June 2020
E-Newsline
Welcome the 2020 Fellows!

We are thrilled to welcome the   2020 Switzer Fellows to the Switzer Fellowship Network. With the 2020 cohort, we have nearly 700 Switzer Fellows located around the world, working on today's most pressing environmental issues. We are inspired by these emerging leaders and are proud to welcome them to the Switzer Network. If you wish to reach out individually to a new fellow who may be working on your issue, or if you have connections that may be valuable for them, please contact Erin or Laine for an introduction. Let's give them a warm welcome!

Read about the 2020 Switzer Fellows

We are encouraging new Switzer Fellows to use the Fellow Directory to network with alumni this summer, so please make sure your profile (especially your work information!) is updated. You can use our new Google Form to submit changes instead of logging in.
Spotlight on  Race a nd Equity
Racism derails our attempts to fight the climate crisis

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson published an op-ed in The Washington Post in early June, where she writes that stopping climate change is hard enough, but racism only makes it harder. 

Learn about Environmental Data Justice

Lourdes Vera presented her work on Environmental Data Justice in our June Race and Equity Discussion Group call. We are making the recording available to Switzer Fellows and their colleagues who are interested in this topic. 

Birding While Black resources
In the aftermath of recent and public acts of racial violence, including the accosting of NYC birder Christian Cooper, some resources were recently shared on the Race and Equity Discussion Group listserv. 
Please email Laine to join the Switzer Fellows Race and Equity Discussion Group to share resources and generate critical discussions on the topic of equity and environmental racism.
Fellows in the News
What zebra mussels can tell us about errors in coronavirus tests

Andrew Cohen saw how easily PCR-based tests can return false positives, an alarming problem for coronavirus tests using the same technology. He talked with NPR about the implications for public health. 

Read more
Land conservation at scale

Large landscape conservation is foundational to the goal of preventing and reversing the loss of North America's natural spaces. Rebecca Shaw presented on the science behind large landscape conservation to the Salazar Center.

Bridging the worlds of public health and urban planning

Juan Reynoso is the second person to complete a new joint Master in Public Health/Master in Urban Planning degree program at Harvard. The program allows students to pursue a transdisciplinary education in urban planning and public health and sharpen their understanding of key areas including policy, sustainability, and social determinants of health. 

Upcoming Events
Follow-up: Empathic Communications Skills and Practices with John Kinyon
Tuesday, July 21
9:30-11 a.m. PDT / 12:30-2 p.m. EDT
Trainer John Kinyon is offering a deeper, 90-minute session on core communication components and skills of mindfulness-based empathic communication. If you could not attend the first session but are interested, email Lauren to get caught up with readings and the recording. 
Register

Virtual Social Hour for Switzer Fellows: Pacific/Mountain
Thursday, July 23
4:30 p.m. PDT / 5:30 p.m. MDT
Come as you are for this informal event co-hosted by Melissa Garren.
Learn more and get the Zoom link

Seeking co-hosts for Switzer Fellow social hours
Our Zoom social hours continue to be a success, but we would like to invite fellows to join us in hosting them. The events are typically very informal, with light facilitation. Please contact Erin if you are interested.
A vibrant community of environmental leaders
Contact Us

Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation
P.O. Box 293 / Belfast, Maine 04915
207-338-5654 / [email protected] / www.switzernetwork.org
Copyright © 2020 Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation. All Rights Reserved.