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'l The EE Advocate O Page 3 � t� tie � Ya� s � � � � $ � a� 631 � iti l ire E © An �n t do t dialogue by Teresa Aloii�ad, Executive Director; E�rvirorzmentol Education Cocencil flf Ohio , (EECO ) �.IaIIaaIIIaI _ It is a coillplaint we 've -when it comes to getting people, of:diversecultures to. our workshops and programs our programs are geared to everyone , regardless of cultures , backgrounds ; or beliefs; but " they '' don 't cone currently, EE= has been most effective in appealing to :white ; female , elementary science` educators , weaving out : a vast majority of other educators m other aaaIalIIaiiltures gender, grade levels and disciplines , = _ ' �� G�� - t® � eel � �z fz � a�ri� h -�� h It is time ly that four of the eight states participating the EETAP P _ P gaa _ :- States Program — Arizona; Calforiva 0lclahoma `and Ohio - included ® t��y �� ® 19 C�j� j�2 �tnien �IaIa � � r � , culty one of the dimensions of their pro (read more ural diversit as � i about the EETAP States on pages 4- Sj : Nationally; critical discussions � �� _�� '��" ` _ have been held by the North American Association forEnviropmentalaaa _ - _ _ - ; . aaa -. Education ( NAAEE) at conferences since 1999 and recently; EETAP set out to consider caaaaIaaIIase studies of �� in different cultural settings' ( see EETAP Cases Woi-lCshoaaIIIIII� 1 ) : EE it�d C�tltrt �•al ,Diversity oi? page . All these indicate the growing understanding that customizing .prograininirigtyith cultural sensitivity is crucial if we want to change the face of EE: fr In this light, the Environmental` Education Council of Ohio (EEC O ) is planivng a special workshop forenvironmei7tal educato aaaas at the EECO conference March 2 $ - 30; 2003 . with theimportant inclusion of educators from diverse cultures . I offerfo� your feedback , three broad areas that guide our plan: ` .�� =� aIIaaa �---� � � �-�,� -' �� l: dei� etol� gicidelifzes ora ivlaat cidturally sensitive EE approacji �s would , look -like . What' � zzr�erisfons are " salient in ' adapting instructional EE materials and teaching practice to sI - Ip�a��o �; cxtlturally d�veise audience ? _. While related, this proceIkLss must not be . a - confused with multicultural education :' Our goal:: is no, �� teach , about. dverse: cultures . 'Rather we are asking haw rnizlticix�turaJ - viewpoints impact the way we design and deliverEE , ( e . g . inner city educators of homeless yoiithtell us to focus oi� " contzXt " aiid " family" in teaching abouthabitats ) Caste 2 . provi.de en. vii�oaamental edtrcatars }vitla the skills, tools and' Iz�aoivled�e to better serve c�clturally dyers >e arrdi�fzc�s. °We ae all tr experts in the " ways of nature" - we can make all hinds of connections with water cycles , totting logs and even the moon ! het , it feels life we are stumbling re the dark when it comes fo theways of culture" - wh_ at values are cherished` Uy different cultuies ? �TVhat are their worldviews ? How can we incorporate this, knowledge into BIallaaE ? What professionaldevelapmeit oppo aaaaaaII rtunities do vie iieecl to design so that fewer gild fewer will ,say, " we offered but no one Caine + " Whom should we -work _with ? How should we starts 3. provide sic��iort fof� EE leaders to engage in ongoing exchange of ideas on enlzaraci'1g cultr�ral diar versity. We need to feed and '. nourish' each :other in our commitment to include other cultures in EE `and to help = :each ether with resources , information aUorit = < groups ,-' networks or strategies that could be applied elsevcwliere , This is an exciting and challenging path to journey and EE-Link is facilitating an "e - Cafe" to provide .space foY• fellow - sojouniers. to ; - stop in , bare experiences ; warrrof p%tfalls ; point to useful resources . . : EECO will be honozed if our workshop can act as a testing ground for your ideas ! I hope that through EE-Link (eelinlc . net) , you will join Ohio , he other EETAP states ' and NAAEE continue . the much-needed discussion to bring cultural sensitivity to maturity in EE . Turn to page 7 of this issue for a short listing of resources related - -tz� � � � �Iaa ;W-�� to diversity and EE in the " Resources & Opportunities " section _ -