A significant part of our work at KAEE centers on cultivating collective impact and bringing people together to create a stronger and more inclusive movement. Anyone with the desire to experience, lead, or value outdoor learning and environmental education should have the opportunity to do so, regardless of race or ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, background, disability, economic status, or any other aspect of identity or circumstances.
Over the years, KAEE has worked with our partners and focused our efforts toward safe, equal access to the outdoors for all. We continue that work this year, with opportunities and events that center social and environmental justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and encourage participants to engage in learning that will continue after they've finished the programs.
This year we are continuing our JEDI Community of Practice and our JEDI Book Club. We are also offering the JEDI 101 eeCourse through our partnership with SEEA in the spring and the fall. Keep reading for more information about these opportunities below.
To learn more about the work we completed last year, read our annual report and the 2023 JEDI CoP Report.
JEDI Community of Practice (CoP)
The JEDI CoP is a learning community of individuals working to foster and support practices of racial justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity in the outdoors and environmental work. The CoP meets bi-monthly on the third Thursday, 12 pm - 1 pm ET. In February, we are welcoming the Co-Executive Director of FoodChain, Leandra Foreman, as our guest speaker. We'd love for you to attend and be part of the conversation!
JEDI Book Club
Our book club serves to deepen the discussion around JEDI work and take the discussion beyond our area of environmental education work. Last year, the book club discussed the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, and now being adapted into the major motion picture, Origin.
February through April, the book for discussion is The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein. The book has received accolades such as New York Times Bestseller, Notable Book of the Year, and Editors' Choice Selection.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in EE | JEDI101
This year we are continuing to offer our JEDI eeCourse. This course provides a strong foundation in the language, concepts and principles of equity work. It is meant to be an introductory course and spark conversation and interest in further learning, even after participants have completed the course. The next cohort begins on March 4th. Register today on the SEEA website.
For more on our JEDI initiatives and available resources, you can visit kaee.org/jedi.