Please consider participating in the last of the series of lectures in Lake Champlain Sea Grant’s fall Stormwater Education Webinar Series.
Topic: Green Infrastructure as a Social Justice Tool
Date/Time: Monday, December 7, 2020 – 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Registration: Please register in advance for this webinar at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2R2lx9O4TIyNc9eG0AX0lw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Talk Description: Through green infrastructure practices, communities use parks and gardens to manage stormwater, create habitat for insects and wildlife, and help mitigate greenhouse gasses. But green infrastructure, done thoughtfully, can also be a tool for social justice. Research demonstrates that incorporating green spaces into cities can have a positive impact on a number of societal conditions, including crime, property values, and health. Increasing green space in economically challenged communities could also be one of the cures for societal inequality.
In this webinar, we will discuss the connection between green infrastructure and community diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Lisa Merrifield will discuss the societal co-benefits of green infrastructure and how communities and organizations are incorporating equity into natural resource management. She will share the results of a recent survey about barriers and opportunities that communities in the Midwest are encountering in making green stormwater infrastructure equitable.
Speaker: Lisa Merrifield is the sustainable community specialist on University of Illinois Extension’s Community and Economic Development Team. Lisa has over 20 years of experience working to build sustainability in Illinois and around the Great Lakes. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a master’s degree in urban planning with a focus on natural resource planning.
Preparation: To increase participants’ background on the topic of green infrastructure and diversity, equity, and inclusion, please consider reading/exploring these resources before the session:
- Building an Equitable and Just Green Infrastructure Strategy in the North Central Region – Report from the study about which Lisa will present
- Green Infrastructure: Fostering Equity – Brief article from another perspective on this topic
- Is Green Infrastructure a Universal Good? – Story Map from another perspective on this topic
Certificate of Participation: We can provide a certificate of participation to those who might benefit from having one. Please consider asking a question during the Q and A period so we know you were actively engaged if you plan to request a certificate.
Thanks for considering participating in this session,
Kris Stepenuck
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Kristine Stepenuck, PhD (she/her/hers)
University of Vermont
Extension Assistant Professor, Rubenstein School
Extension Program Leader, Lake Champlain Sea Grant
81 Carrigan Dr, Rm 312F
Burlington VT 05405
802-868-1048