University of Michigan’s Dorceta Taylor to speak on power, privilege and inclusive environmentalism at WWU and WCC on Feb. 26 & 27

Dorceta Taylor, one of the nation’s leading environmental justice scholars and activists, will present in two public events on Feb. 26 and 27 at Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College. Both events are free and open to the public.

“Power, Privilege, and Conservation: The Quest for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” will cover topics from her book “The Rise of the American Conservation Movement." This work examines the emergence and rise of the multifaceted U.S. conservation movement from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. Taylor shows how race, class, and gender influenced every aspect of the movement, including the establishment of parks; campaigns to protect wild game, birds, and fish; forest conservation; outdoor recreation; and the movement's links to 19th-century ideologies. “Power, Privilege and Conservation” will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26 in Fraser 102 on Western’s campus.

“Building an Inclusive Environmentalism for the Next Seven Generations” invites the Bellingham community for a conversation about the future of the environmental movement. A panel of community leaders, and invited guest panelist Dorceta Taylor, will kick off the conversation by sharing their perspectives on questions such as: What do we need from the environmental movement, in order to create a vibrant planet for all? Which aspects of current/mainstream environmentalism should we leave behind? Which organizations in Whatcom County and the Salish Sea region are pointing the way toward a more inclusive environmentalism, and how can we help that work grow? “Building an Inclusive Environmentalism for the Next Seven Generations” will take place from 4:30-5:45 in Room 201 of the Pavilion & Student Recreation Center at Whatcom Community College.

Taylor has published six books, more than 40 articles and book chapters and over a dozen reports on food justices, environmental justices, cities and the environment and institutional diversity. She holds doctorates in sociology and forestry from Yale University.

For more information about Taylor’s presentations, including disability accommodations, contact Susanna Hamilton, Western’s Office of Sustainability media coordinator at susanna.hamilton@wwu.edu, 650-4357.