July 16, 2024
BlackRep4Kids Podcast
When we talk about eco-friendly living, we’re talking about STEM, we’re talking about health habits.
– Tulani Thomas, author and creator of TuTu’s Green World
Imagination is a powerful tool for change. When we consider the climate future, there can be feelings of uncertainty, overwhelm, and apathy. What if one of the remedies to the climate anxiety many young people face lies in nurturing their capacity to create and explore through stories? Black children in the U.S. are disproportionately impacted by climate-related environmental dangers. Young children are most vulnerable to the chemical and environmental hazards that come along with natural disasters and increased toxicity in air, water, and soil. How do we counter this reality with practical, accessible, and hopeful possibilities for the future? The BlackRep4Kids project is working to find out.
Black Representation: Authoring STEM Stories for Climate Risk Preparedness (BlackRep4Kids) is a National Science Foundation-funded project led by Knology. The goal of the project is to bring together Black researchers and practitioners from a variety of fields (including climate science, developmental psychology, informal learning, and children’s media) to create resources to be used with Black children and families. Through the creation of a resource library and ongoing dialogue, the project will help children and families prepare and engage with rapidly shifting climate realities.
In the third episode of ongoing podcast series, Roots of Representation, Ed Greene talks with Tulani Thomas of Tutu’s Green World about the necessity and challenges of engaging Black families in a dialogue about eco-friendly lifestyle changes through children’s books and workshops for a greener world.
Listen to Tulani’s episode and learn how you can contribute resources to support the creation of inclusive and impactful climate-centered STEM stories for young Black audiences.
Share with the hashtag #ExchangeEveryDay
Print Friendly