The SCA has been connecting urban youth to nature for decades. And with generous support from Comic Relief US, the SCA launched its first Black Women’s Conservation Crew for young adults in Atlanta last summer.
This crew of 12 is a safe space for women of color to learn, grow, gain new technical skills and explore careers in environmental conservation.
“This was the best summer ever. The first day, I was shocked – It felt like a summer camp and not work,” exclaimed crew member Sa’Mya Ivy, 22, who is a senior at the College of Coastal Georgia. “I am usually the only Black girl in my classes, and being here made it feel like I was home and in the right space.”
Crew members worked on an array of service projects, including invasive species removal, habitat restoration, litter abatement and trail work at various locations throughout the area, including the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance and Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Atlanta Black Women’s Conservation Crew member Sa’Mya Ivy at work removing invasive species from the Atlanta Botanical Garden. (Photo Credit: Alyssa Pointer.)
“We work hard and get a lot of work done here. It feels good to be part of something that makes you feel needed,” Ivy said. “To see the progress we made in a short amount of time is like, ‘wow, we did all of that!’ You go home feeling fulfilled.”
For the biological sciences major, joining the crew solidified Ivy’s passion for conservation and reinvigorated her interest in applying to graduate schools.
“At the beginning of the summer, I came in trying to learn myself. I was confused about my future,” Ivy said. “Over time, I have gained clarity about what I would like to do. I’ve learned that I can be a leader and that I should step into that. The summer is short, but the development is long.”
In addition to the hands-on service work, the crew learned valuable job-readiness skills to help them thrive in environmental career fields, discovered holistic ways nature can help the mind and body and participated in bonding exercises.
The SCA’s first Black Women’s Conservation Crew at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. (Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Alyssa Pointer.)
The crew has gotten so tight that they dubbed their afterhours outings ‘Beyond the Blue’ as a play on words for the color of their work shirts.
“We work Monday through Friday, and we still want to be together,” Ivy said, adding that they often get together in their off time to go to the movies or visit museums. “We really enjoy spenfing time together. The foundation at the beginning allowed us to really bond. It’s inspiring and has been nice to learn about each other.”
One of the crew’s two leaders, Kadeina Chandler, left her corporate job managing dental offices for a reset. With a passion for gardening and being outdoors, she was eager to join the crew and mentor young Black women.
“It’s been a great experience. It was very refreshing to take my skills and teach young women how to be successful and thrive,” Chandler said. “Being here shifted my perspective about how being out in nature helps you holistically. Seeing them be able to pick up new skills and knowing that they can do different things in nature has been great.”
The 2023 Black Women’s Conservation Crew members worked on an array of service projects, including invasive species removal, habitat restoration, litter abatement and trail work throughout Atlanta. (Photo Credit: Alyssa Pointer).
Having a space where the crew could be their authentic selves allowed them to connect with nature and each other, Chandler said.
“I am very grateful to be a part of a program like this. It’s necessary and so very much needed,” Chandler said. “It has helped them understand that this is a rare and unique find when you can be in a sacred space with people who look like you where they can connect and love on each other without judgment.”
The SCA launched its first Atlanta conservation program in 2021. Since then, more than 50 youth in Atlanta and the surrounding areas have participated in SCA programs. Thanks to local environmental organizations, schools, youth development organizations, and numerous community groups, the SCA continues to provide conservation opportunities to Atlanta’s young people each year.
