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NOTES FROM THE BOARD...
After a wet, warm, cold and everything-in-between winter in Massachusetts, there’s one thing for certain – MEES March Madness is here, and we couldn’t be happier! This month MEES welcomed two new board members, we held our 46th annual conference - IN-PERSON, we received a critical grant from NAAEE to begin strategic planning, we turned the page on a one-year anniversary with our first paid staff member, and we remain an active partner with the NAAEE and ee affiliates throughout the region and across the country. Please read-on for environmental education updates and opportunities. And if you have a question or something to share, email us at info@massmees.org.
Warmly,
The MEES Board
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NEW VOICES @ MEES
Please join us in welcoming two new board members to our incredible team!
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JENNIFER KELLY
Jen is the Education Department Chair at Whale & Dolphin Conservation in Plymouth. She attended Roger Williams University and obtained by bachelors degree in marine biology. Jen comes to MEES with over 14 years of experience in marine science and environmental education. In addition, she also has her captains license and enjoys spending time on the water. Jen enjoys going for walks with her dog, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.
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HAMAZA MALIK
Hamza Malik is a STEM Education PhD candidate at UMass Dartmouth and also holds a MBA in Environmental Policy (UMass Dartmouth) and a BS in Economics & Communications (FC College, Lahore, Pakistan). He has five years of experience in environmental education programs and outreach with WWF-Pakistan (World Wide Fund for Nature and/or World Wildlife Fund - US) and WWF-South Pacific Fiji Islands. He is currently a teacher and research fellow at the Lloyd Center for the Environment.
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MEES CONFERENCE - IT'S A WRAP!
We are still smiling after hosting more than 225 participants attended our annual conference on March 8th. The energy, the dedication, the enthusiasm, and the expertise collectively made for an amazing day. We are thankful for the support of our sponsors, the incredible keynote from Perry Cohen, the diversity of workshops presented, and our ee community.
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At the MEES 2023 Conference, we asked the community two bold questions. And the community responded! Thank you for writing on sticky notes and engaging with our poster board in the lobby. Below is a snapshot of your responses. | |
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WE ASKED...
“What is your OFFER for the MEES community? What gifts, perspectives, and experiences do you have to share?”
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AND YOU SHARED...
- Unique perspectives, for example, of a college student or an evaluator
- Connecting educators, mentoring emerging professionals, and sharing EE stories
Specific offers included:
- PLT (Project Learning Tree) Workshops in the North Shore area
- Systems thinking PD for educators
- Community science + ecocide perspectives | Indigenous knowledge + relations
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WE ASKED...
“What is your ASK of the MEES community? What do you hope to gain? How do you hope to grow?”
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AND YOU SHARED...
- Inclusion, visibility, and support for underrepresented perspectives and expertise, especially BIPOC, indigenous, international, and early ed (preschool) teachers
- Connection within the community (beyond the conference) and with the people we serve
- Art and its infusion in STEM (as STEAM) and with nature
- Let’s get EE in every school!
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Snaps to Perry Cohen, Executive Director and Instructor from The Venture Out Project, as our MEES Conference keynote speaker! If you missed and would like to learn more about Perry and the inspired work of The Venture Out project, watch this incredible video. | |
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Thank you to our 2023 Conference Sponsors! Sponsorship allowed MEES to keep the cost of the conference low, support emerging professionals attending the conference through the scholarship program, and will support workshops, networking events, and other MEES priorities throughout the year. | |
COMING DOWN THE MEES PIKE... | | |
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Are you an eeLeader, supervisor, or manager charged with hiring and supervision of a team? Join HR expert, author, and speaker, Rita Sever, of Supervision Matters, to explore how equity practices can influence hiring, recruitment and organizational culture.
MEES is excited to co-host this event with the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE)
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ee360+ and Cedar Tree Foundation are excited to launch the 2023 CEE-Change Fellowship, advancing our impact toward creating a more equitable and sustainable future. The 2023 Fellowship program will include a special focus on climate change and education.
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The call for presentations for NAAEE’s 52nd Annual Conference (October 18–20) and 20th Annual Research Symposium (October 12) is open! The theme for this year’s virtual event is “Together We Thrive.” | | |
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Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. | | |
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Find and share eeJobs, eeProfessional Develoment opportunites, eeEvents, and more. | |
EMAIL WITH THE eeCOMMUNITY | | |
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Email us with questions and suggestions. Join our group Listserv to connect with eeProfessionals in Massachusetts.
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About The Massachusetts Environmental Education Society
The Massachusetts Environmental Education Society (MEES) is dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and improvement of environmental education across the state. The organization was established in 1977 by Chuck Roth – a biology teacher and passionate naturalist – nationally acclaimed as the “father of environmental literacy.” Our diverse membership includes all environmental organizations or individuals that are educating on behalf of the environment. MEES is comprised of a volunteer Board of Directors that meets monthly to plan the annual conference, manage communications, and work to bring information and programs to the EE community. MEES serves as an affiliate member of the North American Association for Environmental Education.
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