During the summer of 2017, Kiley Arroyo of the Cultural Strategies Council collaborated with the Nature Conservancy’s Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team to design and facilitate a new innovation lab. The lab brought together a cross-section of staff from the organization’s Cities Network to take a critical first step towards developing more just urban conservation strategies.

The Nature Conservancy’s Cities Network includes a group of urban conservation staff working in 21 cities across the U.S. and globally, who are committed to supporting the voice and vision of local communities to co-develop innovative conservation solutions. By prioritizing collaboration with low-income communities, the Network aims to learn where and how conservation efforts can generate mutual benefits for people and the environment.