Nayo Shell on being seen in the natural world as people of colour

Whilst being in natural spaces is a birthright for all, with nature being us and us being nature, BIPOC communities often find themselves alienated from the ‘natural world’ so guarded by privilege and power, it almost seems impossible to feel seen or even safe. How then can reviving deep cultural connections to the land through improved eco-education remediate historical harms of environmental injustices faced by our communities?

This month, we invite to the space Nayo Shell, the visionary founder of EcoWell Co., a transformative platform established in 2020 with a mission to deepen our connection with nature through wellness practices and eco-education. A Maryland-native holistic wellness teacher, environmental scientist, urban planner, and climate activist, Nayo is dedicated to amplifying eco-consciousness and resilience to climate change. Through her multifaceted background, she endeavors to bridge the gaps between our minds, bodies, spirits, and the Earth, igniting mindful, radical (r)evolutionary change from within. As the host of the Meditation Matters Podcast and curator of the EcoWell Co., Nayo inspires individuals and communities to embrace collective transformation towards a resilient, harmonious world.

In this wildly open and animated conversation, we centre re-storying as an essential tool for countering eco-narratives rooted in colonial power, particularly re-instilling confidence and courage in people of colour to engage in environmental placemaking. Nayo weaves together embodied intention-setting practices to offer people of colour ways of finding place and belonging in nature, as a way to reclaim lost identity as interconnected beings.

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Connect with Nayo on Instagram (@ecowellco).

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