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2nd Wednesday Lecture: Where Birds Thrive, People Prosper
April 14, 2021 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join Carina Ruiz & Mike Rizo in a discussion about birds, people and our relations.
Why should you care about birds? Because they are great connectors! Not only do birds connect people with nature, birds connect people with each other! We will highlight how you can strengthen your community by strengthening connections to nature right where you live. These connections build off one another and allow you to unite with other communities along migratory flyways – essentially connecting people and cultures! Speakers will share their experiences of connecting to birds, as well as best practices and challenges on how to foster and maintain community-level connections while providing culturally resonant birding programming models.
Carina Ruiz works with Audubon Great Lakes, a regional state office of the National Audubon Society that manages conservation work to protect and improve habitat critical for birds during migration and nesting cycles. As the Community Engagement Manager, she leads the Wild Indigo Nature Explorations program focused on engaging multigenerational, communities of color with their surrounding natural areas through the facilitation of culturally relevant environmental education, outdoor recreation, and stewardship opportunities that build community appreciation, awareness and advocacy for birds in Chicago, and throughout the Great Lakes Region.
Michael Rizo works as a Program Specialist with the Office of International Programs of the US Forest Service where he designs and coordinates outreach, education, and capacity building projects with community-level partners. Much of this work involves the encouragement of broader participation in conservation programming through targeted training, especially as it relates to habitat of migratory species. Charismatic species such as monarch butterflies and birds are used as vehicles to build interest in conservation projects that benefit people and nature alike. Based in Chicago, he works with non-governmental organizations, universities, museums, and nature centers to build networks in the US and abroad.
Registration ends Wednesday April 14th at 6:00pm CST
