Dragonfly‘s fifth Diversity Cafe on July 15, 2021, features Jessie Young, a Creole Belizean woman and a strong advocate for the environment and conservation. She was instrumental in establishing the world-famous Community Baboon Sanctuary and Belize’s first natural history museum. Young’s role as one of the first women’s group leaders involved in conservation in Belize echoed a new wave for women and gender equity leadership in the conservation of their natural resources. She has been recognized by many for her dedication including receiving the James A. Waight Award in 2019, the highest award for conservation in Belize. Read Young’s full bio here.

• Gender, Equity, and Leadership in Conservation 
• Thursday, July 15, 2021, 7:30 p.m. ET

This Dragonfly Diversity Cafe is part of a developing series of virtual talks focusing on international conservation, urban and rural ecology, inquiry-based education, nature connections, and other relevant topics. Our Diversity Cafes aim to elevate marginalized perspectives on diversity, equality, and inclusion-related topics in an environmental and conservation setting. The invited speakers will explore topical ideas, research, and experience in the first half of the Cafe hour. In the latter half, the Cafe will open up for discussion and audience participation to engage with the speaker(s) and their ideas.