Michigan Tech Event Celebrates Diversity & The UP Environment

The public is invited to come “Celebrate Diversity & the UP Environment” Thursday through Saturday, March 22^nd to the 24^th.

Michigan Tech will be welcoming two authors-nature photographers-videographers for the event.

Freelance journalist and independent media producer James Mills is the author of The Adventure Gap, which describes the first all African American summit attempt on Denali, the highest peak in North America.

Dudley Edmondson is the author of the landmark book, “Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places” profiling African Americans in nontraditional vocations and avocations in the outdoors.

Here is the schedule for the event:

Speakers & Events for “Celebrate Diversity & the UP Environment”

Thursday-Sat., March 22-24, 2018

Michigan Tech welcomes two authors/nature photographers/videographers

Schedule

THURSDAY
4:00-5:30 pm, Thursday, March 22 – “The Path of Convergence ~ Navigating the Adventure Gap through Mission Synergy” presentation by author, James Mills, followed by a reception. (642 Dow)

FRIDAY
Noon-1:00 pm, Friday, March 23 – Roundtable Discussion: students & James Mills (Room 144, Forestry Bldg.)

6:00-7:00 pm, Friday, March 23 – “The Adventure Gap” presentation by author, James Mills, on his book and work (202 GLRC)

7:00-8:30 pm, Friday, March 23 – An American Ascent film screening (70 min.) followed by discussion with film producer, James Mills and The Adventure Gap book signing (202 GLRC)

SATURDAY
Noon-1:30 pm, Saturday, March 24 – “Black & Brown Faces in American’s Wild Places” Presentation by author, Dudley Edmondson, on his book (202 GLRC)

Presenter Biographies

James Mills is a freelance journalist and an independent media producer. In a career that spans more than 20 years he specializes in telling stories about outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving and practices of sustainable living. Working in the outdoor industry since 1989 as a guide, outfitter, independent sales representative, writer and photographer his experience includes a broad range of expeditions that include mountaineering, rock climbing, backcountry skiing and kayaking. Mills is the author of The Adventure Gap (2014) that describes the first all African American summit attempt on Denali, the highest peak in North America. Mills asks the question, “Why don’t more people of color participate in outdoor recreation?” Read more: http://delnsb.com/james-mills/

Dudley Edmondson is an established nature and wildlife photographer, author, and videographer. His photography has been featured in galleries and nearly 100 publications around the world, including the many nature guidebooks. He is the author of the landmark book, “Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places (2006)” profiling African Americans in nontraditional vocations and avocations in the outdoors. Edmondson lectures regularly about diversity in the outdoors http://delnsb.com/dudley-edmondson/

An American Ascent film screening ~ 7:30 pm, Friday, March 23 (202 GLRC)
James Mills & Dudley Edmonson will present before the film screening and facilitate discussion after the film. The film documents the first all African American team ascent of North America’s highest peak, Denali. Nine climbers set out to tackle Denali (previously known as Mount McKinley), the continent’s highest peak, on the 100th anniversary of its first summit. By embarking on the grueling multi-week climb of the 20,327ft Denali, nine African-American climbers set out to bridge this ‘adventure gap’ challenging outdated notions of racial identity and the environment, changing the way we think about our great American parks and who uses them. As the United States transitions to a “minority majority” nation, a staggering number of people of color do not identify with America’s wild places. http://dceff.org/film/an-american-ascent/ (70 min.)

The Adventure Gap book will be available for sale & autographs at each event.

For more information: Joan Chadde, Director, MTU Tech Center for Science & Environmental Outreach.

Cosponsors: Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC), Friends of the Land of Keweenaw (FOLK), Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan Tech Visiting Women & Minorities Lecture Series, MTU Departments of Social Sciences and Civil & Environmental Engineering, School of Forest Resources & Environmental Sciences, Great Lakes Research Center and Outdoor Adventure Program.