SAVE THE DATEOCTOBER 12, 2023
The second Upward Ground: A Nature Equity Experience was held at Sycamore & Oak in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC, for Ward 8 high school students on October 12, 2023. This immersive, dynamic half-day summit ─ presented by the USDA Forest Service ─ featured interactive demonstrations, exhibits and community leaders to support Black students in demanding and achieving environmental justice and climate action.
Upward Ground DC Snapshot
Young and emerging leaders are demanding environmental justice and climate action. Upward Ground: A Nature Equity Experience is a series of half-day, immersive, dynamic events designed by young people for young people interested in climate careers. Participants will share innovative climate solutions, participate in interactive activities and immersive tech, and network with diverse professionals working on climate and social justice issues from a variety of disciplines, including technology, urban forestry, academics and public service.
The second summit was held on Thursday, October 12th, at Sycamore & Oak in Washington, DC., for three Ward 8 high schools. The next summit will be held in spring 2024 at a Tribal College or University. These events, supported by the U.S. Forest Service, will take place at minority-serving institutions across the United States and will highlight and amplify the voices of young people working to address the climate crisis.
Artist | Songwriter | Producer,
Virginia-bred music maker OneManJamz redefines musical fusion. Uniting diverse genres into exhilarating tapestries of sound, OneManJamz crafts mashups that ignite the dance floor. Feel the collision of classics and modern hits as OneManJamz takes you on a genre-hopping journey, defying conventions and leaving you craving more. Get ready to vibe to the ultimate mashup experience!
9:30 am
10:00 am
Check-in for the event, make connections, network with others and write your questions to the climate professionals for the Ask Me Anything session on the Post-it wall.
Location: Entry 1
10:00 am
10:10 am
Executive Leadership Team
Join the Executive Leadership Team as they welcome you and give their account for why this summit is important and valuable to young people like you.
Location: Main Stage
10:15 am
11:15 am
Demonsrators
Receive hands-on, real world experience through the lens of an urban forestry professional and the green jobs that allow them to take action and fight climate change as you rotate through a variety of climate related demonstrations.
Location: Lounge Area
11:15 am
11:40 am
Lunch
Expand your connections through a networking lunch for students to connect with climate leaders in an informal way.
Location: Lounge Area
11:45 am
12:45 pm
Demonstrators
Continue receiving hands-on, real world experience through the lens of an urban forestry professional and the green jobs that allow them to take action and fight climate change as you rotate through a variety of climate related demonstrations.
Location: Lounge Area
12:45 pm
1:15 pm
Speakers: Lillian Dinkins, Marcus Tuah, Jerri Taylor, Joshua Simon, Beattra Wilson and Terry Baker
Close out the day by asking trigger questions that piqued your interest from the day’s events. Hear from special guests and leaders on key takeaways, next steps and resources for you as a climate equity leader. This 30-minute session will allow students to ask speakers questions live and from the Post-it wall. The speakers have a range of experience in urban forestry and advocate for climate justice. Let us give you the keys to making the next bold move in your career journey.
Location: Main Stage
1:15 pm
1:20 pm
Speakers: Beattra Wilson and Chief Randy Moore
Location: Main stage
1:20 pm
1:30 pm
End the day with a fun, engaging activity…will you last in the classroom?
Location: Main Stage
Upward Ground: A Nature Equity Experience is made possible through the collaboration and planning of the following members of the Executive Leadership Team, who played a key role in preparing Ward 8 high school students to demand and achieve environmental justice and climate action through urban forestry.
@CaseyTrees
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caseytrees.org
