We were honored to welcome Terry Baker and Sam Cook to speak to Rayonier employees recently about their experiences as black leaders in the forestry industry. The table talk was one of Rayonier's DEI education events in celebration of Black History Month. Terry is CEO of the Society of American Foresters and Sam is NC State University's executive director of Forest Assets and VP of the Natural Resources Foundation for the College of Natural Resources. Both of them shared personal stories from their careers and lessons they have learned. Then they answered questions from the audience. Terry explained that it can be difficult for students of color to enter a profession in which there are few leaders that look like them, which contributed to his decision to take the helm at SAF. In fact, he recalled, a black student on a Zoom call actually began to cry when he saw that Terry also was black. "He was in that level of shock because the last face he expected to see was one with a similar skin tone to his." Asked how to reach the younger generation and inspire them to consider forestry, Terry advised, "Show up where they are, make that intentional effort to be in their space and to ask them questions about themselves, who they are and what their aspirations are." Sam agreed, adding, "I feel a responsibility to get kids to recognize that there is a career in this space for them. There's not one person that would come to me that I don't find a way to help. Kids are just looking for an opportunity to sit down and have that conversation." Thank you, Terry and Sam, for taking the time to meet with us and share your experiences and advice!
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At SmartScaping, we believe every month is Black History Month, celebrating achievements and honoring legacies that have shaped our field and beyond. Today, we spotlight Henry Blair, the second Black inventor to receive a U.S. patent, a visionary in agricultural innovation. 🌱 Born into a world where his rights were limited, Blair did not let that hinder his ingenuity. In the 1830s, he designed seed-planting devices that transformed farming efficiency, laying foundational work that benefits landscaping and horticulture today. His first invention streamlined the corn planting process, enabling farmers to increase productivity with less labor. Following this, his cotton planter further revolutionized agricultural practices, emphasizing the value of smart, sustainable solutions—principles we hold dear at SmartScaping. As we near the calendar end of Black History Month, we reflect on Henry Blair's enduring impact, drawing inspiration from his resilience and creativity to inform our approach to eco-conscious, innovative landscaping solutions. 🌿 Let's honor his legacy by nurturing the spaces we inhabit, remembering the roots of innovation that continue to drive us forward. #BlackHistoryMonth #HenryBlair #InnovationInAgriculture #SmartScaping #SustainableLandscaping #EcoInnovation
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Nephew doing great things:-)
My son designed this Jersey for Carolina Hurricanes opening night also celebrating Black History Month. Very Proud of him and we’ll see you at the game tomorrow night
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Next in the Restoration through Storytelling series, "A Land Stewardship Storytelling Series of East Multnomah County", gatherings designed to elevate Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) ancestral agricultural wisdom, restore and preserve cultural traditions along with uplifting storytelling as a meaningful knowledge system. This series focuses on showing how the intersections of place based storytelling and opportunities to restore cultural and community traditions are interwoven with and related to lands and waters stewardship. https://lnkd.in/gTMtsmYx
Sisterhood & Sustainability - Restoration Through Storytelling Gathering
eventbrite.com
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#BlackHistoryEveryday | SPEAK is honored to highlight Frederick McKinley Jones, an inventor whose innovations revolutionized the transportation and preservation of food and medicine. Jones invented the first successful portable refrigeration system for trucks and trains, making long-distance shipment of perishable goods possible. His invention is fundamental to industries ranging from food distribution to healthcare. Jones's ingenuity not only transformed the logistics industry but also demonstrated the transformative power of innovation to improve lives. His legacy is a testament to the impact one individual can have on society through creativity and persistence. We choose to SPEAK black history #beyondFebruary with a commitment to spotlight one black individual daily from now until the end of March and then one weekly throughout the year, symbolizing the importance of acknowledging black history every day. Follow the hashtag #SPEAKblackhistory to read about some incredible individuals in the coming weeks and months. #FrederickMcKinleyJones #InnovatorExtraordinaire #RefrigerationRevolution #TransportationInnovation #FoodPreservation #MedicinePreservation #LongDistanceShipment #IndustryTransformation #LogisticsIndustry #PowerOfInnovation #CreativityAndPersistence #ImpactfulLegacy #SocietyChanger #blackhistory365 #blackhistoryeveryday #TechnologicalPioneer #LifeImprovingInventions
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Jonshell Johnson has been working to positively transform her hometown of New Orleans since she was 15 years old, working passionately for education equity after Hurricane Katrina. At Grow Dat Youth Farm, Jonshell works with youth leaders to grow healthy and culturally relevant foods. She says, “the skills that farmers have are not really valued in our society…for me this is a solution to climate change because the more greenery we have, the closer we are going to get to the solutions that we need.” In collaboration with @changenarrativellc, @projectdrawdown celebrates Black History Month by honoring just a few of the incredible Black leaders featured in Drawdown's Neighborhood—a climate solutions short documentary series passing the mic to climate heroes who often go unheard. View Jonshell's full story at the link in bio. Learn more about their work @growdatyouthfarm Johnshell shares that growing and sharing food can bring people together, especially in finding common ground. “It means a lot to me, especially in our political climate, being in the U.S. Being able to be a Black woman, with Black children and to be able to make meaningful relationships along the way has been the biggest and best skill that I could take on.” Jonshell shares the personal significance of farming, acknowledging the role that slavery has had. “Not being able to track my ancestors hurts a lot…this is a way for me to have a better relationship with food…. As a Black woman, it can constantly be healing within myself about the past… I think about how I am able to do this in a way that is a lot more comfortable than what my ancestors were afforded…It really humbles me, being a Black woman in front of other Black youth…who are probably asking why would you ever want anything close to slavery? I open up those relationships, I open up that conversation, and I am able to guide them through.” What aspects of your identity do you wish others who are different from you could understand? How might growing or sharing food bring people together to listen, engage in respectful conversation, and build trust to open up about important lived experiences? #drawdownsneighborhood #blackhistorymonth #climateheros #climatesolutions #climatejusticeisracialjustice #projectdrawdown #climateaction
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Why It Matters:
You are Living Black History! Black History Month is every month, 365 days of the year! Every day, Black brewers are brewing up history in an industry that is less than 1% Black-owned and operated ❤🖤💚 Post what your are brewing up in the beer industry and tag @__nb2a. We want to share about your story 🍻 📸 @yeatman_photography Marcus J. Baskerville , NB2A President, Weathered Souls Brewing Co. Skinny Deville, NB2A Board Member, Atlantucky Brewing Kevin Asato, NB2A Executive Director
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For many who are involved in nature conservation the key thing is to get others to give a damn and to build support but one of the reasons we're failing is that, collectively we're still not putting effort into addressing the lack of connection. We can happily criticise past and present governments for wrong-headed, ill-considered priorities that don't address environmental realities but, despite limited, recent initiatives there is a need for the nature conservation sector to change and to seek guidance as to how to accomplish this.
Black people are announcing that we are here. We have always been here and our lives matter. Our team member, Charlie N shares their raw experiences as a Black environmentalist, in a letter reflecting on Black History Month and the Environment Sector. From the painful echoes of history to the barriers still standing tall, their words remind us of the importance of acknowledging our history and the vital work needed to create an inclusive and diverse environmental landscape. Together we can challenge barriers and work together to build a brighter, more equitable future for people and wildlife. Charlie N has provided resources for learning, linking through to reports, spotlighting organisations and individuals, and highlighted upcoming exhibitions and showcases. Both underscoring the inequality Charlie has felt as a Black environmentalist and uplifting those who are changing the face of the sector. Read Charlie N's full blog here: https://ow.ly/NZ6M50Q13pX #BlackHistoryMonth #EnvironmentalEquity #VoicesOfChange #YouthVoice #BlackHistoryMonth #VoicesMatter #LondonWildlifeTrust #Wildlife #Nature #ConservationSector #EnvironmentalSector #HistoryOfConservation
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Some hard truths in here for our sector, which remains deeply colonial and locked in white supremacist thinking. And I know a lot of white folk reading it will think 'Oh but I don't have any power...I'm not at X, Y or Z level' - or 'I wouldn't let someone get away with being a blatant racist!' ...but this isn't about whether you're the boss, or calling out the instances of what we've come to consider the sum total of racism, instead of the structural force that is. It's a chance to recognise the power and influence you *do* have and using it effectively. That's how we can dismantle this messed up house of cards that we prop up with our compliance. So, if you're a white environmentalist - wherever you sit in your organisation - how can you embed justice into your day to day? How can you use your voice to call out the practices that continue to cement discrimination? Can you challenge the notions of land ownership, of doing conservation 'to' people, of using extractive ways of working that exploit Black people, Brown people and people of colour? I'm not writing this from the haughty place of a right-on white dude that thinks he has it sorted. I'm trying to come to terms with the consequences of my own action (and inaction), to name my own racism, to deal with shame and to get better at challenging problematic things that I've internalised as normal. It's a messy journey but one we've got to get serious about if we want to address the multiple crises we're facing down. Some books that have been fundamental for me personally: The Good Ally - Nova Reid It's Not That Radical - Mikaela Loach Unearthed - Claire Ratinon
Black people are announcing that we are here. We have always been here and our lives matter. Our team member, Charlie N shares their raw experiences as a Black environmentalist, in a letter reflecting on Black History Month and the Environment Sector. From the painful echoes of history to the barriers still standing tall, their words remind us of the importance of acknowledging our history and the vital work needed to create an inclusive and diverse environmental landscape. Together we can challenge barriers and work together to build a brighter, more equitable future for people and wildlife. Charlie N has provided resources for learning, linking through to reports, spotlighting organisations and individuals, and highlighted upcoming exhibitions and showcases. Both underscoring the inequality Charlie has felt as a Black environmentalist and uplifting those who are changing the face of the sector. Read Charlie N's full blog here: https://ow.ly/NZ6M50Q13pX #BlackHistoryMonth #EnvironmentalEquity #VoicesOfChange #YouthVoice #BlackHistoryMonth #VoicesMatter #LondonWildlifeTrust #Wildlife #Nature #ConservationSector #EnvironmentalSector #HistoryOfConservation
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Black History Month is an important opportunity to celebrate the culture, stories, and often underrepresented achievements of Black Americans throughout history. DuPont has been home to countless breakthroughs from Black scientists and innovators that continue to positively impact our world today. Join me and my colleagues in recognizing the month by reflecting on some of their stories and lasting legacies. Like Dr. Wesley Memeger Jr., one of the first Black men with a doctorate in chemistry to join DuPont in 1964. In addition to playing an instrumental role in developing some of our most notable products (including DuPont™ Kevlar®), he has earned 14 patents and is an avid painter who takes inspiration from the molecular structures he studied for decades in DuPont labs. Like Rosetta McKinley Henderson, the first Black woman to be hired as a chemist at DuPont in 1965. Her work on a drug and alcohol dependency medication helped it earn FDA approval. She spent time in both our labs and our recruiting department—and later in her career, she mentored low-income high school students while running the Upward Bound program at Delaware Technical Community College. Like Stacey Mobley, who before retiring, held concurrent senior vice president, chief administrative officer, and general counsel roles at DuPont. From legal and government affairs to strategic direction and operations, he helped move DuPont forward in countless ways and spent time outside our walls leading multiple philanthropic, educational, and policy organizations. While navigating great adversity in society, these individuals—along with many other Black Americans past and present—have used their experiences, creativity, and knowledge to create a better world for future generations. At DuPont, our diverse workforce is an important part of our continued progress, and will continue to be for many years to come. #BlackHistoryMonth #Innovation #Legacy #DiverseWorkforce #DuPont
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Master of Public Administration (MPA) at NC State
2moThanks for sharing Sam!