Naajia Shakir

Naajia Shakir

During the summer of 2020, I worked at an urban farm where one of my peers introduced me to a program that they once participated in, The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP). The only thing they mentioned to me about the program was that it would be a great opportunity to do some research and it would look good on my resume. When I first heard about the program, I was hesitant to consider applying because I found out that there were multiple Doris Duke Programs, and I did

not know which one to apply to. Upon further investigation of each program, I decided that I was going to apply to DDCSP at the University of Washington (UW). However, since the program only accepted twenty students, I was sure that I was not going to get in. About two weeks after the application deadline and an interview, I received an email from the program stating that I was waitlisted. At this point, I was extremely upset, but at the same time, I was also not that surprised since the application process was very competitive. A few days later, I received

another email stating that I was accepted into the

University of Washington Campus

program. I was struck with emotions of excitement and joy as I truly did not think I was smart enough to get into the program, but was happy that I was given the

chance to expand my conservationist knowledge and skills. Around the time I was invited to join DDCSP, the pandemic of COVID-19 struck the world, destroying the processes of everything involving people. DDCSP at UW grants undergraduate students the opportunity to experience exploratory research and learn about sovereignty to food and land (mainly Indigenous) in Washington for two summers, but the pandemic put a halt to this. As a person who has never traveled on an airplane or to the West Coast, I was very unhappy that I was not able to travel to Washington but still hopeful to learn as the program would be online instead. The virtual

2016 DDCSP Group listening to a discussion about fire on the forest

experience of DDCSP was amazing, and I still smile when I think about it. Through this eight-week program, we discussed the issues of white male figures leading the conservation movement, the colonization of Indigenous lands, we journaled about nature, and talked about what nature meant to us. My favorite thing about DDCSP was that it allowed me to make new friends and build connections with them, since before the program I never thought that

this would be possible. Overall, I was able to enhance and extend my understanding of nature and land restoration, while also stepping into my conservation boots and

encouraging others to do the same. Joining DDCSP at UW was so enlightening and allowed me to learn about several realms within conservationism and the diversity within. I would recommend this program to anyone interested in nature and willing to unlearn and learn

some dominant narratives about environmentalism and preservation. My hope is that I will be able to go to Washington during the summer of 2021 to complete my field research aspect of the program, but time will only tell if this pandemic will allow that to happen. If anyone wants to learn more about the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at the University of

Washington, I will place the link below, and there are also other DDCSP cohorts as well, and implore those who are interested to look into those too. Though this pandemic and the current state of our country may make us angry and often melancholy, remember that there is always a light at the end of a dark long tunnel, we can get through these treacherous times.

Washington Landscape

Works Cited

DDCF. (2020). Environment - Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program. Retrieved November 29, 2020, from https://www.ddcf.org/ what-we-fund/environment/goals-and -strategies/strengthening-theconservation-field/doris-dukeconservation-scholars-program

University of Washington. (2020). The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program. Retrieved November 29, 2020, from http:// uwconservationscholars.org/