environmental justice latino legacy by tamberly conway
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National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program Presentation, April 4, 2013Panel: Reaching Our New Constituencies, USDA Forest ServiceTRANSCRIPT
A Concoction of Culture, Community and Conservation
A Spicy Recipe for Improving Environmental Justice
Tamberly Conway, M.S.Conservation Education Specialist
USDA Forest Service
Environmental Justice: Reaching Our New Constituencies
A Recipe for Success
• Gather information from the community and integrate their input into projects and programs
• Develop and nurture non-traditional partnerships
• Use the I-Triad for connecting community
• Stir the pot!
Youth Leadership in Nature Challenge (YouthLINC) sowing seeds at NRCS Plant Materials Center
Justification
Federal Requirements Regarding Minority Participation
Executive Order 12862 “Setting Customer Standards” identify potential minority customer survey for kind and quality of service desired provide customer satisfaction equal to private sector
Executive Order 12898 “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations”
no exclusion of persons due to race, color or national origin from receiving program benefits
data on race and national origin of residents surrounding Federal facilities
Justification
Increase knowledge and cultural awareness of the Hispanic segment
Identify activities, facilities, services and programs appropriate for Hispanic visitors
React to changing demands and trends
Create an inviting environment for this specific visitor segment
Houston - 42% Latino Dallas - 58% Latino
San Antonio - 77% Latino
Projected Proportion of Population by Race/Ethnicity in Texas, 2000-2040*
*Using U.S. Census count for 2000 and Texas State Data Center 1.0 population projection scenario for 2010-2040.
53.1
45.1
37.3
30.3
23.9
11.6 11.1 10.39.2
8.0
32.0
39.3
46.5
53.2
59.2
3.34.5
5.97.3
8.9
2000 2010 2020 2030 20400.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0Percent
Anglo Black Hispanic Other
Photo by Josh BirnbaumYouthLINC – International Year of Forests
Sam Houston National Forest Scott’s Ridge Boat Ramp 2003-2004
Conducted visitor-use surveysn = 314
• Activities• Facilities • Services
Hispanic vs. Non-Hispanic White Visitor Preferences on U.S. Forest Service Recreation Areas in Texas
ZIP Code data shows visitor concentrations
Latino Non-Latino White
Sam Houston National Forest
More Kids in the Woods
Latino Legacy: Building Place-Based Connections of Youth
through Family Experiences on Forest Lands
Latino Legacy
El Bosque Móvil
Forest Information Team
• > 30 employed members • approx. 40%
bilingual• > 40 volunteers
Building place-based connections
• Family-based
• Hands-on learning
• Stewardship activities
• Service learning
On-site microinterpretive programming
Methods
Location: (Houston/Conroe, TX)
Pilot Project Period May 2007 – Feb 2008 13 Latino & non-Latino events 10 on-site visits
Two pilot self-administered surveys Spanish - 66% English - 34%
Pilot 1 : n =50
Pilot 2 : n =80
Total n =130
Language Preference Spanish
English
Both
To receive information/ conservation education program (n =121)
52%(13 yrs)
33%(22 yrs)
15%(20 yrs)
Spoken (n =121) 39%(14 yrs)
4%(24 yrs)
57%(20 yrs)
Read (n =121) 40%(14 yrs)
6%(28 yrs)
54%(20 yrs)
Language spoken at home (n =121)
67%(14 yrs)
17%(26 yrs)
16%(22 yrs)
Results Language preference/Time in the US
Reinforces the need for materials and communication in the Spanish language.
Generating a level of comfort with subject matter that may be uncomfortable initially.
Use of Bosque Móvil (Forest Mobile) to reach Latino community
98% yes (n =108)
• Accessible/beneficial to the community
Use of Forest Information Team (Amigos del Bosque) to communicate about natural resource conservation
91% yes (n =108)
• Communicative, knowledgeable, bilingual and friendly
Results
65% interested in natural resource conservation volunteer opportunities (n =116)
Comments to improve outreach to Latino community (n =79)
Results
Hispanic Heritage and Cinco de Mayo
• Visit venues frequented by Latinos
• Television/radio announcements
• Spanish language media
• More bilingual communication
The Power of Partnerships
• Success in reaching broad and diverse audiences• Delivery of collaborative conservation messages • Stewardship & service learning opportunities
Initiate and nurture partnerships that provide for a more sustainable effort and find new community-based partners already connected to:
• Families • Children• Ethnic groups
Chikawa Aztec Cultural Group• Non-traditional original partner of the Latino
Legacy program
• Unique relationship which provides benefits:• Cultural performances at Children’s Forests in Texas• Chikawa acts as a liasion into Latino community• Creating connections among art, culture and nature• Partner assists in providing programming
Friends of the National Forests & Grasslands
in Texas a 501.c.3
Oversees program partnerships of:
• Latino Legacy - Amigos del Bosque
• Children’s Forests in Texas
• USFS/NEEF Prescriptions for Nature
• Project Learning Tree GreenSchools! & GreenWorks!
• Y-LINC- Youth Leadership in Nature Challenge
• Community, school & regional events
• Diversity and Community Outreach Team
I-Triad - Invite, Include and Involve
• Invite people to participate
• Include diverse youth, community members and leaders in the planning, development and delivery processes
• Involve diverse communities in decision-making processes related to natural resource conservation
• Provide diverse audiences with voice and empowerment
Chavez, D. (2002) USDA Forest Service
* What are some ways you have included youth or community in the planning process?
Technology Today
Creating programs to reach broad and diverse audiences
Discover the Forest• 4 yr partnership effort with Ad Council in an effort to
connect kids and families to nature
Descubre el Bosque (Hispanic Campaign)
• Latino Legacy manages Spanish language social media component
• Engages youth Latino writers in developing social media content
A Recipe for Success • Listen, understand and speak to core values of new
communities
• Form new alliances, share resources, pick up new tools, and adapt to changing conditions
• Become a leader in making the changes needed to become more inclusive!
Special thanks to our collaborators:
Latino Community Participants and Partners
Friends of the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
Texas A&M Forest Service
Chikawa Aztec Cultural Group
Houston Independent School District
Conroe Independent School District
Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
Stephen F. Austin State University
Project Learning Tree - GreenSchools!
…..and many others!
• Get all your ingredients lined up.
• You have the recipe for success.
• Now, get cooking!
Thank you!Gracias!!
Tamberly ConwayU.S. Forest [email protected]
Stir the Pot!