Happy New Year From The Next 100 Coalition
Greetings and Happy New Year to all! We know that 2021 was a challenging year for many, but we are grateful for all who continued to show up, push for equitable solutions to protect our Lands and Oceans, and most of all, not give up on our collective vision! As the Next 100 Coalition embarks on a new year of collaboration with our esteemed members and allies, our team wants to share some of the programmatic work of the Next 100 Coalition in the last year and highlight the great work that some of our members accomplished in 2021. In 2022, we are pushing forward with a stronger commitment to building a more diverse, just, and inclusive land and ocean conservation movement.
Programmatic Updates
Building Connections With The Next 100 Colorado
The Coalition is excited about taking steps to rebuild connections and relationships with Next 100 Colorado members and their leadership. We would love to highlight some of the exciting work that they have been moving forward in their state.
- Led the establishment of the Outdoor Equity Grant Program and two of their very own, Loretta Pineda and Yesica Chavez, were selected for the Outdoor Equity Grant Program Board.
- Launched a pilot mentorship program in February 2021 with an Action Summit; its success has led to a second stellar cohort of the mentorship program in October.
- Held three Conversations with Our Elders with Derek Okubo, Amache descendant and the Executive Director of the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships at the City and County of Denver; Happy Haynes, Executive Director of Denver Parks & Recreation; and Cisco Gallardo, former Executive Director of GRASP (Gang Reduction and Support Project).
- In partnership with James Mills of The Joy Trip Project, organized an event at Outdoor Retailer to unveil a commemorative portrait of Charles Madison Crechaw, the first Black American climber to reach the summit of Denali.
U.S. Forest Service X Next 100 Coalition Partnership
In June 2021, The Next 100 Coalition entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Forest Service’ Washington D.C. National Office of Recreation, Heritage & Volunteer Resources to assist them in fostering relationships between the US Forest Service and leaders from Black, Indigenous and Communities of Color with the goal of helping to identify and take actions to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the U.S. Forest Service, particularly related to conservation and outdoor recreation program delivery.
For more information, email Teresa Martinez | tmartinez@continentaldividetrail.org
30×30 Atlas Listening Sessions
From January 13- 21, Next 100 Coalition members participated in the Biden Administration’s public comment session on the development of the Atlas tool – a new conservation and stewardship tool that will be used to reflect baseline information on the lands and waters that are conserved or restored. The Atlas tool is part of the DOI led program, America the Beautiful initiative, which is a locally led and voluntary nationwide effort that aims to conserve, connect, and restore 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to read some of our member’s testimonials. The open comment period will remain open until March 4, 2022. We encourage you to submit a written comment to Regulations.gov before the deadline.
Save the Date: Ocean Equity Collective Launch
We’re excited to announce the launch of the Ocean Equity Collective – a Black, Indigenous, People of Color led and focused coalition of organizations and people in the ocean conservation space that have come together to holistically approach ocean conservation, protection and appreciation.
When: February 9, 2022
Time: 6 PM EST; 3 PM PST
Where: https://bit.ly/oeclaunch
Who: Next 100 Coalition, Brown Girl Surf, GreenLatinos, Azul, ‘Āina Momona, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA), Creation Justice Ministries,
Member Highlights
Continental Divide Trail | Report – Connecting Across the Continent
In December 2021, the Continental Divide Trail released a new report, Connecting Across the Continent, focusing on the role that the CDT plays as a setting for community members, decision makers, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and everyone connected to the lands and waters of the Divide, to come together in community and stewardship. With this report, CDTC highlights the ecological importance of the landscape, the threat that environmental degradation poses for communities, and the opportunities for locally-led initiatives to create climate solutions.
Read more online here: https://issuu.com/cdtc/docs/30x30_paged_report_reducedsize
Hispanic Access Foundation | Our Heritage, Our Planet Film Week
Hispanic Access Foundation launched the first ever Our Heritage, Our Planet Film Week in fall 2021. This film festival uplifted the nexus between Latino, Black, Indigenous and other communities of color and the lands, waterways, and ocean we call home. Over 1,100 films were submitted, and 36 films were chosen showcasing the talent and stories of people and cultures of color to 500 film week registrants, with 5 filmmakers selected to receive awards and prizes. The film week also included performances and discussions with filmmakers, decision-makers, and community members on a variety of conservation and climate topics.
Mark your calendars – the film festival will occur annually during Hispanic Heritage Month following Indigenous People’s Day. Stay tuned for an announcement on grants to aspiring filmmakers of color in early 2022!
Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA) | World Conservation Congress
In September 2021, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA) sponsored a cohort of KUA team and network members to accompany 20-40 Hawaii state delegates to the World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France. In particular KUA helped draft, plan and support WCC’s first Global Indigenous Summit. During the Forum/Exhibition, members of KUA’s delegation partnered and impactfully participated in almost a dozen events with the United Nations, TNC, IUCN, IUCN-Indigenous Peoples Organizations, IUCN-Commission on Environment Economics and Social Policy and the Indigenous and Community Conserved Area Consortium (ICCA).
Before the WCC, KUA partnered with the UH Law School’s Environmental Law Program managed to draft and pass two WCC Motions on Indigenous Aquaculture and an IUCN indigenous people’s issue audit. At the Assembly (the actual congress itself) KUA served as a proxy for three other fellow Indigenous People Organizations. KUA delegation members participated passionately in the negotiations and development of Motions 3, 48, 40 and 101 which were significant to KUA, IPO and issues of climate.
In particular, KUA was honored to support Motion 48, concerning the renunciation of the Doctrine of Discovery and the creation of a Climate Crisis Commission, both noted as historic events. Throughout the event KUA supported the Global indigenous Agenda (then adopted as part of the entire WCC proceeding, assisted by KUA delegates) with IUCN-IPO and advocated to the highest leadership of IUCN to support it. It was ultimately accepted as core to the Marseille manifesto adopted by the WCC at its closing. KUA and partners also successfully lobbied to have the first permanent IPO representative to the IUCN Council and to recognize the significance of traditional ecological knowledge to conservation practice.
Creation Justice Ministries | Ocean Equity Collective
Beginning in May 2021, Creation Justice Ministries participated in the creation of the Ocean Equity Collective and Ocean Justice Advocacy Group in partnership with the Next 100 leadership. The Ocean Equity Collective takes a holistic approach to ocean conservation, acknowledging the intersections that contribute to inequity of access, enjoyment, and preservation of the ocean.The Ocean Justice Advocacy Group focuses on equity being thought about and included in policy as it’s written and not added as an afterthought. Keep an eye out for the official launch happening in February.
