Nature Consortium supports EPOC
Nature Consortium is proud to support the new Seattle chapter of Environmental Professionals of Color. EPOC, a program of the Center for Diversity and the Environment, is a national leadership network for and by people of color (POC) working in the environmental industry. It provides support, opportunities to grow and develop as leaders, and tools for people of color to be effective change agents.
Some History
People of color are highly underrepresented in the environmental movement. All over the country there are people like Fred Tutman, who works to protect the Patuxent River and found out that he was the only African American in his organization of 200 riverkeepers. Though they make up nearly 28% of the U.S. population, people of color make up only 11% of the staff at natural resource organizations. Mainstream environmental organizations have been traditionally white, with recent statistics saying that one-third of environmental organizations have no POC on staff.
Historically, POC have often been excluded or discouraged from entering the environmental field. The result has created a rift between the “mainstream” environmental movement and the environmental justice movement. (The Washington Post has a great article on this.) People of color found that “mainstream” organizations were less likely to address urban environmental issues that disproportionately affected their communities, and began building their own organizations under the environmental justice label.
Why EPOC?
We want to be part of a community that celebrates diversity, challenges racial inequity, and supports people of color as environmental leaders. Nature Consortium constantly seeks opportunities to further our work towards justice, support staff of color, and build a network of talented environmental professionals to better serve our community. EPOC Seattle now exists as part of the growing movement in Puget Sound of organizations working toward racial justice.
You Are Invited
We will be hosting the next EPOC Seattle networking social event in May. Please join us and share this opportunity with environmental professionals of color in your networks. Click to view & print the flyer.
Saturday, May 11, 12pm-2pm
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way SW
Seattle, WA 98106
RSVP to Belinda.Chin@comcast.net
Contact Lili@NatureC.org for questions