Bright Ideas
Webinar: Freedom Dreaming: Using Art and Storytelling to Reimagine Communities of Color in Nature Education
September 6, 2022
The Natural Start Alliance was thrilled to host this free webinar in partnership with presenters Izzie Tauheed and Deja Jones. Izzie and Deja presented at the 2022 Nature-Based Early Learning Conference in Cincinnati, OH, to a full house and received rave reviews for their session, "Freedom Dreaming: Using Art and Storytelling to Reimagine Communities of Color in Nature Education." In response to overwhelmingly positive feedback and in recognition of the importance of equity and diversity in nature-based education, we asked Izzie and Deja to present their session online as a webinar, making it available to everyone in the Natural Start community.
About the webinar:
Through the use of art and literacy, Deja and Izzie aim to broaden the definition of environmental education. In this interactive webinar, they'll provide strategies to facilitate students' interaction with nature, particularly with students who live in areas where substantial inequities exist between children and their lack of access to a clean and healthy environment. They'll use art and storytelling as tools of liberation and reflection. By creating spaces within our classrooms that allow students to engage in meaningful conversations around environmental justice, ultimately, students will use their art as an effective force for environmental change.
View a recording of the webinar:
Additional Resources:
- Izzie & Deja's research references and recommended resources
- Social Justice Books, Curated Booklists
- Natural Start Alliance Bookshop - Favorite 2021 Releases
Meet the Presenters
Izzie is a courageous advocate for teachers. She works toward change by creating safe spaces where people can let their guard down, express their true selves, and receive honest feedback. She is currently an assistant principal in the Bronx, NY, where she enthusiastically strives to create a mutually-beneficial team that uplifts both educators and students to experience curriculum that reflects the diverse background of students in the school community.
Deja L. Jones, M.Ed. is a Co-Founder and Teacher-Leader at Honeypot Montessori, a nature-based Montessori school set to open in Newark, NJ. Deja is a Doctoral Candidate and Early Childhood Education Sociologist. She has worked in education and youth development within the city of Newark, New Jersey for approximately 9 years in the areas of case management, program coordination, program facilitation, curriculum design, and classroom teaching. She is a member of the NYC Early Childhood Research Network where she is conducting research with Bank Street’s Straus Center for Young Children and Families investigating disparities in NYC preschool program ecologies, equitable referrals, and inclusive practices.
