Environmental, Agricultural and Natural Resource Advanced Degrees at HBCU's

It was an illuminating question posed by an individual on Twitter regarding the availability of ecology degrees offered at HBCU's. I was not at all ashamed to admit that I had no clue what types of programs were offered, at what level and where they were. This sat with me for some days until I mustered up the energy and the courage to discover what the State of HBCU's were regarding the matter.  What I found was not at all depressing but surprising. Below is a list of HBCU's and the programs they offer for advanced degrees in environmental, agricultural and natural resource sciences.  What was not astonishing was that most of the universities have agricultural programs of some sorts. Considering the long history of agriculture and animal husbandry and farming/ranching in the United States it is fitting that these types of programs exist to create an employable workforce, especially considering where these universities are located in farming sectors of the U.S.

There are four doctoral programs at Alabama A&M, Howard, Jackson State and University of Maryland Eastern Shore. I did not investigate if the degrees being granted in these programs were to minorities or to other ethnic groups just that they were available.  A recent talk I gave highlighted the reality of educational attainment of African Americans.  Less than 25% of African Americans in 2013 were receiving a Bachelors or beyond.  Seems like a Bachelors IS the advanced degree for African Americans and many of those in school attend college but did not complete their college degrees.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau


So what does this all mean?  How is it that we can generate a population of minority professionals in these fields if we aren't event getting the education to apply to Masters and PhD programs?  As we push for diversity in STEM the reality for African Americans in advanced degrees is that retention and completion of PhD's is a conversation that has yet to begin.  When we think of the successful completion of intellectuals that will teach college classes, conduct ground breaking research, give testimony to congress, provide scientific information that moves public policy, write books, become chairs of departments, editors of journals, members of NSF review panels, committees for grants and funding there has to be some way to express the importance of our participation at all levels in STEM.

But the reality based upon Dr. Taylors Green 2.0 Report on The State of Diversity in Environmental Organizations is that it is possible even the most educated of us will hit a "Green Ceiling" in which leadership within these fields will be highly unlikely. People of color include ALL Black and Brown people in the United States which is shown in green (~36%) and people of color in S&E aren't too far below that but the red line is what is daunting. The report is clear in that regardless of the attainment of education the access and opportunity for careers outside of academia are going to be a challenge for minorities. This study was of NGO's, Foundations and Government organizations as well.

The workforce of professionals can not and should not always be more minorities within entry-level positions. I will try to do some more digging into the advanced degrees at the HBCU's to find out what the demographics look like in the environmental, agricultural and natural resource programs in comparison to social sciences and education for example. I would not be surprised to find that even at minority serving institutions we are under represented in these programs.

                                             Source: Dr. Taylor Green 2.0

So for those of you who are looking into advanced degrees within these fields the list is below.  Just as a note I am all for diverse experiences to be a well rounded individual. However because of inadequate support systems for minorities in graduate school I would not be surprised to find that there is a greater percent of retention and completion of PhD's and Masters at HBCU's in comparison to other institutions.  There is light at the end of the tunnel. There are programs within our HBCU system that exist and likely will be evolving due to the state of our social and environmental climate.  For a population of thinkers and problem solvers there needs to be access and spaces to thrive.  Black intellectuals still exist and helping the next generation of social and environmental leaders means that we must cultivate them using our strongest and most consistent resources. It also means that we must be willing as environmental professionals of color to mentor, teach and engage our own students on an intellectual level beyond their current one.

Tweet me your institution and programs including the level so I can keep this list updated! @greenkels

Alabama A&M University	Agribusiness Management (Masters) Animal Science (Masters) Environmental Planning (Masters) Food Science (Masters, Doctorate) Plant and Soil Science (Masters, Doctorate)
Alabama State University Delaware State University	Agriculture (Masters) Food Science (Masters) Family and Consumer Sciences Education (Masters)
Florida A&M University	Agricultural Sciences (Masters)
Grambling State University	Natural Science (Masters)
Howard University	Zoology (Masters, Doctorate) Botany (Masters)
Jackson State University	Environmental Science (Masters, Doctorate)
Mississippi Valley State University	Environmental Health (Masters)
North Carolina A&T State University	Agricultural Economics (Masters), Natural Resources and Environmental Design (Masters)
North Carolina Central University North Carolina A&T	Parks and Recreation Management (Masters) Agricultural & Environmental Systems (MS), Energy & Environmental Systems (Ph.D.)
Prairie View A&M University	Agri-Economics (Masters) Animal Science (Masters)
South Carolina State University	Agribusiness (Masters)
Southern University	Environmental Science (Masters)
Tennessee State University	Agricultural Science (Masters)
Tuskegee University	Agricultural Economics (Masters) Animal and Poultry Science (Masters) Food and Nutritional Science (Masters) School of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
University of Maryland Eastern Shore	Agriculture (Masters) Environmental Science (Masters, Doctorate)
Virginia State University	Agricultural Education (Masters) Earth Science (Masters)

Cows make Coach People!

 I'm blessed to be in a position to share what has been gifted to me...the passion for life and quality of life and life force of contentment with helping others see just how special, fragile and amazing this planet is. Not to sound too much like a tree hugger but life is so fixed within boundaries and sometimes we forget that the earth is just as alive as you and I. It gets sick, it responds and it attempts to get better. To no fault of its own it will do what it is supposed to do under the conditions we have created. To ignore the life of our planet the living energy of it that sustains us, to act as if it is unintentional and replaceable is to mock the creator in my opinion. So when you are flooded once again, when you realize your feet are frozen because of the below zero temperatures, when you reach for the ice or your inhaler this summer or end up at the University of Chicago emergency room gasping for dear breath because of smog and humidity, when you realize the crops at your garden can not grow because it is a drought and there is a water ban (like Chicago does) or that you can't swim at Lake Michigan because raw sewage has been released due to the sewer system overflowing, when you are wondering what that bulls eye mark is after you go hiking, or even wondering what will happen to your vine videos when so many people are trying to keep cool that it causes power outages and you can't charge your Iphone 5c....you'll realize that earth is simply attempting to right what we've wronged and she will make us as uncomfortable and sick as we have made her. 

So what then do we do? We meaning people that look like me.  Yes I'm Black and sometimes I forget that I have to reaffirm that while I'm accused of leading a white life and being interested in all things that are white it means that I am not Black.  In order to make my point clear I have to "get on your level" so to speak, I am an educated scientist driven to study this amazing planet we call home and a finesse for making others care too.  Others meaning my people....my beautiful Black people.

I think it is time that we hold ourselves accountable for the disinterest in the conversation of natural resources, climate change and or global warming.  Honestly I have no clue as to why it is so difficult to make these connections considering the consumerism of Blacks in America.  I find it hard accepting that a generation of people that fought for policies reconciling environmental injustice would be so very quiet as the threat of climate change floods our basements, has us shivering in our uninsulated homes and missing school because we chose to buy some Jordan's instead of waterproof insulated boots.

We aren't serious....(I'm laughing).

 I'm serious.

 Y'all aint! 

In Chicago when it was below zero I was good, my kids were good too.  They had their long johns, thick gloves, layers, hats, scarves, snow pants, they were ready for the weather, and I made sure of it.  I made sure of it because I kind of know Chicago like other large cities are changing, and we must be ready to change as well.

 I  also was ready because I study this stuff....but we all live it together. After winter in Chi-Beria (which in all honesty is cute, catchy and clever) I just knew Blacks would be all about preparing for and finding out about climate change....eeeeeh not so much.  I was disappointed at the lack of energy that was stimulated around the consequences of socio-economic status in a changing urban climate.  The fact that your child can not attend school because they don't have the proper climate clothes was honestly the most direct and in your face correlation I have ever seen play out in the public eye.  Do we not recognize that as the seasons pass it will be more than our clothes that will prevent us from being able to live in a prosperous way.  

I feel like I needed to say a little bit on this because I was thinking how do I say it again? How do I share my excitement for what a climate change position will do for the revitalization of our community health and wealth. The conversation is now off of trying to prove or disprove an environmental injustice from a factory it is obvious we are and will continue to be (all people) affected by a changing climate.  All means ALL. Every single living creature above and below ground as well as in the sea.  

So ultimately I have to take the very bougie position (insert haughty condescending laugh all in good humor of course) and tell my people....my beautiful Black people (takes deep breath)

The sun makes energy for plants. Plants use that energy to grow. Plants need water, light, and nutrients to give us food, fiber and fuel.  Unhealthy air, and water means unhealthy plants. Unhealthy air and water also means unhealthy people. Unhealthy air and water also means unhealthy animals. Unhealthy plants means unhealthy food for people and animals. 

 So my final rally cry is Cows make Coach! (hahahaha) Yes! Cows make our beloved leather Coach and Dooney & Bourke purses, belts, and shoes.  So if you love Coach and want to keep looking fly...care a little about our climate and change! 

Show Me the $: The Truth About An Average Black Farmer in America

I love the idea of returning to a more natural way of living.  Indeed no other community should have closer ties to mother earth than urban African Americans.  I've lived in Chicago all my life, and not once in my childhood had I ever seen a vegetable garden in someones yard. No schools, no churches, and surely no community gardens.  But now gardens are growing everywhere! I love to see urban spaces transformed into a cultural growing space for people to feel proud of.  I also love to see communities come together in attempts to lead the charge for other social issues that can be addressed through outdoor activities such as gardening be that vegetables or flower beds.

It is in the promotion of urban agriculture as a resolution to social issues that I begin to dissect the method in which this can be accomplished.  The prescription of urban ag for social issues is not misplaced, however I struggle with really understanding the boundaries to those benefits.  With urban Black communities facing issues around underemployment, unemployment, education limitations, poor health and more urban agriculture has emerged as a prescriptive green space for the social, emotional and cultural stressors of being Black in the city.

However are we really understanding how urban agriculture can benefit Black communities outside of growing to sell?  Don't get me wrong, the idea of generating revenue off of your harvest is what a farmer does, but is that what we should be doing? Maybe that came out wrong....I mean is that what we all should be attempting to do?  From my perspective creating a market driven garden or becoming a full time farmer is a utopian reality for everyone to attempt.  Let us look at some numbers of Black Farmers in the United States to ground us in the fiscal reality of farming.

The average value of sales of Black Farmers based upon the U.S. Agricultural Census of Black Farmers was about $21,000, in comparison to the average for ALL farmers which is around $130,000. Furthermore, 93% of those Black Farmers that reported receive less than 50% of their income from farming!! Yes I said it less than half of their income comes from farming.  So what insight does that impart upon those of us in the urban ag community as we talk about wealth building of people of color through urban agriculture?  For me, it means that communities need some support in understanding HOW to utilize the benefits of urban ag.

"Almost half (46 percent) of all black-operated farms are classified as beef cattle farms and ranches, compared to 30 percent of all farms nationwide. Another 20 percent are classified as “all other crop farms,” compared to 23 percent of farms overall. This category includes hay farms and farms where no single crop comprised more than 50 percent of sales. And, while 15 percent of farms overall are classified as grain and oilseed farms, only 8 percent of black-operated farms fall into this category." U.S. Agricultural Census USDA

Moving forward maybe it is not on the growing and selling of a harvest that will "generate local revenue". What if we circled back to utilize the production of foods and products for our own consumption and the consumption of our community members?  What if we found that sweet spot of harvest production that allowed our homes to SAVE $200 on their grocery bills available to SPEND $200 on supporting local businesses, or available to SPEND on increasing the value of their homes, or available to INVEST in resources like a snow plow for the block club during the winter (credit Jeffrey Jones IDNR). What if we saw this as an opportunity to NOT spend money?

The truth about an average Black Farmer in America is that they are also the working poor, and more often than not they are not selling vegetables.  In order for us to grow economically in our communities with urban ag we must be very intentional about how we identify and utilize the benefits of it.  I will continue to blog about urban ag from the perspective of sustainability and economic empowerment of urban minority communities.  As I have discussions and work over this summer I will highlight the other benefits such as environmental education, the revitalization of volunteerism and neighbor networks, the health benefits of getting outside, the increase in property values, the spiritual reconnection and more.  But I challenge those in urban ag working with communities on economic empowerment through urban ag to be forward thinking about alternative economic benefits besides the direct selling of produce.

Be well dear friends,

Kels

Follow me on Twitter: @greenKels

Pick Your Plants Wisely

 In 2010 Blacks were reported to have the lowest amount of home ownership of any ethnic group at 45.4% however more often than not those African American homeowners are living in African American communities. When the housing and financial crisis hit, Black communities suffered tremendously, like in the Chicago community of Roseland where home ownership dropped from 64% to 53% in 2013. What people don't realize is that these were more than just houses, they were homes sitting on pieces of land. Living land, that requires attention and care.  The type of attention and care that also require energy and income to make it into something beautiful.  That beauty can be grass, a rock garden, a water feature, veggies, or flowering bushes, bird feeders, or mulch.

 The social consequences of segregation  such as inequity of eduction and distribution of resources and services are always discussed,  but what about the environmental consequences? Yes, the environment reflects the decisions of the people in an area.  While every individual in the African American community makes up their own minds about what they like and dislike, we do share similar world views and perspectives based upon our upbringing.  It is not a bad thing, it's just a thing.  Yet when we look at how environmental decisions are made in accord there are unintentional consequences. The natural areas of our homes creates a collective natural environment.  When we see our neighbor plant something it is more likely that we will plant it too.  What ends up happening is that we suffer from "Who wants to be like/who wants to be like/ The Jones'" (You should hear me sing it, lol I sound just like the Temptations).

So what on earth does this have to do with invasive species awareness month? I thought you would never ask! Our decisions to care for the pieces of land that are ours comes from first understanding how to make good decisions.  If you are a homeowner you are directly responsible for the decisions of what you do in your yard.  Together our communities and homes play a huge role in the environmental health of our cities, because often we are so segregated our choices for plants and landscaping turn into something much larger.  If all of us are unaware and chose invasive plants for our homes trust me it is not a good thing to have that in common with ALL your neighbors.  I celebrate our culture and closeness, but I am disheartened by our lack of information.

While invasive plants are sold in nurseries and plant stores if you don't know what is and what isn't invasive you buy whats pretty!  I know when I was planning my landscape at first it wasn't even a thought to consider what should and shouldn't be in my yard.  I thought if it was being sold it was ok.  This is so far from the truth. I also thought if I brought in a landscaper they would know, but they too were just as lost.

It really is YOUR responsibility if you are TRYING to ben environmentally friendly to first educate yourself.  Sometimes you may not have the mindset to do so, which is why you should follow me (shameless plug) as your green guide to the fertile land of sustainability....(insert Ease on down the road song here from The Wiz). It is ok that people in our community are starting from scratch, we have a lot to learn and lots to do so that our communities can contribute to our own health and the health of mother earth.

If you are wondering how to find out information on what to plant in your yard, there are very close friends to help at the Chicago Botanic Garden. On their website they have a list of plants in the Chicago region that are invasive including trees, shrubs and grasses.  If you are thinking of visiting a nursery looking for new life for your space take care to find out if you are adding to the problem through your purchases or being a leader and knowing what you grow is going to be a good thing for nature.  Below are the CBG's ways you can help control invasive plants. You know what we say...."when you know better, you do better" I'm remixing that to say "when you know better, you grow better".

• Learn about invasive plants.

• Phase out the invasive plants on your property.

• Plant only noninvasive species.

• Attend Garden classes and symposia about invasive plants and biodiversity.

• Volunteer to monitor threatened plants of the region.

• Volunteer for stewardship activities at the Garden and other natural areas.

I very much wanted to articulate how much land is owned by African Americans through home ownership here in Chicago, but came up short in looking at the Census data.  It appears as though you can get the average of home ownership but it doesn't tell you how much land in terms of the sizes of homes.  (Crossing fingers for an interested reader to find out and share for us!)

Follow me on twitter: @greenkels

Why Blacks should care about Invasive Species

It has been over a year since I've written in this blog. Mostly because there are so many blogs in cyberspace about the environment, but this one is different.  Grass vs. Glass is really about helping city folk realize that our urban environments can help us or hurt us.  That hurt can come from man made products like vehicles causing air pollution, or from plants like ragweed that also cause air pollution.  Pollen pollution while seasonal can have extremely harmful consequences on the young, and elderly. While pollen is responsible for making new plants such as beautiful flowers and even apple trees, pollen also can cause allergic reactions.  With May being Invasive Species Awareness Month, I thought this was a perfect time to start the discussion on the direct relationship between city plants, and the health of city people.  Primarily I want to make sure, my community recognizes the importance of being aware, making decisions and supporting a healthier environment that directly benefits us.  

First there are some basics we have to cover so that everyone is on the same page.

What is an invasive plant?

It is a plant that grows very fast and very aggressive. These plants spread quickly and rapidly and while they can survive here are not supposed to be here because they cause problems for the plants that are native.

What kind of problems do they cause for other plants?

You can think about invasive plants like thieves. They steal sunlight, water and space from the plants that are native to an area. What happens is that the invasive plants take over completely leaving no space, or nutrients for the other plants.

Why should I care?

Overall everyone should care about our environment, but for Black people urban air quality creates health issues causing hospital visits and in rare cases death.  We should care about all the sources that lessens our air quality because it affects our wellbeing.

Air quality and asthma 

The below figure also tells a striking story, that by in large when looking at children under the age of 18 income and ethnicity matter, this is especially true for being a Black child in the city.  Essentially, income matters less than your race/ethnicity, and if you are a Black child it is more likely that you will develop asthma when compared to children in the same income level but of different races/ethnicities.  While genetics plays a role in it, your environment and the quality of your air plays a significant role in the development of asthma.  But we know this right we know that our communities have high rates of asthma especially here in Chicago. Some of it is from transportation and exhaust or from factories and some.....well some is from the very thing that gives us oxygen to breathe, plants.

Plants are amazing and wonderful, but sometimes can cause problems.  Depending on the species of plant the pollen can make people very sick affecting the respiratory system. Ragweed pollen is infamous for causing such problems.  This plant makes large amounts of pollen that is blown by the wind into the air that we breathe.  Most often this weed grows along roadsides with other weedy plants.  Invasive Species Awareness Month is to help the public understand the significant impact of invasive plants on society and the environment.  

If you care about the health of the people you MUST care about the health of the environment. Similar to the diseases found in our bodies you can consider invasive plants as the cancer equivalent in nature.  For Blacks in the city, we are already exposed to higher rates of poorer air quality because of, industrialization, and where we can afford to live.  While there are some air quality issues that may take longer to resolve, such as transportation and factories, pollen from invasive species can be addressed immediately.

In order for a healthy environment to be our reality we must first care.  Not only should we care because we may be suffering but we should also care because nature helps us in many ways.  It is important for everyone to contribute to the solution of invasive species by first being educate, and second by their actions.  This months' blogs will be dedicated to making the public aware of invasive species in Chicago and the state of Illinois and learning what is being done, how thy affect us and what our communities can do to support our air quality through the removal of invasive plants.

If you are looking for ways to get involved this month check out the events in the Illinois Invasive Species calendar. This month we will dig into invasive plants, urban air quality, poverty and race.  It is sure to be a wealth of information and hopefully will help us understand why Blacks should care about invasive species.

Further Reading
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/sciencenb/asthma/HD_AA_Asthma.pdf
http://www.acponline.org/patients_families/pdfs/subspec/asthma.pdf
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pollution-poverty-people-color-asthma-inner-city/

Follow me on twitter: @greenkels

Winter fun for everyone?

As a native Chicagoan I have very fond memories of growing up in the city during the winter time.  And once again I take myself back to the days of watch service at church on New Years Eve praying in the New Year.  But what some may fail to realize is that as we were praying on our knees some of us were also ducking gun shots!

So where does that leave a child who was blessed to make it to another year mentally.  Even in the safest of places I knew I wasn't really safe.  NYE brings out the boozed bandits.  The congregation knew that doors would be locked promptly at 10:45pm to avoid any NYE issues on the low-end of Chicago.

That inspired me to blog a bit on winter fun.  We know our city is segregated...it's not a surprise.  But I think about activities in the snow and accessibility to events and I come up short.  I've lived in the south suburbs, Historic Pullman, Chatham, Englewood, Auburn Gresham and now Edgewater.  My experience within the city has helped me realize that your surroundings will dictate your activities or recreation. 

But even with park space there may not be any winter seasonal activities for you or your kids at the local park district.  This is a bit tricky though. If you don't have a demand for activities then they don't exist.  I know what you're thinking. Well if I don't have any options how can I demand anything right?  
Some of this responsibility falls on community members, leaders and home owners.  

Don't spend the rest of our wonderful winter indoors sulking.  Our city is alive all year round!  The south side and the west side of Chicago aren't forgotten we've been hibernating.  Get outside in the cold and make some winter memories in OUR city.  Take a train somewhere you've never been.  Go to a nature center and spend an hour.  You could also take all that snow and make your own backyard slope for the kids.  Be creative never be complacent. 

Yours truly,

Chicago's Green Queen