I believe that redefining conservation involves more than just creating innovative projects and unexpected methods to achieve results. To me, redefining conservation means a fundamental shift in who is involved with the conservation movement all across the United States. Specifically, I am referring to the lack of African Americans in the conservation field and how we need to make conservation an issue of importance in the lives of all citizens.

I grew up on a farm in eastern North Carolina as the youngest of 11 children and surrounded by extended family. When my grandparents and parents were growing up, the care and protection of the land was critical because it offered so much, including raising livestock and growing produce to nourish a family, as well as employment opportunities and medicinal remedies. A couple of times a year, I go back to visit my family and the 30 remaining acres of my family’s once 100 plus-acre farmland. Each time, I'm reminded of the many valuable lessons my parents shared with me as a child about the connection people have with their land. One of those lessons that is an essential part of me is that we use what we have to get to where we want to be—and then once we’re there, we make it better. That’s part of what drew me to the work of The Conservation Fund and why I am passionate about including more people of color into the larger conservation movement.

Views of the Conetoe Family Life Center in North Carolina remind me of what it was like growing up on my own family farm in North Carolina. Photo by Whitney Flanagan.

During my nearly 9 years working for The Fund, a similar scene has played out numerous times in various conservation-related events: the experience of looking around a room and being one of a handful of black folks there. There are black people all across the nation doing great conservation work even though very few of us are represented at higher levels within the industry.

There is no easy answer here, but I believe that if the conservation movement wants more people of color involved, then African Americans need to see people from their communities in leadership roles—both in their own communities and nationwide. We need to be engaged at the outset of projects and be fully invested in the processes and the outcomes.

Take for example this notion: some people and communities of color may not describe what they are actively doing to create a life for themselves and their families as conservation. But that is what they are truly doing, regardless of the terminology you use! They use, reuse, and recycle all available resources in a way that easily qualifies as sustainable conservation. Recognizing and promoting these types of initiatives and activities that are already happening may have the benefit of connecting people and revolutionizing change.

Conservation needs to be an important issue in the lives of all Americans. Photo by Ezra Gregg.

African Americans, in particular, need a platform and resources that are germane to addressing the everyday concerns of life as it is being lived. I envision starting an initiative at the Fund or participating in an organization to serve as a platform and resource for African Americans to become more involved in the conservation movement. Such a group could communicate that there is opportunity, availability of jobs and resources, and that they are available to you. It would help connect people of color who are doing exemplary work in conservation and give them a forum to highlight their work, share success stories and learn how others overcame challenges. Such a platform could make the important signal that African Americans should feel welcome in the conservation movement.

I had the pleasure of meeting Charles Jordan, a 20-year member of the Fund’s board of Directors, and its Chairman from 2003 to 2008. In my early years at the Fund, when I was a bit uncertain as to whether I belonged, Mr. Jordan (he was always Mr. Jordan to me) looked at me and said, “Little brother, you are in the right place and you have to make it the right time. You can’t leave. You have too much to do, so get busy doing it.” It took that one admonition to encourage me and over the years, I have seen markers along the way indicating that here and now is the place and the time to engage the mission. He wisely said that conservation is an “all hands on deck proposition,” one that requires people of every color to participate and resolve the problems we face in protecting the places that belong to everyone.

While I am encouraged by small increases in diversity in our field I wouldn’t say I’m ecstatic. No. I agree with Robert Frost that I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. There is a lot more that needs to be done and we will continue to pursue this vital topic as we continue to redefine conservation in America.