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 shows highlight the work of more than 20 photographers. Lead curator for this project: Arrye Rosser, Park Ranger / Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Funding provided by a grant from the National Park Service.

As humans, we are all connected to nature — both universally and personally. It holds different meanings and memories for each of us. But what is nature, and how do we define it? As society becomes more urban, many people feel increasingly disconnected from the natural world.

One way to reconnect is by shifting perspective: recognizing nature wherever we are. It exists not only in parks and rural landscapes, but also in potted plants, neighborhood birds, and everyday surroundings. Nature lives in our experiences as well as in our imaginations.

At the same time, people of color have historically faced barriers to accessing outdoor spaces, along with limited representation in nature imagery. This photo exhibition and program series seeks to expand that narrative—challenging assumptions about who belongs in Northeast Ohio’s green spaces.
Because we all do.

NIY Photographers:
Kofi Amponsah, Kendrick Chittock, Opie Evans, Amber Ford, Ryan Harris, Erika Hood, Kyle Lanzer, 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

Nature Includes You / edition 2026 exhibition includes monoprints created during a workshop at Zygote
Press as part of NIY programming.

Nature Includes You / edition 2026 curatorial team:
Kimberly LoVano, Yana Mikho-Misho, Joe Risdon, Antwoine Washington

The Conservancy for CVNP+MoCHA partnership:
This exhibition is part of a collaborative partnership between the Conservancy for CVNP and MoCHA. The Conservancy for CVNP is a non-profit organization created to engage public support for the park and provide services to enhance public use and enjoyment of the park. The Conservancy aspires to engage the public as advocates, volunteers, and philanthropic supporters to ensure that Cuyahoga Valley National Park achieves its full benefit to the citizens of Northeast Ohio and the nation.