Diverse Environmental Leadership Launch

New Speakers Bureau Launches as the Voice for Diversity and Inclusion in National Parks, Outdoor Environments, and Environmental Organizations

Diverse Environmental Leaders to share expertise on impact of diverse outreach and perspective on public lands and environment.
Photo: Dudley Edmondson
The Diverse Environmental Leaders (DEL) speakers bureau brings together a dynamic ensemble of individuals with vast experiences to offers a more relevant narrative about Americans of color,  on environmental issues. The organization and its members will address the urgent need to expand the environmental conversation, especially in the face of global climate change and its destructive effects. “We have a green-infrastructure moment in America now, as a response to climate adaptation,” states DEL member and green urban planning innovator Majora Carter. “This provides more opportunities to introduce urban residents to natural systems, the careers that come with them, and a taste for more.”
The bureau’s launch comes exactly two years prior to the 2016 centennial of the National Park Service and is intended to mark a 24-month celebration culminating August 25, 2016. DEL will help organizations, corporations, government agencies, and more, by providing expertise in engaging diverse communities and presenting best practices for successful outreach to increase awareness,  interest, participation, and stewardship of the natural and historic public lands throughout the United States. “DEL provides a focus for clients to engage in a systems approach to diversifying the talent & advocacy pipeline that we need as a nation, going forward,” Carter concluded.

Photo: Dudley Edmondson
There are approximately thirty professional members of DEL including Outdoor Afro leaders, Teresa Baker (SF Bay Area), Stefan Moss (Atlanta) in a cohort of many distinguished friends and allies.
“By aggregating a fraction of the environmental leadership and talent in our urban communities, we are making ourselves more visible and accessible,” said Audrey Peterman, President of Earthwise Productions Inc. and one of the visionaries behind the bureau.
Frank Peterman, Vice President of Earthwise shared similar observations. “Although we’ve met thousands of racial and ethnically diverse Americans who are passionate explorers and advocates for the protection of our public lands and the environment, we don’t see that represented in the popular media,” he said.
The DEL is doing something about this by supporting and promoting experienced experts to help build broad community support for the protection of public lands, the environment, and people through diversity and inclusion.
About Earthwise Productions, Inc.
Founded in 1994, this consulting and publishing company has provided services to The Audubon Society; The Environmental Protection Agency; The National Park Service; The South Florida Water Management District; and The Environmental Defense Fund. Earthwise Productions, Inc. tailors strategic approaches that assist government agencies, nonprofits and corporations to engage a wider, more diverse section of the population in the enjoyment and stewardship of our publicly owned lands.
For more information, visit the DEL website.