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 Servicetkconway@fs.fed.us

Stir the Pot!