Issue 5 Perspectives Spring 2021 A newsletter highlighting experiences of our members, partners and volunteers Diversity and Inclusion at WPC: Equity Driven, Community Based, Strategically Focused 2020 was a year like no other. In the drive our mission and work over the next several years,” Tom notes. midst of a worldwide pandemic, The Conservancy’s Director of Community Forestry and TreeVitalize record-setting numbers of wildfires Pittsburgh, Jeff Bergman, leads the Conservancy’s Diversity and and a presidential election, our Inclusion Council and agrees that it is an opportune time to revisit our country learned of and witnessed diversity and inclusion strategic initiative. the horrific events that led to the wrongful and untimely deaths of Working through subcommittees, the council sets priorities focused The Conservancy owns and manages more Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor on attracting more diverse job and internship candidates and seeks than 13,000 acres of land that are open to and George Floyd. opportunities to partner in underserved rural and urban communities. the public, free of charge, for all people to It also helps develop strategies to recruit volunteers from all walks explore, enjoy and be inspired by the natural The aftermath of these beauty of Western Pennsylvania. of life and make Conservancy-owned reserves and Fallingwater unprecedented events rallied a more accessible to all, especially for persons with mobility and other national reckoning to reexamine the causes of and seek an end to physical challenges. racism, bigotry and bias. Black Lives Matter protesters crowded city streets calling for justice, and conversations about race, systematic “It’s important for us to continue this work while learning and racism, diversity, equity and inclusion filled homes, classrooms and understanding the changing boardrooms. The significance of these events and issues not only community needs, and while doing called for self-contemplation and examination, but a renewed focus so, we’ll find ways we can have a on how businesses and organizations can help address and root out greater impact on these issues to racism and discrimination. advance our conservation and preservation work,” says Jeff. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy was among those focusing on these issues and expressing solidarity with peaceful protests for Although there is more work racial unity and social justice. Although diversity and inclusion are to do, Jeff and Tom agree well-established core values of the Conservancy, deeper dialogue is that efforts to make the still needed, says Conservancy President and CEO Tom Saunders, to Conservancy a more diverse understand the totality of social justice issues facing communities of and inclusive organization color in our region. will continue through the many initiatives and goals set Every three years, the Conservancy forth by the board and council, examines how it prioritizes its work, in collaboration with community projects and programs, with a focus partners. on addressing important needs facing local communities. That “Our focus on and commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility robust strategic planning process The Conservancy now has ADA- includes recommendations from the and inclusion for current and accessible, raised bed community Conservancy’s Diversity and Inclusion future generations will remain a flower gardens in the City of Pittsburgh’s Homewood and Shadyside Council, which was established 13 core value of the Conservancy,” neighborhoods, helping expand years ago to improve community says Tom. gardening opportunities to include people with disabilities and other engagement and the lack of diversity in physical limitations. the conservation field. “We will be working with our staff and board during this year on the process READ MORE We provide a variety of opportunities of creating the Conservancy’s 2022- for people of all abilities and from every 2024 strategic plan, and I know that walk of life to experience Fallingwater’s Our “We Stand in Solidary” statement was issued by intimate connection with nature and in that process we will be evaluating Tom Saunders in June 2020 in response to racial inequality. striking architecture. and guiding our approach to diversity, inclusion, equity and community needs such as environmental justice, to help WaterLandLife.org Perspectives 1 WHO’S MISSING? BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF Landforce, WPC Help COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Underemployed Break Barriers interpretive programming at state parks and forests to be more When Landforce crew Diversity and inclusion efforts foster different perspectives, renew opportunities and build culturally relevant. members planted redbud on vital community partnerships that better engage urban, rural and underrepresented “Our goal includes hearing from our partners and finding ways we can trees with Conservancy communities in the Conservancy’s work. make state public land accessible and safe for all and telling inclusive staff on Pittsburgh’s Three For example, WPC Vice President of Government and Community stories in our interpretation of the state’s natural resources,” she says. Rivers Heritage Trail and Relations Cynthia Carrow says the Conservancy has been partnering The Conservancy’s longstanding commitment to broad-based “We learned a lot from WPC’s model of community collaboration. at Point State Park last with underserved communities to annually plant and care for community community partnerships, including those with other nonprofits, Together, we want to build on those efforts and opportunities.” fall, they weren’t just filling businesses, schools, foundations and grassroots organizations, flower gardens, with the help of a diverse force of community volunteers, a pandemic-induced is a key to successful outcomes. for decades. “These partnerships continue to be important to our Fallingwater Director Justin Gunther says one positive outcome of the volunteer shortage. They mission,” says Cynthia, who manages the community gardens COVID pandemic was the ability to reach, inform and engage many were learning marketable and greenspace program. “We will continue evolving and new audiences through extensive virtual programming, including skills and breaking barriers. engaging partners, which will only help us further address the previously unserved and underserved learners in rural and urban Landforce helps Pittsburgh difficult issues around diversity, equity, justice and inclusion communities. organizations restore and across all the areas in which the Conservancy works.” Fallingwater staff is also working in partnership with the August Wilson maintain land and green As mutually benefiting partnerships grow, so will the need to African American Cultural Center as part of a museum community assets while providing continue working strategically to include different groups from consortium to facilitate community conversations on race and diversity people from underserved all walks of life, including communities of color, faith-based issues. communities or who have organizations and the LGBTQ+ community. Cynthia adds, “We “This unique collaboration to partner with another museum will help us employment hindrances want to ensure that all feel welcome to engage with all aspects examine our practices and join forces to rethink efforts to help dismantle opportunities to learn skills of our work and enjoy the Conservancy’s nature reserves and discrimination, to help make museum sites more welcoming for all,” says in the environmental field. Landforce has helped Conservancy staff Fallingwater.” Justin, who is also seeking ways to increase accessibility at Fallingwater Jasimine Cooper, Landforce build trails and manage invasive plants on director of workforce Bear Run Nature Reserve and Toms Run The Conservancy is not alone contemplating diversity and for persons with disabilities. Nature Reserve. development, says, “About inclusion issues and is having conversations with partners to The Conservancy will continue working with various partners to continue asking, “How can we be more inclusive, what groups 80 percent of our crew members have criminal backgrounds engage communities, because we believe the best way to make that are barriers to them getting hired elsewhere.” The nonprofit are we not engaging and how do we reach underrepresented diversity and inclusion possible is to invest in and engage with people, communities?” also serves veterans and those with chronic homelessness or communities and partnerships from all walks of life. addiction issues, socioeconomic barriers and low education. WeConservePA, a statewide organization that supports conservation organizations, created a council in 2020 to Landforce Director of Land Stewardship Thomas Guentner For more than a decade, students and fathers from Lincoln Elementary School in strategically address diversity, equity, inclusion and justice adds, “Most crew members have been black and brown Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood have helped plant the school’s WPC community issues. Collaborative and ongoing, the work examines how people. That’s due to our country’s systemic problem that sees flower garden, which recently transitioned to outdoor classroom and raingarden. them incarcerated at disproportionate rates and has them in Over the years, WPC has partnered with Pittsburgh Public Schools to add green partners statewide can learn from regional and local grassroot features to every schoolground in the district. community conservation efforts. READ MORE disadvantaged school systems.”