Across the country, many Black and minority communities have long faced barriers to accessing safe, welcoming green spaces — and those disparities continue to shape physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being today. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this Learning Lab invites us to look deeply at the intersection of faith, equity, and belonging in the outdoors.
Together, we will explore the historical roots of exclusion in nature spaces, the lasting impacts on community health, and the powerful role people of faith can play in ensuring that everyone has access to the healing, renewing gift of creation. Participants will gain insights, language, and practical steps to support more equitable, inclusive outdoor spaces where all communities can thrive.
Guest Speakers:
Nsedu Obot Witherspoon MPH is a nationally respected leader in children’s environmental health and the longtime
Executive Director of the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN). For more than 25 years, she has championed the protection of children from environmental harm—shaping policy, advancing science, and elevating the voices of vulnerable families through partnerships, advocacy, and education. Her leadership extends across major national coalitions and advisory councils, including roles with NIH’s ECHO program, the Cancer Free Economy Network, Clean Water for All, the National Environmental Health Partnership Council, and the Maryland Children’s Environmental Health Advisory Council. Widely recognized for her impact. Ms. Witherspoon has received numerous national awards, including CEHN’s own youth leadership award created in her honor, and her life story is featured in the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream’s American Tapestry Exhibit. She holds degrees from Siena College and The George Washington University and is the proud mother of four.
Carmera Thomas-Wilhite is deeply rooted in her passion for community, environmental awareness, and the natural world. As the vice president for communities and partnerships at the Chespeake Bay Foundation, she leads efforts to ensure that the mission to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay is inclusive and community-centered. Carmera’s leadership is grounded in the belief that environmental stewardship should reflect the diverse experiences and needs of the communities it serves.
Before stepping into her current role, she was the director of urban conservation initiatives at The Conservation Fund, where she led an initiative to create safe, accessible green spaces through community-driven planning and conservation. Her career began with the Chesapeake Conservation Corps, continuing into positions as the healthy harbor manager with the Waterfront Partnership and as the Baltimore program manager at CBF, where she cultivated her commitment to equity in environmental work. Carmera serves on several boards, including Waterfront Partnership and Friends of Anacostia Park, and is the vice chair of the Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy. Carmera is a graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She enjoys camping and spending time with her husband and their dog, embracing the nature she loves.
These webinars are supplemental to IPC's Faithful Green Leaders Training Program and are free and open to all.
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