Seeing Ourselves in Nature

Discover the profound and joyous stories of Black and Brown nature educators.

In Seeing Ourselves in Nature, editor Jessica Fong asks how Black and Brown educators create space for predominantly Black and Brown children and families to reconnect to nature.

Recognizing the scarcity of stories from people of the global majority in the predominately white literature surrounding nature education, Fong sought out thirteen other educators of color to share their rich and profound experiences with young children in nature.

Sharing these stories is a first step in the long road to making nature education equitable for all children.

Editor Jessica Fong is an educator, leader, and advocate for nature-based learning and dual language education. Originally from Guatemala, Jessica began her teaching journey in 2007 before returning to Chicago, where she deepened her commitment to equitable education.

As the Director of Education at Openlands, she spearheads initiatives that inspire educators and students to connect with the natural world, overseeing programs such as Birds in My Neighborhood® and Space to Grow®.

Jessica holds two Master’s degrees—one in Early Childhood Education from DePaul University and another in Dual Language and Teacher Leadership from Roosevelt University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Sustainability at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.