Brown Faces Green Spaces

06/08/2026

June is Men’s Mental Health Month and Brown Faces Green Spaces is hosting a casual men’s hike & hangout – a chance to get outside, clear your head, and shake off the week.

We'll start with a light, beginner-friendly hike on flat terrain — afterward, gather for a casual Trailgate Talk: a relaxed space to connect, check in, share experiences, and enjoy burgers, brats, and good company. ♻️🌳💚🌍

This event is free and open to mature men from all walks of life – ages 18 and up. Registration required by scanning the QR code -- or go to https://forms.gle/8Cpcz1Z4eZtZFLgN6

Email [email protected] with questions

06/07/2026

Big Tech is invading Northwest Indiana's lakefront, and local communities are paying the price.

Two massive data center developments in Hammond (CoreWeave) and Portage (Amazon AWS) are expeditiously being pushed through on the shores of Lake Michigan. While corporations promise economic wins, these facilities are massive resource drains. The Hammond AI center alone is projected to consume more electricity than two full steel mills combined, threatening to trigger local energy shortages, prolong reliance on fossil fuels, and drive up utility rates for everyday Hoosiers.

Worse, once built, these giant computer warehouses require very few permanent workers — meaning NWI is giving away massive, decades-long tax breaks to multi-billion-dollar tech giants in exchange for very few local jobs. From continuous 24/7 industrial noise pollution to millions of gallons of water used for cooling, grassroots groups are warning that our lakefront is being exploited to fuel the global AI boom while residents inherit the environmental burdens and costs.

06/05/2026

The nationwide movement began in 2020 after Christian Cooper, a Black birder, was falsely accused of threatening a white woman while birdwatching in New York City’s Central Park. Organizers launched Black Birders Week in response, highlighting Black birders, naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts while pushing back against assumptions about who belongs in nature. Since then, Black Birders Week has grown into a nationwide celebration of Black birders, naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts.

Birders gather to celebrate nature, community and belonging in the Adirondacks at John Brown Farm's Black Birders Week event

05/30/2026

Brown Faces Green Spaces is committed to making the outdoors more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming for all. Visit brownfacesgreenspaces.org to learn more about our mission, resources, and to stay up to date on our upcoming programs, events, and opportunities to get outside with us!♻️🌳💚🌍

05/28/2026

The current administration is removing interpretive signs from our national parks in an attempt to erase Black & Indigenous History on public lands, while eliminating fee-free access to parks on Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth.

Juneteenth is our federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States of America. Yet the National Park Service and other federal recreational lands and waters agencies revoked these fee-free days.

In observance of Juneteenth, demand the restoration of these important fee-free days -- and to expand equitable access for ALL to our public spaces. Click below and let's uplift the freedom to enjoy the outdoors! ♻️🌳💚🌍

In observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day, organizations, clubs, businesses, churches and other organized groups are invited to undersign this America The Beautiful For All Coalition community sign-on letter addressed to House Natural Resources Committee Members regarding Fee-Free Days o...

05/27/2026

Thank you to all the amazing women joining us for Sunsets & Sisterhood – a nature-based healing space rooted in rest and mental wellness -- pausing, breathing, reflecting, and reconnecting with the Earth, each other, and ourselves.

For our June gathering, we will gently awaken our minds, bodies, and spirits through a Restorative Wellness Hike to ground the body ~ Eco-Art Therapy to awaken the creative spirit ~ a Meaningful Dialogue Circle for safe, heartfelt sharing ~ and a Guided Nature Meditation to center the spirit under the setting sun. Together, we will explore what it means to belong, to heal, to vibe, and simply be. ♻️🌳💚🌍

There are only a few spaces remaining for our June session, if you are interested in attending, please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/kJt4M9xz8oehz6428

05/24/2026

FREE community paddle along the scenic Deep River.
Whether you're an experienced paddler or a beginner, come paddle, learn, and celebrate Shirley Heinze Land Trust's 45th Anniversary and experience the Deep River while being part of a meaningful milestone!

June 13th from 10a to 12p
Spaces limited - registration required:
https://heinzetrust.org/event/community-paddle/?blm_aid=1933313 -now

05/21/2026

The Sierra Club has long presented itself as a champion of environmental justice and diverse leadership. But a wave of departures involving prominent Black executives and board members is now raising difficult questions about power, governance and who gets to lead one of America’s most influential environmental organizations.

The Sierra Club says it supports diversity, but the 2025 firing of Ben Jealous, its first Black executive director, tells a different story.

05/16/2026

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or need a break from the digital grind, reconnecting with nature may be the reset you need.

During Mental Health Awareness Month this May, let's not forget the restorative power of the natural world and appreciate all that it provides. ♻️🌳💚🌍

When was the last time you went to a park? Do you take breaks during your day to go outside? Is your home or office filled with green plants? It turns out that all of these things are good for our mental health.

05/14/2026

Kids need nature now more than ever. Time outside helps children feel healthier, less stressed, and more connected to the world around them. Yet as screen time increases and mental health challenges rise, many kids are losing access to the outdoors. This gap is especially unfair for communities of color, which are more likely to lack nearby parks and green spaces while facing higher levels of pollution and climate impacts. Protecting and expanding access to nature is one of the most important ways we can support the health and future of every child. ♻️🌳💚🌍

Nature is calling, but our kids are wearing noise-canceling headphones. We can help them listen.