Feeling Safe and Welcome in Nature – Juneteenth 2025
On this Juneteenth, let’s reflect on what it means to feel safe and welcome in nature—and commit to ensuring that everyone has the freedom to experience the peace and beauty of the natural world.
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Reflecting on Equitable Parks Access During Juneteenth
As we commemorate Juneteenth tomorrow, let’s reflect upon the importance of equitable access to nature and feeling safe outdoors. Throughout US history, segregation has heavily influenced who could enjoy outdoor spaces.
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2023 Nature and Health Symposium: Healing Connections
On April 21-22, 2023, community members were invited to gather for the Healing Connections: Nature and Wellness Symposium and Community Day to celebrate Earth Day. The symposium was held at the Pagoda in Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, WA.
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BIPOC Research Collective at Nature and Health: Actions for Restoration, Sustainability and Health
Story by Allie Long
The traditional depiction of nature in research—as well as in US History, literature, art and most academic inquiries—is largely conceptualized to fit white-dominant narratives. More often than not, this comes at the direct expense and erasure of other cultures and experiences.
Seattle Times: REI Advocacy Director on Covid-19, Equity, and Mental Health
REI Co-op’s advocacy director, Marc Berejka shares the pandemic-time opportunities we have to work on accessibility in nature and spend time outside. UW’s Nature and Health initiative and our recent conference are highlighted as contributing to this national and global movement.
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Health Equity and Nature During COVID-19
On April 28, 2021 Dr. Jennifer D. Roberts and Dr. Gail C. Christopher joined us as guest speakers to discuss structural racism at the intersections of #BlackLivesMatter, COVID-19, health equity, and nature.
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We condemn anti-Asian hate
Nature and Health mourns and condemns the increased incidents of racially-motivated violence towards the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.* During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rise in hate-based violence.
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SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH BIPOC COMMUNITIES FEATURING CHEVON POWELL AND FLORENCE “FLO” SUM
Chevon Powell (she/her) is the founder of Golden Bricks Events (GBE). In 2018 GBE repositioned to focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the outdoors through consulting, event management, and ownership of signature events such as the Refuge Outdoor Festival—an annual outdoor recreation camping experience geared toward Black, Indigenous, People of Color.
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Nature and Health Equity and Racial Justice Task Force
Naheed Gina Aaftaab, Sara Breslow, Sean M. Watts, and Isabel Carrera Zamanillo join the Nature and Health Equity and Racial Justice Task Force to build and strengthen our scholarly transdisciplinary relationships.
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Nature and Health to host online forum
Together with the University of Washington Nature and Health team, Let It Shine Retreat is excited to invite health and wellness practitioners and researchers to an online forum on August 5th to workshop the Let it Shine wellness retreat concept.
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