Resources for Diversity and Inclusion

We at SGC hope that we can help foster an encouraging, welcoming, and inclusive environment at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Students of all identities should be encourage to pursue careers in environmental/biological science. This goes without saying, but black lives matter, queer lives matter, and trans lives matter.

Stop Asian Hate

Asian-Americans have increasingly been subjected to hate speech and violent crimes as a result of the pandemic. We stand with Asian communities and acknowledge the history of racism against Asian-Americans in the US. Below is a link to several resources for education about violence against Asian Americans:

Anti-Asian Violence Resources (anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co)

If you witness a racist incident, here is a step-by-step guide to being an effective bystander (courtesy of USA Today):

• Take action. Go to the targeted person and offer support. 
• Actively listen. Before you do anything, ask – and then respect the targeted person’s response. If need be, keep an eye on the situation.
• Ignore attacker. Try using your voice, body language or distractions to de-escalate the situation (though use your judgment).
• Accompany. Ask the targeted person to leave with you if whatever is going on escalates.
• Offer emotional support. Find out how the targeted person is feeling and help them determine what to do next.

Here are some additional articles about the essential role of Asian-Americans in sustainable agriculture:

• How Asian-American Farmers Shape What America Eats – Eater
• Korean American Farmers on ‘Minari’ and Their Own Experience | Time

General Resources

Here are some resources for education about BIPOC participation in agriculture:

1. Real Food Reads: A Black History Month Compilation – Real Food Media
   A list of books about fighting for an intersectional food system.
2. Publications – SOUL FIRE FARM
   Articles published by Soul Fire Farm, an organization “training the next generation of activist-farmers and strengthening the movements for food sovereignty and community self-determination.”
3. 4 Not-So-Easy Ways to Dismantle Racism in the Food System – YES! Magazine
   “Farm management is among the whitest professions, while farm labor is predominantly brown and exploited.” Read about the history of racism as it relates to international food systems.
4. Why diversity matters to the outdoor industry (outsidebusinessjournal.com)
   A first-hand account detailing the importance of diversity in outdoor recreation and profession.
5. Real Food Media: Farming While Black: Leah Penniman | Ep. 26 on Apple Podcasts
   A podcast with Leah Penniman, the author of the book “Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land.”
6. Indigenous Agriculture and Sustainable Food – Sustainable Food Center
   “In the words of one indigenous farmer, Vena A-dae Romero, ‘indigenous people are as much part of the land as the land is part of us. We cultivate the land while the land cultivates us. This relationship that has supported my people since time immemorial is remembered daily when we place our fingers in the dirt, pull the weeds from our fields, or plant our seeds with water, prayer, and hope, cook the food which we grow, and ingest the world with each bite of food we eat.”

If you have any concerns at all about diversity and inclusion at SEBS, we hope that we can voice your concerns. Additional resource submissions are welcome!