A Statement from Terradise Nature Center Board of Directors

RESOURCES FOR ANTI-RACIST WORK:

1. Green Leadership Trust Statement: a important solidarity statement against the murders of Black and Brown people and on the incident at Central Park from the Green Leadership Trust — the leading nationwide capacity-building organization focused on building power and leadership for people of color and indigenous people in the environmental non-profit sector —  directed by Caledonia’s own Paco Ollervides!
2. Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) — a long-standing nationwide network helping white people proactively work towards racial justice. Of particular use is their article, their recent 5/29 webinar, “Showing Up for Racial Justice: A Call to Action for White Folks,” archived here; and their article, “5 Ways White People Can Take Action in Response to White and State-Sanctioned Violence.” Also follow @SURJColumbusOH on Twitter for updates, events, workshops, and opportunities to get involved from the nearby Columbus chapter.
3. Marion County Summer Social Justice Literacy Club — summer-long anti-racist book club // discussion group hosted by Johnnie Jackson: Diversity and Equity Supervisor, Marion City Schools, held virtually on Thursdays, 4-5pm throughout the summer. The group will be reading White Fragility: Why Its So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism (2018) by Robin DiAngelo, and our Terradise community is cordially invited to join. Just get your book (or e-book!) & show up — the group will be reading two chapters a week with time for deep discussion, and with options for synchronous and asynchronous participation. More information at the book club Facebook here (private group for members; message Johnnie to request access); or contact Johnnie Jackson at [email protected].
4. Working on Whiteness workshops and anti-racism resources for white folks by local OSU-Marion Extension Educator and anti-racism educator Whitney Gherman. Updates on upcoming workshops (held locally in Marion & Delaware Counties) and resources are available at Whitney’s blog; you or your organization may also request a diversity, equity, inclusion & anti-racism workshop or training from a list of available options. You may also contact Whitney directly at [email protected]
5. Support and donate to the work of Marion County’s own Black Heritage Council, Peace & Freedom Committee, and the Marion Minority Committee, and Marion’s historic Black churches, as they lead efforts for transformative change & the recognition and support of Black life, history, arts, education, leadership,and culture, right here in our Marion community. Consider making a donation to support Black Heritage Council’s annual educational scholarships to Marion County students of color.
6. Columbus Freedom Fund — bail fund established to pay the bail of protestors arrested and detained by law enforcement for peacefully protesting racial injustice in downtown Columbus — many of whom have been detained since Columbus instituted a 10pm-6pm citywide curfew to discourage lawful protests, which as of 06/03 has still not been lifted. Your donation will go directly towards helping liberate detained protesters from jail — a compoundingly dangerous place in times of COVID-19. Donate via Paypal or CashApp: $ColumbusFreedomFund.

Transformative Books in Black Critical Geography & on the Black Outdoors: Carolyn Finney’s Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors (2014); Camille Dungy’s Black Nature: Four Centuries of Black Nature Poetry, edited by Camille T. Dungy; and Diane D. Glave’s Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage (2010); and Katherine McKittrick’s Demonic Grounds: Black Women & the Cartographies of Struggle (2006)