Do you know the feeling of arriving at a gathering, scanning the group, and realizing you’re the only person there who looks like you? It comes with a complex and sometimes subtle set of emotions, often centered around the uncertainty of being treated differently from everyone else. For many BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) folks in predominantly white spaces, including restoration and environmental work in and around Seattle, this can be an all-too-familiar experience.
In our work with GSP, we gather people together to work towards a common goal: to steward Seattle’s green spaces. People from all walks of life, backgrounds, and identities have come together in what has become a thriving community of partners and member organizations. However, even with best intentions to welcome all folks into the partnership over the years, 2023 was the pivotal year where GSP took steps to explicitly cultivate a space for BIPOC partner relationship building.
The Founding of the BIPOC Affinity Group
With collaborative leadership from Cascadia Consulting Group, Futures Rising, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and BIPOC leaders from partner organizations, GSP formally established the GSP BIPOC Affinity Group (AG) to foster a safe space for GSP’s BIPOC members to share learnings and experiences, taking a step towards addressing the underrepresentation of BIPOC folks in Seattle’s environmental community.
The first BIPOC AG was held in 2024, a small gathering near the Jefferson Horticultural Center. Discussion focused on the logistics of organizing and envisioning what a safe space for BIPOC members could look like.
In successive meetings, different partner organizations hosted at different sites around Seattle, sharing ownership of the facilitator role. The meetings have incorporated land acknowledgements, site tours, and an activity, such as birding, zine-making, affirmation reading, and a cultural food potluck.
Amid escalated activity from ICE earlier this year, the BIPOC AG made it a goal to provide a space for solidarity, resilience, and resource sharing. The conversations, discussion, and strategy that arose from these meetings have been vital to the response and safety plans for GSP as a whole. GSP is deeply grateful for the critical work and the impact the BIPOC AG has had on the Partnership.
What’s Next?
The BIPOC AG has grown into a vital part of GSP, rooted in providing a safe space, shared learning, and relationship building for BIPOC members. As GSP grows and develops as an inclusive community aiming for wider diversity, the BIPOC AG will continue to provide a unique space to ensure that minority voices feel empowered and welcomed in GSP.
Photo credits for all images: Christy Chow