Our Crowdfunding Groups
Hands-on, in-the-field experiences are core to the education of students in the College of Natural Resources. For many of our undergraduate and graduate students, this experience includes conducting fieldwork and research outdoors in our natural environments, often in remote areas. While hardhats, safety vests and protective gear are provided to keep our students physically safe, many students, particularly those from underrepresented and marginalized groups, often require identification affiliating them with the university to further ensure safety.
When individuals from race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity and/or religious minorities enter unfamiliar communities in the course of fieldwork, they may be placed in an uncomfortable and potentially unsafe ‘othered’ position and prejudice may manifest against them. Identification equipment specific to NC State and the College of Natural Resources increases safety and decreases harassment.
Lauren D. Pharr and Murry Burgess, Ph.D. students in the College of Natural Resources and founders of the nonprofit Field Inclusive, are working to raise awareness of this additional need and layer of security at NC State and beyond. Under their leadership, we are seeking support to fund the production of expanded field safety gear — such as large-format car magnets, personalized ID badges and branded field vests, all displaying the CNR logo — to clearly identify our students and researchers as people who are working on behalf of NC State.
Join us as we expand our safety equipment to support our students, prioritize students from underrepresented and marginalized groups, and take action to build genuinely equitable and inclusive environments.
Budget Breakdown:
Car magnets (30-40): $1,200
Safety vests (40-50): $1,000
Visors (50-75): $1,000
ID badges (50-75): $500
Funds will be placed in the CNR Diversity Enhancement and Inclusive Excellence Fund. If the project does not meet its fundraising goal, exceeds the project need or cannot be completed, the funds will be used for the overall enhancement of the CNR Diversity Enhancement and Inclusive Excellence Fund. Gifts are received by the NC State University Foundation, Inc. and may be distributed to an affiliated foundation that manages the fund supported by the donor.
