2020+1: The Equity, Diversity and Justice We Need Right Now
Looking through a 2021 lens, this session will cover the Equity, Diversity and Justice camps need right now. Specifically, the session will focus on the very real way social injustice in tandem with Covid-19 have disparately and profoundly impacted communities of color. Participants will gain an understanding of what this reality means for camps as we ask our campers and teams to bring their whole selves to our programs. Participants will walk away with what the work is that needs to be done, and practical steps of completing said work that will allow them to meet their folks where they are today and to set them up to thrive tomorrow.
Presented by Briana Mitchell and Makela Elvy from Smore Melanin
Briana Mitchell has been a camp attendee since the age of six and a previous camp counselor and Teach for America Corps member. She is the director of AF Camp, a Change Summer camp, where she works to create high-quality, summer opportunities for students that will increase their overall confidence, responsibility, curiosity, and independence. Following her time in the classroom, she has worked with several nonprofit organizations all aimed at helping students reach their full potential. Briana holds a B.A. in International Relations and a minor in Spanish from the University of Southern California (Fight On!). She holds a certificate in nonprofit management from the Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives at Rice University. In her spare time, she is also the co-founder of Smore Melanin - a platform dedicated to providing resources for BIPOC camp professionals. She will be presenting alongside Makela as S’more Melanin.
Makela Elvy, M. Ed, is an environmental educator and camp enthusiast. Along with Briana, she is also the co-founder of Smore Melanin - a platform dedicated to providing resources for BIPOC camp professionals. Over the course of her career, Makela has held camp positions ranging from head counselor to program manager. In addition to her experience writing environmental education, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and workforce development curriculum, Makela’s professional experience also includes environmental justice advocacy, natural interpretation and the creation of a 10-week venture program rooted in experiential learning. Makela holds a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University with a focus on Environmental Education and a B.A in Environmental Geoscience, with a minor in women, sexuality and gender studies that guide her culturally relevant approach to curriculum development and public engagement. She will be presenting alongside Briana and S’more Melanin.
