EARTH EQUITY

Julia Dunn

Professional Summary

10 years experience in outdoor Land/Sea education, community organizing, professional development, disability education, and intersectional Environmental Justice work. 

Education

Environmental Studies and Education BA

Bates College (Lewiston, ME)                                                                                                          GPA: 3.68

Environment and Community MA

Cal Poly Humboldt (Arcata, CA)                                                                                                       GPA: 4.00 

Work Experience

 Program Manager: SeaForester/Interim Director: Earth Equity

Earth Equity - Northern California                                                                    December 2022 to Present

  • Collaborate with Formerly incarcerated people to design CA's first Reentry Support and Ocean Care Cooperative

  • Assist facilitators, researchers, fellows, and other staff in supporting system impacted people

  • Cultivate community partnerships with kelp farmers, scholar-activists, reentry organizations, and policy makers       

  • Design and implement workshops regarding Environmental Justice, ecological restoration, and cooperative development in prison and beyond

  • Fundraise via grants and donations to sustain programs and staff      

             Program Manager and Youth Coordinator

The Green Life Project - Oakland, CA                                                               May 2022 to July 2023

● Initiate and cultivate community partnerships with environmental justice organizations, youth groups, schools, and community centers throughout the Bay Area. 

● Support a team of 7 formerly incarcerated educators in building environmental teaching skills, setting and achieving SMARTIE goals, facilitating youth programs, and reacclimating to independence. 

● Design and deliver dynamic trauma-informed watershed education and environmental justice retreats to youth (ages 14-24) and formerly incarcerated community members on a monthly basis. 

● Capture participant engagement data to ensure programmatic success as well as grant funding. 

Garden Educator

Starr King Elementary School - San Francisco, CA                                       August 2021 to June 2023 

● Design and facilitate accessible standards based STEAM lessons for ~370 students ages 3 to 12 in alignment with NGSS, SEL, and common core standards. 

● Establish strong communicative relationships with 19 classroom teachers in order to strengthen the Starr King community and meet specific academic and SEL goals.

● Steward an outdoor classroom including 12 raised beds populated with medicinal herbs, California native plants, and vegetables relevant to both Chinese culture and the African Diaspora.   

● Provide feedback, support, and resources for peers in a city-wide garden education network. 

School Programs Coordinator 

Wave Hill Public Gardens - Bronx, NY                                                          September 2018 to July 2021 

● Led Wave Hill’s school programming team in the design, refinement, and implementation of 12 STEAM focused field trip programs for NYC students grades preK-12. 

● Coordinated & communicated with Office Manager as well as school and camp groups regarding scheduling, logistics, and access needs for field trip programs and tours. 

● Created and facilitated seasonal Professional Development and Teacher Training events for 50 participants per session. 

● Managed the growth and development of part time educators and interns to ensure engaging and inclusive programming for all students.  

Executive Functioning Coach 

Independent - Bronx, NY                                                                                    July 2020 to August 2021 

● Met bi-weekly with clients to assist in planning of home, work, and school responsibilities. 

● Crafted individuated plans for each client focusing on intrinsic motivation, organization, and self image.

● Communicated with families, medical providers, and educators to ensure client success. 

● Provided encouragement and support as clients unpacked difficulty in building organizational skills.

Adjunct Conservation Educator 

Wildlife Conservation Society - Bronx, NY                                                January 2017 to August 2018 

● Created school field trip programming and summer camp lesson plans for K-12 students which instill STEM skills and spark conservation action. 

● Partnered with District 75 schools to develop and implement custom field trip experiences for Autistic learners, as well as to organize and lead a family day for 200+ members of the D75 community. 

● Taught 13 different school field trip programs, led an average of 8 weeks of summer camp, and oversaw seasonal staff and volunteers to guarantee learning objectives were met. 

● Handled and presented 20 unique species of tractable animals in daily school programs, weekend general audience programs, and camps. 

Summer and Academic Education Fellow 

Wildlife Conservation Society - Bronx, NY                                                     June 2014 to January 2017 

● Designed and led a 3rd-5th grade winter camp with a focus on wildlife conservation and human impact through the lens of storytelling and oral tradition. 

● Organized, facilitated, and promoted interest in 10 weeks of conservation summer camp activities including: tractable animal demonstrations, nature play, and bio fact exploration. 

● Encouraged K-5 summer camp participants to develop a conservation ethic using guided inquiry, age appropriate exhibit interpretation, and positive reinforcement. 

Assistant Teacher 

Lewiston Public Schools - Lewiston, ME                                                    September 2013 to June 2016 

● Designed and facilitated a 3 year experiential science curriculum for 12 students in Lewiston Alternative Middle School, differentiating lessons and projects based on IEP goals and accommodations as well as students' individual interests. 

● Provided tailored assistance to English language learners, Autistic students, students with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and students experiencing depression. 

Research Assistant - Flatback Sea Turtle Project 

James Cook University - QLD, Australia                                                        February 2015 to June 2015 

● Performed animal husbandry responsibilities such as diet preparation and feeding as well as draining and scrubbing pools to ensure the survival of 25 juvenile flatback sea turtles. 

● Assembled and adhered long range tracking devices to sea turtles before releasing them. 

Assistant Wildlife Ranger 

Billabong Wildlife Sanctuary - QLD, Australia                                              February 2015 to June 2015 

● Prepared and fed out diets including liquid formulas and food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of 25 unique animal species. 

● Responded to questions from patrons, and provided information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities during education programs.

Special Skills and Certifications

  • PADI - Open Water Scuba Certification

  • Reflecting On Practice (Professional Learning Program) - Facilitator Certification

  • American Caregiver Association - At-Home Caregiver Certification