Carolyn Finney, PhD is a storyteller, author and a cultural geographer who is deeply interested in issues related to identity, difference, creativity, and resilience.The aim of her work is to develop greater cultural competency within environmental organizations and institutions, challenge media outlets on their representation of difference, and increase awareness of how privilege shapes who gets to speak to environmental issues and determine policy and action. She holds a B.A. and M.A. (both of these degrees focused on gender and environmental issues in Kenya and Nepal, respectively) and aPh.D. (which focused on African Americans and environmental issues in the U.S.). Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors. (Bio excerpts from her personal website)
Carolyn Finney is a storyteller, author, and a cultural geographer who is deeply interested in issues related to identity, difference, creativity, and resilience. She’s focused on developing greater cultural competency within environmental organizations, institutions, and the overall environmental movement. As the author of “Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors”, she is dedicated to challenging mainstream media on their representation of difference while increasing awareness of the part that privilege plays in shaping who gets to speak on environmental issues, policy, and action.
Today on The Trail Ahead, Faith and Addie sit with Carolyn for an insightful conversation about the importance of politics within the outdoor space. Carolyn shares her thoughts on what diversification of the outdoors, specifically the environmental movement could look like, why it’s important to create a space that allows for more evolved conversation, and why we need to honor the changes that we as humans go through. Together, they discuss what a progress-oriented mindset within the environmental movement looks like, and why it’s important to honor the products and results of different generations.
This is an incredibly raw conversation that took place in the wake of some truly pivotal and disheartening events. However, Carolyn leaves us feeling inspired and motivated by sharing her decades of wisdom in this episode.
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