LIT GEO Intercultural Summit

Our founder, Kibri Hutchison Everett, was invited by the Department of Environmental, Earth, and Geospatial Sciences (DEEGS) at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) to present at the Leading Inclusive Transformation in the Geosciences (LIT GEO) Intercultural Summit in October. This event, held in Durham, NC, brought together geospatial teams from North Carolina Central University, University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo, and East Carolina University, fostering a unique partnership between historically underrepresented institutions and building a diverse learning ecosystem. 

The LIT GEO Summit is part of a broader initiative aimed at creating capacity-building networks through partnerships that support individual and institutional change via community-based research and culturally sensitive mentoring.  

Ms. Everett was honored to share her experience working on a community science project focused on environmental justice in Cook County, Georgia. Her presentation highlighted her use of GIS as a tool for addressing environmental inequities, engaging local communities, and empowering them to fight against pollution and public health risks in their neighborhoods. 

"I was thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to such an important initiative that not only emphasizes the importance of diversity in geosciences, but also actively supports real-world communities dealing with environmental challenges," said Ms. Everett. 

The LIT GEO Summit, with its core focus on diversity, decolonization, community science, communication, leadership, and data literacy, offers a rich opportunity to reflect on the ways geoscience can be transformed to address the negative legacies of colonial and racial histories. By participating in this event, Ms. Everett continues her commitment to leveraging geospatial technologies and community collaboration to drive positive change in underserved and vulnerable populations. She received her M.S. from DEEGS in 2006.