Maestro on the Mic

MOTM #234: Environmentalism is for Everyone with Justin Dennis

Monday, August 3rd, 2020

I’ve got something really special for you this week. My guest today is quite different than who I usually have on. He is an urban parks manager with a background in environmental studies and anthropology… but more importantly, he is my little brother, Justin Dennis. 

This episode has been a long time coming. I really wanted to understand more deeply what it is that Justin does. He is at the forefront of some truly incredible work, promoting urban environmentalism and keeping conservation centered in equity. For so long, environmentalism has been the hobby of the white, the wealthy, and the privileged. It doesn’t have to be that way, and my brother is changing that.

We can all agree that leaving the earth better than we’ve found it is one of the most important things we can do in our lifetime. No matter where you are or what kind of resources you have access to, you can make a change. If you see a problem in your community, you can be the one to fix it. It’s up to all of us to do our part.

In This Episode You'll Hear:

  • Who is Justin Dennis?
  • Managing invasive species as community service
  • White-passing privilege and using that privilege for good
  • Community outreach and getting people back to base-line
  • Diversity is the critical component that we need to survive
  • Environmentalism and racism
  • Pay discrepancies in the non-profit sector
  • The youth bring hope for the future
  • Change starts with yourself
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
  • Balancing listening, learning, and talking
  • Productive dialogue comes when you remove ego
  • Tangible starting points for a more environmentally conscious life
  • If you see a problem in your community, you can be the solution

Links & Resources For This Episode:

Contact Justin through email: justin.p.dennis@gmail.com
MOTM #228: Relational Fuckery, Antidotes, and Minding Your Business with James-Olivia Chu Hillman

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