Inclusive Education

This chapter explores the dynamics of exclusion and marginalization in environmental education, the opportunities for inclusivity and accessibility in the urban context, and a reflective process necessary for equitable and just environmental education. It considers how urban environmental education can address issues of inclusivity and access and shows that recognizing the complexity of cultural diversity and the systemic nature of power and privilege serves as the foundation for cultural competency in urban environmental education. It also explains the importance of inclusivity in terms of dealing with issues of equity and allowing sharing of multiple perspectives, which can lead to innovation in addressing sustainability issues. The chapter also looks at three cases that illustrate how some urban environmental education programs are incorporating inclusive practices: an urban water-quality monitoring program in Austin, Texas; an urban nature center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and studies of neighborhoods in Cuba, Spain, and the United States.