Hosted by the First Nations Development Institute, this webinar examines the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Education Program, which works to increase awareness and knowledge about environmental issues so that the public can make informed decisions and take responsible action. The presentation “EPA Environmental Education Program and Current Opportunities” provides an overview of the EPA Environmental Education Program, funding opportunities, program updates, and resources, as well as how it relates to Farm to School programming. The webinar concludes with the presentation, “Overview of Native Farm to School Programs,” by representatives of First Nations’ Farm to School initiative, which serves to build and strengthen a Native network to collectively improve Farm to School opportunities for Native students.
About the Presenters
Mary Adelzadeh is a member of the Navajo Nation. As a consultant to Native-led organizations and initiatives, she has over 20 years of experience working with tribal and federal governments and non-governmental organizations. Mary previously served as a senior program officer at First Nations Development Institute. Prior to that she was a project advisor to the Maidu Summit Consortium and Conservancy. Mary serves as an advisory board member to the University of California, Santa Cruz, Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program. Mary earned a Master of Science degree in resource policy and behavior with a concentration in conservation biology from the University of Michigan. Mary also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental biology and management from the University of California, Davis.
Michael Band is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Education Grants Specialist. He is responsible for coordinating operations for the Office of Environmental Education’s national competitive grant program. Prior to joining EPA, Michael spent nearly five years at the U.S. Department of Education where he was a member of a bilingual team within the Office of Communications and Outreach. His career in the federal government began in 2011 as a Peace Corps volunteer where he served as a teacher trainer in Colombia. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Wittenberg University and a master’s degree in global environmental policy from American University.