @fossil watch helps me navigate my time in the city. Switching over to an eco-friendly lifestyle when looking for products can be pretty confusing, especially when looking for a watch. Did you know that most watches, especially the batteries, end up in landfills and not properly recycled? I'm happy to have teamed up with Fossil to share all their efforts in crafting eco-conscious watches.
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They are excited to launch their second anniversary limited-edition Solar Watch — the World- Timer — launching this Earth Day. One cool feature of this watch is that it is powered by internal solar panels, which can reach a full charge after eight hours in the sun and retain charge for up to 3 months. Their 42mm watch case is made with castor oil, while the rPet strap is made from post-consumer plastic bottles with its packed features of a compass, stopwatch, alarm timer, and world time function. Here are some other exciting goals that Fossil is working on to making pro-planet progress!
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1.) Design and produce 100% of their product to meet pro-planet criteria by 2025
2.) Make 100% of primary packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
3.) Lead in circular business model approaches — where their materials can be used, reused and reduced - by 2025.
4.) Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030
5.) Eliminate virgin plastics in their supply chain by 2030.
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You can head over to Fossil's website to check out their limited edition solar watch and make a small step in your lifestyle!
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Photographer: @tiffgifphotog
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#fossilpartners #fossilwatch #sponsored #ecofriendly #ecoconscious #limitededition

Did you grow up living in proximity to grocery sto

Did you grow up living in proximity to grocery stores and farmers markets or fast-food restaurants and liquor stores? A study by the Rudd Center at the University of Connecticut found that living in a food swamp is a stronger predictor of having higher rates of health adversities than living in food deserts. Food swamps are characterized as areas with an abundance of fast food, junk food outlets, and liquor stores. While we are NOT going to shame those who partake in consuming fast food as part of their survival or availability, we should redirect our energy to the systemic root cause of these injustices.
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Like food deserts, food swamps appear in low-income areas where fast-food restaurants outweigh the presence of grocery stores in neighborhoods. This imbalanced food environment contributes to nutritional injustice and raises questions for cultural preservation in many BIPOC communities that do not have the resources to access their traditional cultural ingredients. While researchers and policymakers have suggested looking into zoning laws on fast-food restaurants, we still need to understand that limiting the number of fast-food restaurants will still not provide access to fresh groceries. While it may reduce health adversities, the significant context in question is identifying and mobilizing community engagement to produce their food systems.
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Draining food swamps while advocating for nutritional justice can look like the following:
1.) Invest in the community to buy empty land plots/areas. Redistribution of resources!
2.) Cultural, nutritional education by community-based teaching of giving youth the power and resources to cook plant-based meals.
3.) Reexamining zoning policies and the implications of their geography
4.) Community-based fridges, this has been happening
5.) Supporting local food coops that are run and defined by the community.
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What are your thoughts? #foodswamps #queerbrownvegan #foodapartheid #fooddesert #foodjustice #foodsovereignty #intersectionalenvironmentalism #environmentaljustice #foodsecurity #nutritionalsecurity #nutritionaljustice
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Graphics: @ecoinprogress

Do you prefer denim? I love styling myself with @l

Do you prefer denim? I love styling myself with @leejeans while creating eco-educational content.
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What led you to become an environmental educator? Growing up, I always had so many questions regarding climate change and never knew how it connected to my community. Even though I had an array of emotions, I never had the right words to describe my feelings. As someone who grew up low-income, I recognized the injustices in my community. I wondered why specific communities across Los Angeles were designed this way and what systems allowed these extractive industries to continue polluting. From asking questions to the classroom, I was invested in becoming an environmentalist and that led me to study Environmental Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Environmental education can often be inaccessible, especially for those trying to understand the interconnections of injustices. Environmental education is a human right and during my undergraduate career, I realized how information was privatized, which is unfair. Upon graduating, I was a bit lost in what I wanted to do until I realized that my passion for environmentalism has always existed. I wanted to give back to others around me which is why I entered digital spaces. Creating a series of environmental topics that broke down each issue allowed me to instill my own cultural-based experiences and lived experiences to that terminology.
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As an educator, I shared with you all about my 5R's being eco-friendly: reconnecting, researching, reevaluating, redesigning, and reestablishing. While we all have taken steps to be more conscious of what we buy, I am excited to share some news about Lee Jean's eco-friendly line. Their line focuses on creating better fabric blends, consisting of organic and recycled fibers that leave less impact on the environment. Additionally, their Indigood denim reduces water, energy, and chemicals required in traditional denim dyeing methods and uses foam dye instead to achieve a bright blue look. If you are ever looking for more Earth-based styles, check out Lee Jean's and make a statement with your style.
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#leejeans #sponsored

How can we make sure that people are doing environ

How can we make sure that people are doing environmental work sustainably without burning out physically or mentally? Yes, I agree that society and especially corporations have placed a negative emphasis that we as people are responsible for the ecological crisis when 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions. I often get asked, why should we do all three, or where do we start? Well, let's break it down as someone who, as an individual, got started caring about the environment.
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1.) Individual Change: Yes, most of us start here, or perhaps you are beginning to ask questions regarding pollution and environmental justice. While we can take those steps to live an eco-friendly lifestyle and it can be fun to learn more about ways you can make your living situation more eco-friendly, start to ask questions. At a young age, I always internalized my thoughts and feelings because I didn't have the right words to express my pain, frustration, sadness, or confusion. I often felt ashamed that I was not good enough to change within MYSELF. Individual change shouldn't always be focused on buying/ consuming conscious products. Instead, dividing that time to look into how it relates to injustice creates opportunities for you to shift locally.
2.) Local change: Yes, there are so many injustices in this world that we often feel a bit overwhelmed. As someone who had burnt out physically / mentally from climate work when I was younger, reframe yourself from tackling global issues and focus on what you can do with your community. Grassroots organizing is essential in the fight against climate change. You don't need to be an activist, nor an expert, to advocate for human rights — the fact that you care about the fundamental wellness of people is more than enough.
3.) System Change: Most of us are not in political positions with the government. However, that's not to say you have to be in that field to make a system change. Building off your community, how can you actively support those in the system trying to make a change?
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In reality, individual change is where we all start, but we can't remain at that stage as it is not sustainable for the planet.

My will is to continue being a better version of m

My will is to continue being a better version of myself that is more compassionate to my body,
community, and planet. We cannot separate our carbon handprint from the work we do. We can acknowledge that the work we do will never be perfect (which is normal), but we can collectively work together to make better action steps for our lives. One way that I have been taking strides is to find eco-conscious alternatives for my work. As an environmental educator, I am a visual learner, writer, and artist — with that, comes a lot of printing to evaluate the work I want to put out there. - - @HP strives to become more environmentally aware in its business model by reducing its
carbon footprint and providing HP Instant Ink. It’s the smart way to print. Instant Ink is a printing subscription service that includes ink, hassle-free delivery and free recycling. By subscribing to Instant Ink instead of buying traditional cartridges in a one-off manner, you can lower your environmental impact in the following ways: 1.) Reduces the carbon footprint of ink purchase and disposal by 73% 2.) Decrease energy usage by 69% 3.) reduces water usage by 70% 4.) Includes Pre-Paid Envelopes - - Printing doesn’t have to be wasteful. @HP makes it easy to lower your environmental impact. #hpfindyourwill #sponsored

Happy Earth Day! My new favorite Earth-friendly ai

Happy Earth Day! My new favorite Earth-friendly air-dried veggie snacks that help reduce food waste? @dirtkitchensnacks ! I recently teamed up with them for their Air Dried Veggie Crisps, which are made from upcycled veggies. Food waste is defined as food that is fit for, but ultimately not consumed, by humans. Around 1/3 of food produced globally is thrown to waste. What’s unique is that all too often, food that’s thrown away is perfectly nutritious and delicious - like the veggies used in these Air Dried Veggie Crisps. They were being tossed away right on the farm because... 1.) The grape tomatoes were too ripe to sell 2.) There is always an excess of zucchini 3.) Blushed bell peppers are multi-colored, which is considered an imperfection. Despite all this, they still make great snacks! All of their Air Dried Veggie Crisps are delicious and perfect for veggie lovers. Which variety would you choose? #upcycled #DigInWithDKS #sponsored

Do you know how much energy you consume in a day?

Do you know how much energy you consume in a day? I've teamed up with @inspirecleanenergy to talk to you about transitioning your home to be more eco-friendly. These past few months, I have been working on researching my monthly energy usage. Back in February, my daily electric use was 5.7kW and my total monthly electric usage was 172kW. As a full-time content creator that relies on electricity, energy consumption is inevitable on my end. But I have been researching ways to opt into cleaner energy and Inspire makes it easy to switch your home or apartment to 100% clean energy. Every year, the burning of non-renewable fossil fuels makes up 93% of the U.S. total carbon dioxide emissions, but you have the power to help bring that number to zero. It only takes a few minutes to sign up with Inspire and help combat climate change. Together, let's make a brighter, cleaner, and just future. #renewrebuildrestore #ad

Small actions lead to self-empowerment. I've teame

Small actions lead to self-empowerment. I've teamed up with @oxo and @repurpose to share with you why #earthdayeveryday can be celebrated in your kitchen. How much food waste do you generate per week? I have had a bad habit of letting some of my food go to waste due to a lack of time management. I've taking larger strives to reduce my food waste by getting a composting bin!
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To celebrate Earth Day, I'm partnering with @Repurpose and @OXO to give away 3 compost bins and 3 sets of Repurpose bags. Tag a friend and follow @Repurpose
+ @OXO to win. You can also sign up for a monthly subscription as well as use EARTHDAYEVERYDAY to get 15% off your small bin and tall kitchen bags! #earthdayeveryday
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#repurpose #oxo #sponsored #composting #ecofriendly #ecofriendlyliving #lowwasteliving #lowwaste #queerbrownvegan #zerowasteliving #zerowastelifestyle #zerowastelife

BIPOC have always cared about the environment. My

BIPOC have always cared about the environment. My latest collaboration with @chaosandcomrades where we explore a harmful myth that states working-class BIPOC don't care about the environment. Here are some highlights we wanted to cover in the caption.
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1.) There is often a misconception that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color don’t care about the environment or that they care less than white people, which is a racist misconception. According to a study by Yale Climate Change Communication, People of Color in the U.S., including Hispanics / Latinos, African Americans and other Non-White racial/ ethnic groups, are more concerned than Whites about climate change.
2.)There is often a disconnect within academia and environmental organizations from the lived experience of BIPOC. For example, in 2014, Professor Dorcetta E Taylor published a groundbreaking report that documented the lack of racial diversity in major U.S. environmental organizations. The report found that fewer organizations were voluntarily reporting their diversity statistics and also that nonwhite people on staff and boards remained low. The problem is not that BIPOC don’t care about the environment, but that there is a lack of diversity outreach, retention, and cultural competency when it comes to hiring BIPOC into environmental groups. On top of that, academic spaces that uphold elitism are not always safe spaces for students of color. Environmental studies is the STEM field with the least diversity— only 2.8% of people with environmental studies degrees are African American.
3.) Race is the single greatest indicator to determine how vulnerable someone is to climate change. According to the EPA, Black communities are exposed to more than 1.5 as much particulate matter than white people are. In a survey that measured how concerned young people were about climate change, students of color scored higher than their white counterparts.
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Environmentalism has always been diverse. Graphics: @ecoinprogress
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#environmentaljustice #environmentalracism #intersectionalenvironmentalism #intersectionalenvironmentalist #queerbrownvegan

Cultivating = blossoming. Loving yourself is easie

Cultivating = blossoming. Loving yourself is easier said than done. I remember being told how to love yourself, but there was never an emphasis on the reality of how some days we don't love ourselves. In trying to fight for the planet's future, I felt like my inner spirit was decaying and had adopted a survival mindset of scarcity, not abundance. This whole last year has made me reflect on how I can further extend myself to love myself sustainably. When Mother Earth feels pain, we feel it too. So how can we build everlasting relationships of love in the work of environmentalism? It depends on the specific individual, but here are some ways that have helped me along my journey.
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1.) Moving: When we enter outside spaces, whether it be walking, running, sitting, our creative energies are interwoven in the environment that allows us to build stronger relationships with our work.
2.) Investing in sleep: To sleep a total of eight hours is sometimes a privilege. I know some people who have children, in college, or work multiple jobs that sleep is not always guaranteed in this extractive system.
3.) Be intentional in your positionality. Recognize the Indigenous land you are currently residing on, thinking about how we can be better advocates for communities.
4.) Normalize different emotions: In no way does love mean perfection. This means that we don't always have bright, happy, and joyful days. We sometimes have days that can be confusing, angry, sad, grief, shy — these are all valid emotions and you can still love yourself.
5.) Circular relationship: Love isn't a one-way-streak. It works both ways. Our roles in fighting for a healthier planet mean that we will fight to protect the environment, community, and self.
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So yes, love yourself sustainably in a way that isn't focused on obsession to find self-love, but a compassionate view that ensures a sustainable relationship to build that inner love with yourself.
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#sustainable #sustainablylove #queerbrownvegan #ecofriendly #ecofriendlylifestyle #ecofriendlyhome #zerowastehome Graphic: @ecoinprogress

It’s Spring and sometimes I forget to remind mys

It’s Spring and sometimes I forget to remind myself that I should also be blossoming during this time 🌸. I sometimes ask myself, are we required to lose something every season or gain something new every season? Whether we acknowledge it or not, we can’t always shed our inactions but we can become better equipped to build and create actionable steps.
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Around a year ago, I had just moved out of the East Coast back to the West Coast and felt like I didn’t get to fully experience the Spring Season in New York and told myself that one day I’ll be back. After surviving the Summer, Fall, and Winter, I’ve felt like I didn’t get to experience the challenges that Spring presents and the opportunities to be real with yourself.
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It’s been nearly fourth months since I moved back to the East Coast and have been experiencing the Spring season that it has left me full of excitement and tears. I didn’t know I’d be able to wake up every day to my dream career as a freelance content creator. I was always doubting myself every season that I was not good enough to do the work I wanted to do but Spring presented those opportunities of abundance and blessings. Like every flower, one doesn’t grow automatically, it sometimes takes weeks, months, or years. Spring is here and hope you all can enjoy it too. #springseason #springseason2021 #queerbrownvegan

Community-based frameworks are what make environme

Community-based frameworks are what make environmental justice. I have often found myself in various spaces that usually try to reinforce the ideas that institutional frameworks are more superior to community-based frameworks. In my view, I ask myself, for who and to whom do institutional frameworks serve to? For me, I see both values in the community and institutional-based frameworks. However, it is not always the case that community-based frameworks are valued as equal compared to the institutions because of the legacy of elitism and colonialism that it upholds.
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Environmental justice is rooted in community and collective care. If you are placing value in justice-oriented solutions, we need to recognize that the community should define them, not people who come from outside that environment. I often get frustrated when I hear that community solutions are not strong enough to fight against the climate crisis. In reality, they have been paving the way for many communities' actions against injustice.
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Does engaging in institutions help out communities? Yes and no, to a certain extent. On the one hand, it is an opportunity for voices to be centered and request allocations of resources to be invested in them. It's also not always the end all be all situation, especially when it comes to conferences that continue the endless cycles of conversations from the government's lack of actions to implement environmental justice policies. Do we need both local and system changes? We should never stop advocating for both and recognize that our roles in this movement are unique to each and their own. Recognizing that a variety of community-based frameworks come from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color is essential to our understanding of the environmental movement.
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Graphic: @ecoinprogress
#queerbrownvegan #environmentaljustice #environmentalracism #climatejustice #environmentalmovement #environmentalism #climatechangeisreal #climatechange #climatecrisis #environmentaleducator #ecoeducator #ecoeducation #ecofriendly

When was the last time you went to a green space?

When was the last time you went to a green space? I'm so happy to have teamed up with @trustforpublicland to share with you all about my story regarding green spaces. Growing up, I didn't have access to many green spaces. The only closest thing was the entrance to my elementary school, where there was grass. Even then, you weren't allowed to play on it due to school rules. Did you know that nearly 1 in 3 Americans don't have a park close to home — that includes 28 million kids? Parks serve as safe spaces for many communities across the world and cultivate communities to gather together. Unfortunately, most parks near communities of color are half the size of parks in the majority-white neighborhoods. As we get older, we can sometimes be too focused on our phones to forget to check in with nature. I am asking you all to join me in supporting the Trust for Public Land to ask your Representative to pass the Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act. The act would provide a $500 million emergency investment to bring more parks to people, especially in communities of color. This would give green spaces for historically divested communities, boost local economies, improve park equity, and allow people to access the outdoors! While every day is Earth Day, I am asking you to learn more about the Park, Jobs, and Equity Act and sign the petition today. Click the link in my bio to fight for green spaces for all.
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- #outsideforall #allinforoutdoors #earthmonth #earthday #parksuniteus #outsideforall #parksforpeople #parksforall
#powerofparks #getoutside #nature #outdoor #adventure #getoutdoors #ourparks #parks #findyourpark #community
#environment #trustforpublicland #equitablecommunities #publicland #conservation

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