I joined the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP) six years ago as a first-year student at Smith College. I began my DDCSP journey embarking on 15-mile hikes, painting scenes of awe-inspiring landscapes, and engaging in soul-baring discussions across Northern California. I also learned qualitative processes to examine who’s present and excluded from environmental spaces. Since completing DDCSP, I broadened my involvement to the alumni network through the Alumni Leadership Cohort (ALC), the Alumni Council, and various consulting roles.
Laughter and gratitude became a common thread throughout each meeting as I co-developed creative ways to cultivate alum connection. Within ALC, I bonded with alums across programs and class years to highlight the network's impact through film. As an Alumni Council Member, I co-created the first Mini-Grants Program for the network. We distributed $30,000 in funds to twelve projects ranging from a conservation podcast, a youth program training students to plant trees locally, wellness classes, and healing kits, to an environmental grief-focused conference.
DDCSP and the alumni programs filled a critical gap in the conservation field by connecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students to environmental career paths. I am deeply grateful for the network’s role in shaping my career trajectory. The opportunities for relationship-building, leadership development, and self-determination are invaluable, especially in a time when environmental justice initiatives are under attack. It is imperative that environmental education programs continue to operationalize social justice, racial equity, and resilience models. Yet, the program’s sunset on the horizon is a difficult reminder of the inevitable change facing the network. Despite these shifts, this transition presented an opportunity for DDCSP alums to reimagine pathways towards a resilient community.
To sustain the network, Tonyisha Harris and I implemented a mixed-method approach to guide 600+ alums through the sunsetting process and educate members on self-governance practices. We traveled across the country, hosting meet-ups and educational sessions to build community and encourage alumni to take part in decision-making processes for the network. As a result, we engaged over 200 alums in one-on-one meetings, ambassador outreach initiatives, town halls, in-person meet-ups, and a program-wide vote. These efforts culminated in a steering committee that will guide the network’s future.
While I am disheartened by the end of a program with immense impact, I am equally energized by the alumni network’s drive to maintain the heart of DDCSP’s mission. We have seen a resounding level of appreciation for the program's influence on alum’s career paths. I am proud to see the new steering committee convene, knowing that its existence is predicated on a shared vision of environmental justice. The steering committee has already shown a deep commitment to preserving the network’s core values while also expanding its organizational capacity. I am hopeful that the committee will continue to uplift the mutual aid efforts, newsletters, social media, and website through new funding opportunities.