This piece comes to us from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). To honor Black History Month, WCS and Nature are sharing stories of nature and conservation.
From a young age, I’ve been interested in animals. As a kid, I watched incredible shows like Zoboomafoo, read books that featured creatures from far off places, and listened most intently in class whenever ecosystems were the topic of discussion. Still, I never saw a future working with animals due to the lack of representation in the STEM field. At the time, it felt off-limits to me, so I believed that I would spend my life watching conservation evolve from afar.
This mindset all changed when I was about twelve years old after a regularly scheduled visit to the Bronx Zoo. Every Wednesday in the summer, when park entrance is free, my parents and I would visit the zoo and spend the day marveling at the wildlife. The routine was like clockwork, and though I didn’t understand then why we only went on this particular day of the week, I am grateful that my parents fostered my love for animals and their habitats, even if we were struggling financially.
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Young Cayla exploring the Reptile House at the Bronx Zoo. Photo courtesy Cayla Turner.
On one such visit, we toured the Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit, which emphasizes the work that the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) does to protect wildlife in Central Africa. While observing the gorillas, I was approached by a staff member who asked me if I wanted to learn more about the social dynamics within the group, and I of course nodded excitedly.
While listening to her talk, I couldn’t help but notice how similar we looked. Her dark skin tone and curly hair reflected my own, and perhaps a glimpse of what the future could hold for me. Having faced obstacles relating to my race previously, that interaction gave me the confidence to pursue work in conservation.
In high school, I took on my first role at WCS—as a volunteer at the Prospect Park Zoo. Working alongside other New York City adolescents, I was encouraged to use my voice to support WCS’s 96 Elephants campaign, which sought to raise awareness about the poaching of elephants for their ivory and to change policy to protect them.
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Cayla posing with California sea lion at the New York Aquarium. Photo: WCS.
Although I cared deeply about elevating this issue for the public and guiding guests to take action, I struggled internally against the stereotypes placed upon me and other black women in the professional field at the time. Oftentimes, our assertiveness is perceived as aggression, our outspokenness is perceived as argumentative, and our passion is perceived as anger.
Even so, my supervisors encouraged me not to worry about the metaphorical box I found myself in and embraced my enthusiasm when explaining to visitors that they had the power to make a difference. This experience was truly motivating, and when the U.S. adopted a ban on ivory sales into law shortly after the campaign, I realized that I, too, had the power to influence change.
After graduating from college, I returned to WCS. While I held positions in several different departments, I always felt my true purpose was tied to Education. As the Youth Development Coordinator at the New York Aquarium today, I oversee about 100 New York City youth taking part in our two youth programs: the Discovery Guide program I was once part of as a child, and the Youth Ocean Advocate internship.
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Cayla supporting Youth Ocean Advocates during a national Youth Summit for Coastal Ecosystem Learning Classrooms (CELC), sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Photo courtesy Cayla Turner.
It was working as a Discovery Guide, conducting live interpretation within the WCS parks, that I first began to see myself as a conservationist. The Youth Ocean Advocate internship encourages local action on environmental issues similar to what I was doing through the 96 elephants campaign. My story has truly come full circle as I now connect young New Yorkers to nature, develop their professional skills, encourage their empathy for wildlife, and make them feel valued as potential members of the conservation field.
In highlighting the diverse staff contributing to conservation within WCS and other organizations across the city, I feel myself fighting against the lack of representation that once seemed to hold me back. As young people begin to see themselves as future professionals in this field, they blossom into courageous advocates who use their voices to make change.
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Cayla alongside WCS staff and youth at a public hearing on the proposed designation of the Hudson Canyon as a National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy Cayla Turner.
One campaign our youth are currently championing is a national marine sanctuary designation for the Hudson Canyon. This is a local, biologically diverse underwater area off the coast of New York. I have emphasized to the young people I supervise the importance of listening to everyone whose lives are affected by this potential protected area, and to not make assumptions of how much a given person knows about the topic.
In this way, program participants have been able to gain a clearer understanding of what truly matters most to folks we hope will support this campaign. That in turn makes them stronger advocates when it comes time to speak with stakeholders and representatives who can further progress our movement.
When I was younger, I struggled to feel like I could be a changemaker, but now I have the power to be the role model I needed back then. Empowering youth advocates is achievable when we embrace a diverse set of voices and let them know that they belong in the conservation field. I am looking forward to watching this cycle continue as seeds are planted for the growth of a new generation of leaders.
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