Nature Includes You

This traveling photo exhibition and program series explores the rich relationships that people of color have with nature in Northeast Ohio, past and present. Nature is all around us: in our communities, gardens, parks, and yards. It nourishes and teaches us throughout our lives.

In nature, we can . . .

• Grow healthy foods
• Nurture our spirits
• Become inspired
• Express our creativity
• Collect scientific data
• Explore different careers
• Learn something new
• Enjoy friends-and-family time
• Build a sense of community
• Heal our land, water, and selves

Nature Includes You is a project of Cuyahoga Valley National Park in collaboration with Museum of Creative Human Art (MOCHA) and Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A total of 15 organizations contributed images of people from diverse Northeast Ohio communities. The show highlights the work of more than 20 photographers.

Funding provided by a grant from the National Park Service.

Traveling Exhibit Schedule

The Nature Includes You photo exhibition will travel throughout Northeast Ohio for two years. We have started to take bookings. Check back regularly for calendar updates.

• Community Life Collaborative’s Family Life Center in Chagrin Falls – March 29 to May 25, 2025, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 9 am–1 pm, except May 3–10
• Joy Park Community Center in Akron – April 1–30, 2025. Mondays to Thursdays, 10:30 am–8 pm and Fridays, 10:30 am–4 pm
• The Gallery across from Boston Store (near Boston Mill Visitor Center) at Cuyahoga Valley National Park – May 31 through September 3, 2025, Fridays to Sundays, 11 am–3 pm

Want to host this show in your community space? Email us at cuva_info@nps.gov. We have three versions: a gallery-style one with panels that hang on the wall, a tradeshow-style one with pull-up banners that sit on the floor, and a digital show that runs as a silent loop. We can adapt the show for large or small indoor spaces. There is no fee. Preference is given to public venues that serve diverse audiences.

We are also creating five online galleries, organized by theme, that include additional images. The links will appear at the bottom of this page.

Programs

We anticipate one or two programs per month during the two-year tour of Nature Includes You. Please check back for calendar updates.

Meet the Photographers

Below is a list of photographers whose work appears on the exhibit panels of the full-sized show. Additional photographers are credited in the digital galleries below. For the professional photographers, we have provided links to their online profiles. This list includes staff and volunteers from the contributing organizations. For some historical images, the photographer’s name has been lost to time.

• Kofi Amponsah
• Josh Angelini
• David Kendrick Chittock
• Opie Evans
• Amber N. Ford
• Ryan Harris
• Erika Hood
• Debra Lykes
• Faith Nowak
• DJ Reiser
• Zaina Salem
• Rick Santich
• Aaron Self
• Horace and Evelyn Stewart
• Ted Toth
• Bob Trinnes
• Steve Wagner
• McKinley Wiley
• Danielle Wilson
• Jasper Wood
• Kim Woodford
• Shane Wynn

Contributing Organizations

The following organizations have provided images for use in our traveling exhibit and digital galleries.

• Akron Beacon Journal
• Cleveland Metroparks
• Cleveland Public Library
• Cleveland Public Theatre
• Cleveland State University / Michael Schwartz Library
• Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
• Journey On Yonder
• Museum of Creative Human Art
• National Wildlife Federation
• Syatt
• University of Akron Archives
• Western Reserve Historical Society
• Western Reserve Land Conservancy

Meet the Team

Curators

Dr. Hazim Abdullah-Smith
Mary Grodek
Arrye Rosser
Michael C. Russell II
Joe Valencic
Antwoine Washington

Scholars

Dr. Hazim Abdullah-Smith, Mellon Fellow, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Dr. Liz Piatt, Interim Dean, University College, Kent State University
Dr. Mark Souther, Professor of History, Cleveland State University

Indigenous Community Reviewer

Marlys Rambeau-General

Designer

Jordan Burress

Administrative Lead

Lindsay Regan, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park