GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Greensboro Library is trying to get more people of color outdoors. It’s part of a new series all about nature, with a focus on representation.
What You Need To Know
Greensboro Library is working to bring representation into nature
The library is hosting monthly nature events
Ti’Era Worsley is an environmental educator
The series is called “Outdoor Adventure of Color,” and by color they mean people of color taking a deeper dive into nature.
The library started the series in February to celebrate Black History Month. But, it had hard time finding African Americans to lead presentations or join and seeing that need they kept it going.
Ti’Era Worsley has both led and participated in the program. She is a University of North Carolina Greensboro graduate student with a focus on environmental education.
“I’ve always wanted to make sure people are able to speak up, share and just feel that it’s a place where they have a presence and that they can contribute,” Worsley said.
Since the pandemic, she has found you can explore nature anywhere.
“I think it’s important to see nature in different ways. So, even in this apartment complex, finding all these things, and that’s also a way to be in nature,” she said.
She says representation is a big factor when it comes to promoting the outdoors. Worsley also works with kids and wants to make sure they see people like her and like themselves in nature.
“That representation piece is very important to me. Just so they know, oh, there is someone else out there doing this, because I may be the only person they see doing it, you never know, so it’s really important to just have that impact with them,” she explained.
It’s important for Worsley to let the kids feel empowered because the opportunities for representation may not be there.
“So, I’m always encouraging them to speak up and share what they know and everything, and they just feel respected in the environment I create,” Worsley explained.
She wants to give everyone a safe space to feel free, especially in nature.
The “Outdoor Adventure of Color” series is now a hybrid with both in-person and virtual presentations. To find out more you can head to the Greensboro Library website.