PARTNERING TO FOSTER DIVERSITY

Announcing a new partnership aimed at ensuring young Black Americans have greater opportunities for rewarding careers in the forest and conservation sector

SFI seeks to provide transformative solutions to address the urgent need to create more inclusive, sustainable communities around the world. We are working with Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) to help ensure young Black Americans have greater opportunities for rewarding careers in the forest and conservation sector. Together with MANRRS, we will support the green career trajectory including recruitment, awareness, mentorship, and career opportunities collectively designed to help the forest and conservation sectors in recruiting, retaining, and advancing a diverse and resilient workforce.

Discover new resources to inspire young Black Americans to pursue forest and conservation careers with the SFI-PLT-MANRRS Black Faces in Green Spaces: The Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers guide.

The guide highlights 22 Black Americans who share their personal stories about finding their passions and overcoming challenges, and offer advice to the next generation about exploring their own careers in the forest and conservation sector.

Create an account and download or buy an individual copy, purchase a box of guides, or donate a box of Journeys guides to a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) or Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) chapter.

The Journey of Black Professionals
Journey of Black Professionals in Green Careers Guide Advisory Committee

Dr. Mia Farrell
National MANRRS Past President, Assistant Dean for Diversity, University of Kentucky

Kathy Abusow
President and CEO, Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Ebonie Alexander 
Executive Director, Black Family Land Trust
(SFI Board member)

Terry Baker
CEO, Society of American Foresters
(SFI External Review Panel member)

Brandi Colander
Board Chair, DC Green Bank

Sam Cook 
Executive Director of Forest Assets, North Carolina State University
(SFI Resources Committee member)

Dr. Thomas Easley
Founder, Mind Heart for Diversity

Dr. Robert Raze
Professor, College of Education, St. Petersburg College
(SFI Education Operating Committee member)

Leslie Weldon
Chief Executive for Work Environment and Performance, USDA Forest Service

Beattra Wilson
Assistant Director, Urban and Community Forestry, USDA Forest Service

We invite your partnership to help us build on our success