Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (JEDIA)
Why make Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (JEDIA) a priority for DAEE?
Access to, exposure to, and resonance with meaningful outdoor experiences and environmental education for all Delawareans regardless of their backgrounds is fundamental to creating an environmentally aware, engaged, and caring population. We feel all Delawareans have a right to access to the uplifting, inspirational, and enlightening wonders of nature.
Too often there is little diversity within the community most engaged in conservation and access to meaningful outdoor experiences is not always as inclusive of all parts of the population as it should be.
We are a patchwork of people of different experiences, backgrounds, orientations, and philosophies in Delaware. Our positive impact on future generations’ awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the environment will only be stronger by striving to be inclusive of this diversity and embracing and incorporating it into what we do.
Examples of Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility efforts and resources available to you
Check out NAEE’s commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. DAEE is your Delaware affiliate of NAEE.
NAEE has been considering definitions for JEDIA related to their mission that DAEE shares as an affiliate. These are definitions from other sources as shown and under development for NAEE.
Social Justice: A vision of society in which the distribution of resources is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure. Social justice involves social actors who have a sense of their own agency as well as a sense of social responsibility toward and with others and the society as a whole (Adams, Bell and Griffin).
Environmental Justice: The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies (EPA).
Equity: The fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while also striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of marginalized groups. (UC Berkeley Initiative for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity).
Diverse/Diversity: The demographic mix of a specific collection of people, taking into account elements of human difference. (e.g., racial, and ethnic groups, income, spectrum of built environment settings (rural to urban), faith communities, LGBTQ+ populations, people with disabilities, gender, relationship to the natural environment) (DEIJ in Action Guide).
Inclusion: Celebrating, centering, and amplifying the perspectives, voices, values, and needs of people who experience systemic barriers, mistreatment, or disadvantages based on their identities in order to ensure they feel a sense of belonging. Inclusion is not merely tolerating or accommodating differences; it’s about actively valuing and honoring it. An inclusive and welcoming climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions for all people (UC Berkeley Initiative for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, Avarna Group).
Accessibility: Giving equitable access to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience. Accessibility encompasses the broader meanings of compliance and refers to how organizations make space for the characteristics that each person brings (Alliance of America Museums).
Check out NWF’s blog topics on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
See what the Greening Youth Foundation is up to in their efforts to engage under-represented youth and young adults.
Check out Diversify Outdoors. A coalition of social media influencers who promote equity and access to the outdoors for all.
Learn about Outdoor Afro, a network that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.
Download: Diversity and the Conservation Movement, a report developed by the National Audubon Society in partnership with NAEE, Toyota Together Green, USFWS, and EECapacity.
Take a look at Green 2.0 plan to create an environmental movement grounded in equity and inclusion.
Together we will make diversity and inclusion an accepted, expected, and valued part of environmental education and getting outside in Delaware!
