SCA’s commitment to guiding new and increasingly diverse generations towards conservation leadership has never been more important or relevant to the communities in which we serve. In order to create more diverse and inclusive opportunities for marginalized communities in conservation and inspire young Black and LatinX to consider careers that involve science, construction, and similar fields, SCA recruited and trained an affinity crew, consisting of self-identified African American youth, to tackle the challenges of urban restoration.
The crew is working on conservation projects such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration, litter abatement, and trail work in various locations throughout local National Park Service sites including Martin Luther King National Historic Park, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and more. Members participate in hands-on work, environmental education curriculum, and monitoring and data collection. In addition, members gain valuable work-skills and green jobs training while serving to give back and better their local communities and natural areas.
Most recently, SCA and UPS teamed up to support the youth’s professional development through a mentorship day. During the mentorship day, the crew visited the UPS Sustainability Hub for a facility tour and learned about sustainable packing and shipping. SCA crew member, Reilly Corkran commented on the day: “UPS was so welcoming and open to the students and leaders. It gave the students a chance to view the change they can make on a large scale, as well as view possible career path for themselves. I couldn’t have asked for a better company or people to spend a Friday morning with.”
To learn more about our Atlanta affinity crew, listen to Impact Lounge by SixDegrees titled, “Are the Outdoors Exclusionary?” on Spotify and Apple podcast or watch it on YouTube. We are grateful for UPS’s support in creating the next generation of conservation leaders and building a more equitable world.
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