We acknowledge that:
Everything is not okay.
We live in a world and society with personal, structural, and institutional injustice based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and other differences. This is affecting the lives of the Vida Verde students and the Vida Verde community in myriad profound ways.
We see our role as:
We have a deep commitment to examining, understanding and working intentionally, every day, and for the long run to do our small part in dismantling the pieces of institutional injustice that we are able to. Vida Verde is one of the few outdoor education organizations that is focused on educational equity and is dedicated to engaging Bay Area youth from low-income families and communities who do not have free access to outdoor education experiences. Even though equity is a cornerstone of Vida Verde’s mission, intentionally and actively engaging in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) work more holistically will only continue to support these young people in accessing quality culturally relevant and inclusive nature education experiences that translate to positive outcomes in their traditional classrooms.
Why?
Culturally relevant outdoor programs better engage students and support them in developing necessary critical thinking skills, improving their health and wellness, and more meaningfully connecting them to the land and food, and often fostering a passion and interest in the outdoors.
The future of the environment is tethered to connecting the diverse youth of today to the outdoors.
Research shows diversity in staff, an inclusive workplace culture, and culturally responsive practices lead to both better experiences and outcomes for students, and better attraction and retention of talented staff.
Vida Verde aspires to serve as a blueprint/model for other values-aligned organizations (especially outdoor education organizations) who are looking for an example in JEDI work.
Our vision:
We envision a future where all people have access to quality experiences in the outdoors, which have the power to profoundly impact hearts, minds, and bodies.
Our commitments:
To steadfastly work toward our mission to promote educational equity by providing culturally relevant, free, overnight, environmental learning experiences for students who don’t otherwise get the opportunity.
Through culturally relevant programming, work to ensure Vida Verde students view nature as a place FOR them; a place they have a fundamental right to access, and a place that may influence them as leaders to vote, act and spend with the environment in mind.
To build and grow a more racially diverse staff and board, and foster an inclusive culture within Vida Verde where all staff, donors, and volunteers feel they are valued and belong.