FROM THE PRESIDENT
Interpreting in Color:
Reflections of a Black Interpreter
Parker gathers attendees for welcoming sessions at the NAI 2024 National Conference. Photo by Parker McMullen Bushman.
The field of interpretation has been my home, my calling, and my sanctuary. It’s where I have found my purpose as a storyteller, educator, and connector to the natural world. Yet, my journey into this world wasn’t something I foresaw as a young Black girl growing up in New York. Interpretation and environmental education were not career paths I even knew existed. The people around me didn’t talk about them, and they certainly didn’t look like the kind of careers that would welcome someone like me. But here I am, deeply entrenched in a field I adore, and my journey to this point has been both beautiful and challenging.
When I graduated from college with a degree in anthropology, I was uncertain about my next steps. My academic path had sparked a love for understanding people, cultures, and their connection to the world around them, but I didn’t yet know how to translate that into a career. Then, almost serendipitously, someone mentioned that the summer camp I had attended as a teenager offered year-round environmental education programs. That conversation changed my life. It led me to a career in residential environmental learning centers, and soon, I found myself teaching about the natural world and leading interpretive programs for the public.
Those early years were transformative, but they were far from easy. As a young Black educator and interpreter, I was often the only person of color in the room—or the woods, as it often was. My colleagues and supervisors were almost always white, and so were some of the rural communities I lived in. I quickly learned that my presence as a Black woman in this field was, to some, unexpected or, to others, unwelcome.
In September, Parker stepped onto the TEDxBoulder stage to share a topic that’s deeply personal and urgent: “A Toxic Legacy: How Racism is Killing the Planet.” In their talk, Parker explores how environmental racism and systemic discrimination impact health, access to nature, and even life expectancy. But this isn’t just about the harms—it’s about the hope. Together, Parker believes we can envision a future where everyone has the right to clean air, safe water, and a healthy connection to the environment. Photo by TEDxBoulder.
A supervisor once admitted to me, 4 years after I had been hired, that they’d hesitated to initially bring me on board because they were concerned about how I would fare as a Black person in a rural area. That moment stayed with me. It was a stark reminder of how much work there was to do—not just for me personally but for the field as a whole. Yet, even in those moments of isolation, I knew I had to fight for a place to belong. I saw the need for representation, and that need became my passion.
It’s true that I was often the only Black educator in the room, but I wasn’t the only Black person in the audience. I saw kids of color attending programs, their faces lighting up as they discovered the wonders of nature. Occasionally, families of color would join the programs, hesitant but curious. And I realized how powerful it was for them to see someone who looked like me leading these experiences. Representation matters in profound ways.
When people see someone who shares their culture, history, or lived experiences in a leadership role, it can spark a sense of possibility. For the young Black girl who attended a campfire program and saw me explaining constellations, maybe it was the first time she thought she, too, could be an environmental educator. For the family that hesitated to join a nature walk until they noticed me at the front, maybe it was the moment they felt safe enough to engage. Representation builds trust, fosters connection, and opens doors to possibilities that once seemed out of reach.
And it’s not just about inspiring individuals—it’s about the stories we tell. As interpreters, we are the carriers of histories, the storytellers who help people find their place in the natural and cultural world. But what happens when those stories are told by only one perspective? When voices are missing from the conversation, our narratives become incomplete. They lack the richness and depth that diversity brings.
In those moments of isolation, mentorship became a lifeline. Early in my career, I had the privilege of being mentored by an older white male colleague. On the surface, we couldn’t have been more different, but he saw something in me. He once told me, “Your voice is needed in this field.” I don’t think he knows it, but that affirmation came at a time when I was considering leaving the field altogether. His belief in my potential and his encouragement to stay helped me find the strength to continue. That experience taught me the incredible power of mentorship—not only to guide and support but to uplift and sustain those of us who feel unseen and unheard. It’s a reminder that mentorship can bridge differences and serve as a critical tool for cultivating the next generation of interpreters.
We are living in a time of demographic transformation. In 2023, the United States reached a milestone: for the first time, people of color made up more than half of the population under 18. Our country is changing, and our field must change with it. The audiences we serve are becoming more diverse, but our organizations and leadership often fail to reflect that diversity. The question we must ask ourselves is this: How can we truly connect with our audiences if we don’t represent or understand them?
Representation in interpretation isn’t just about visibility; it’s about creating authentic connections. As a Black interpreter, I’ve found that I can make connections with families and students of color that resonate deeply because we sometimes share certain cultural touchpoints and histories. I can draw on my own experiences to make programming more relevant and meaningful to them. That ability to connect is powerful, but it shouldn’t be rare.
Parker’s social media channel KWEEN WERK received the Social Media Handle of the Year award from the Outdoor Media Summit in September 2024—a People’s Choice Award! KWEEN stands for Keep Widening Environmental Engagement Narratives. Environmental justice is central to saving our planet, and we can’t separate social justice from our environmental efforts. At the event, Parker facilitated “Diversity in Action: Best Practices for Brand Partnerships with Marginalized Voices,” a discussion where attendees collectively explored the challenges and strategies for outdoor brands working with BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized content creators. The session was grounded in real-world case studies and personal experiences, with the goal of strengthening brand commitments to diversity and resilience in public relations. Photo by Outdoor Media Summit.
When we make room for more voices, more perspectives, and more stories, we help create a world where everyone feels they belong. That’s the real power of interpretation. Photo by Alexander Grey.
The work of interpretation is deeply rooted in storytelling, and everyone deserves the opportunity to tell their own story. Yet, too often, the voices of marginalized communities are left out of the conversation. This is not just a loss for those communities—it’s a loss for everyone. When we exclude voices, we lose the opportunity to learn from a wealth of perspectives, to expand our understanding of the world, and to create programming that truly resonates with all audiences.
So how do we move forward? First, we must actively seek out and uplift voices from underrepresented communities. This means not just inviting people of color to the table but making space for them to lead. It means providing the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive in the field.
Second, we must examine our own biases and the structures within our organizations that may perpetuate exclusion. Are we recruiting from a diverse pool of candidates? Are we creating environments where people of color feel safe and supported? Are we telling stories that reflect the diversity of human experience? These are questions we must ask ourselves every day.
Finally, we must recognize that representation is just the beginning. It’s not enough to have diverse faces in the room; we must also ensure that those faces have the power and agency to shape the narratives we share. This requires a commitment to equity, to breaking down barriers, and to reimagining what our field can be.
Interpretation has the power to change lives. It connects people to nature, history, and each other. It helps us understand our place in the world and inspires us to protect it. But to fully realize that power, we must embrace the diversity of our audiences and our storytellers.
My journey as a Black interpreter has been one of challenges, growth, and passion. I cannot believe that I now have the honor of serving as president for the National Association for Interpretation. I am here today because someone saw potential in me, and I want to see that potential in others. I want to see a future where no one feels like the only one in the room, where every child can look at their interpreter and think, “That could be me.” Because if they can see it, they can be it.
This is the work that inspires me every day. It’s the reason I stay in this field and the reason I fight for its future. Together, we can ensure that interpretation truly reflects the richness of the world we share. And in doing so, we can create a legacy that honors every voice, every story, and every person.
Representation matters in profound ways. When people see someone who shares their culture, history, or lived experiences in a leadership role, it can spark a sense of possibility. Photo by Parker McMullen Bushman.
