Sankofa prepares wetlands for education

By Ava Acharya aaachary@my.loyno.edu

As Southeastern Louisiana continues to face threats of natural disaster, Sankofa Community Development Corporation aims to address these issues through education and land restoration.

Sankofa is building a children's educational program based in the Wetland

Park and Nature Trail, located in New Orleans, LA. This park, originally, was used primarily as an illegal dumping site before being rehabilitated in 2014.

Wetlands play an important role in Southern Louisiana’s native ecosystem, Karen Marshall said, an Environmental and Earth Science Education Consultant working with Sankofa’s new program.

Marshall added that the wetlands aid in water retention, which in turn decreases flooding risk.

This program offers children handson experience with the native ecology which surrounds them, as well as an opportunity to discuss and discover solutions to the environmental issues plaguing Southeastern Louisiana, Marshall said.

And, this program is directly connect- ed to Louisiana’s Next Generation Science Standards, Marshall said.

“I myself am a firm believer that the answers to a lot of those problems are in someone’s classroom somewhere,” she said.

Keith Craft grew up exploring the wetlands surrounding his home in New Orleans’ ninth ward. Now, he is a Sankofa Wetland Park Ambassador.

Craft said that his experience growing up impacted the form in which this program took.

“We learned a lot on our own, just being outside experiencing life,” Craft said. “It's beautiful to see it coming back.”