Iowa Rivers Revival joins our voices with so many others throughout the country to say Black Lives Matter.
As an environmental organization, we recognize that racism is embedded in the environmental movement. We know how important our environment, specifically our water, is to everyone’s mental, emotional, and physical health. Environmental justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” Iowa Rivers Revival is dedicated to promoting equitable access to water resources, clean drinking water, and the outdoors. We believe that stewardship of Iowa’s rivers and their surrounding landscape is a crucial aspect of our striving for a more just and equitable society.
Moving forward, we are committed to looking inward to identify and act on ways our staff, board, and supporters can work towards dismantling racism within our organization, communities, and ourselves. We will connect with organizations that lift-up Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). We will listen and communicate with the voices that need to be heard. We will work to establish lasting partnerships with BIPOC run organizations, businesses, and individuals. We will advocate legislators for BIPOC communities’ needs, especially surrounding water and rivers. We will work to increase diversity within our board and staff.
For more information on how water, rivers, outdoor spaces, and environmental justice are interconnected and how you can help, please take advantage of these resources:
- Why Every Environmentalist should be Anti-Racist
- Race and the Environmental Movement Webinars
- Melanin Base Camp Guide to Outdoor Allyship
We welcome feedback, suggestions, and ideas that can help us all move towards a more just, sustainable world
Thank you,
Executive Director – Sara Carmichael
Board Members – Staci Williams (Chair), Peter Levi (Vice Chair), Jerry Peckumn (Treasurer), Katie Goff (Secretary), Robin Fortney, Linda Appelgate, Susan Heathcote, Chuck McNeeley, Patrick Snell