diversity, equity, inclusion, & justice
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is proud to be comprised of a diverse range of professionals that reflects the communities in which we operate. We understand that through collaboration, people with different perspectives develop the most innovative and elegant solutions. The Land Conservancy of New Jersey strives to:
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Ensure our programs, land preserves, and resources are shared equitably to benefit and reflect the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the public we serve.
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Systemically make land preservation more meaningful to traditionally underserved communities.
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Collaborate and partner with like-minded organizations to achieve desired outcomes.
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Empower individuals and diverse communities to protect open space.
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Educate traditionally underserved communities about potential career opportunities in conservation.
Nature Is for Everyone
We are working to ensure that our organization acts in the interests of justice and inclusion, and that our messages and programs are reaching all nature lovers. Making sure Black, indigenous, and people of color feel ownership of public lands (especially properties that we manage) is part of our mission, and we want everyone to feel welcome at our programs.
Returning Native Land
We have been working with the Ramapo Lenape Nation for ten years, helping them maintain and regain access to sacred sites like Split Rock Mountain, a sacred site with cultural and archaeological significance that we purchased and then transferred to the Ramapo Munsee Land Alliance, a land trust we helped them establish. Our partnership continues with more land preservation projects on the horizon.
Promoting Diversity in Future Environmental Leaders
Our scholarship program has grown rapidly over the past fives years, and we have committed to making sure students of color are properly represented. Part of this effort is making sure we're reaching the students who would most benefit from these scholarships. We have broadened our reach and continue to target communities and organizations that encourage a diverse pool of applicants. We are doing the same with our internship program, and the results are encouraging.
Fresh Food for Those in Need
In 2018 we partnered with City Green, a nonprofit that offers equitable access to healthy food while promoting environmental stewardship and ecologically sustainable communities. City Green Farms at our South Branch Preserve makes tasty, nutrient-dense organic food affordable to residents of Paterson and Passaic County. Also, the Community Garden at South Branch Preserve donates hundreds of pounds of locally grown produce to food pantries every year.
A Culture of Openness
DEIJ work is about more than messaging and programming; we're examining the culture of our organization as well. In 2020 we adopted DEIJ principles as part of our strategic plan, aiming to recruit more BIPOC staff and trustees over the next five year. We have provided training for our board on DEIJ issues, participated in a series of antiracism workshops, and hired a consultant to help us actively promote inclusivity and reflect the communities in which we operate. We pride ourselves on being a team that thrives on openness, respect, and collaboration, and we continue to seek out ways to do this even better.