Diversity Workgroup
Upcoming Meetings
No upcoming meetings.
Scope and Purpose
Our Goals
The Diversity Workgroup was formed following the signing of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and is tasked with meeting the Diversity Outcome: to identify stakeholder groups that are not currently represented in the leadership, decision-making, and implementation of conservation and restoration activities and create meaningful opportunities and programs to recruit and engage them in the Bay Program's efforts. This goal encompasses all dimensions of diversity, including race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, physical abilities, gender, sexual identity, and other factors. However, we are primarily focused on increasing the representation of those who have been traditionally excluded from the Chesapeake Bay environmental field. Our workgroup also leads efforts to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) into the implementation of other goals and outcomes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
Who We Are
We are employees of government agencies, non-profit, grassroots, and for-profit organizations, as well as community and environmental justice leaders who reside and work in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We are diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice experts, hiring managers, and individuals who are passionate about advancing DEIJ in the work to conserve and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its waterways.
Our Steering Committee
Our Steering Committee includes individuals from non-profit organizations as well as state and federal government agencies. The Steering Committee meets once a month to provide guidance and direction on workgroup meeting agendas and ongoing projects.
Our Management Approaches
Our strategies and actions fall under four approaches:
- Enhance communication and outreach with underrepresented stakeholders
- Create and expand employment opportunities for underrepresented individuals and communities by strengthening connections to existing resources and creating new avenues for career building
- Promote environmental justice through the meaningful involvement and fair treatment of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin or income, in the implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement
- Advance diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all aspects of organizational culture and work
More information on each of these approaches can be found in our Management Strategy and 2021-2023 Work Plan.
Our Meetings
We meet approximately 4 times a year to discuss progress towards meeting our goals and allow for mutual learning and sharing of best practices that support DEIJ in the Chesapeake Bay region. Our meetings are open to the public. If you'd like to join our workgroup or be added to our email distribution list, please email the workgroup's staffer and/or coordinator.
Projects and Resources
Start Here
Are you new to the Chesapeake Bay Program? Are you new to work involving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Environmental Justice? Check out these resources
Resources from Cultural Humility Training
The Diversity Workgroup identified increasing cultural competence within the CBP as a key step to meeting the diversity outcome in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Thanks to available funding from the Goal Implementation Team (GIT) Funding process, the workgroup offered three Cultural Humility: Tools for Success in Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) trainings in the fall of 2019. Approximately 70 members of the partnership attended one of the trainings, which were led by the consultant Skeo Solutions. Participants learned how a cultural humility framework can help build a sense of equity and respect in relationships between individuals and relationships between institutions and individuals.
- 0a cbp training pre work (pdf - 135.295 KB)
- 1b cbp cultural humility training day 1 (pdf - 5.698 MB)
- 1c living glossary (pdf - 414.552 KB)
- 2b cbp cultural humility training day 2 (pdf - 3.078 MB)
- 2c joharis window (pdf - 120.82 KB)
- 2d appropriate self disclosure (pdf - 100.099 KB)
- 2e rules for giving effective feedback (pdf - 78.403 KB)
- 2f personal reflections handout (pdf - 116.51 KB)
- 2g organizational reflections handout (pdf - 129.532 KB)
Community Engagement Resources
Most of these documents were not created by the Diversity Workgroup. However, they are really excellent resources for any person who is doing community engagement.
- Dos and donts of community engagement (pdf - 213.221 KB)
- Regional resilience toolkit see step 1 engagement (pdf - 33.181 MB)
- Spectrum of engagement 1 (jpg - 125.13 KB)
- 2017 nps ncr community engagement continuum (pdf - 75.955 KB)
- Cbp deij commnuity engagement resources wsa (pdf - 237.162 KB)
- Cbfn expanding the circle final document (pdf - 1.467 MB)
GIS Tools
The following tools have been created to help others identify opportunities to implement DEIJ into their work.
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Justice and Equity Dashboard
The Environmental Justice and Equity Dashboard provides access to a variety of spatial data layers pertinent to addressing environmental issues in areas with underrepresented populations. Refer to the story map for possible uses and instructions
https://chesapeake-deij2-chesbay.hub.arcgis.com/
Community Level Partnerships within the Bay Program by Crystal Zhao
This ArcGIS story map was created by one of the diversity workgroup's 2021 C-StREAM interns. It highlights the work of community organizations and provides insight on how CBP can engage new partners
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4e4255e67a20406d98dbdce00d92c11e
Employment, Hiring, and Recruitment
These documents include a list of programs and positions that can provide pathways for currently underrepresented individuals to enter the environmental workforce in the Chesapeake Bay region and beyond. In addition, the excel document includes a list of recruitment websites, affinity groups, and educational institutions that can be targeted to recruit and hire individuals from underrepresented groups. It also includes a tab with hiring resources, toolkits, and tips to promote inclusiveness and mitigate bias in the hiring process. It is a draft document that will continue to be updated over time.
Publications
CBP DEIJ Strategy
Published on December 31, 2020This strategy was developed by an independent consultant (Skeo Solutions) for the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. It contains recommendations that are grouped into four DEIJ framework focus areas. The consultant developed these recommendations based on interviews with CBP teams and leadership, a DEIJ readiness survey, two focus groups, a review of key partnership policy documents and input from the Diversity Workgroup. The recommendations provide a visionary framework to be used by the partnership as a guide to achieve the following:
- Increase racial and ethnic diversity among partnership staff and leadership.
- Help partners develop as DEIJ leaders who understand, respect and embrace cultural diversity.
- Provide partners with the tools to continually assess progress towards diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice goals.
Related Links
Green 2.0 The State of Diversity in Environmental Organizations
This report examines why decades of promises to diversify are falling short in the mainstream environmental movement.
Green 2.0 Leaking Talent
This report details how people of color are pushed out of environmental organizations and presents factors that impact the retention and promotion of people of color in the environmental movement.
DEIJ in Action Guide
A Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Guide for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
The Principles of Environmental Justice (EJ)
Delegates to the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit held on October 24-27, 1991, drafted and adopted these 17 principles of Environmental Justice.
Chesapeake Progress: Diversity
Check our workgroup's progress toward meeting the diversity indicator
Choose Clean Water Coalition Equity Workgroup
This webpage includes links to additional articles, tools, and webinars related to DEIJ.
Series on Expanding the Table for Racial Equity
The Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers launched Putting Racism on the Table, a learning and action series for philanthropy.
Maryland DNR Conservation Careers Guide
This guide is a publication of Project Green Classrooms, an environmental education initiative that began in 2017 by bringing together partners from agencies and organizations across Maryland.
Watershed Agreement
Stewardship Goal
Members
Wendy O'Sullivan (Vice Chair), Superintendent, NPS Chesapeake Bay Office, National Park Service (NPS)
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: wendy_o'sullivan@nps.gov
Phone: (202) 374-9051
Briana Yancy (Coordinator), Life Scientist & Diversity Workgroup Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Mid-Atlantic Region
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: yancy.briana@epa.gov
Phone: (410) 267-9827
Jessica Blackburn, Coordinator, Citizens Advisory Committee, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
612 Hull St Suite 101C
Richmond, Virginia 23224
Email: jblackburn@allianceforthebay.org
Phone: (804) 775-0951
Michelle Ramirez, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Dr
Upper marlboro, Maryland 20772
Email: Michelle.Ramirez@maryland.gov
Phone: (410) 260-8085
Greg Barranco, Government Affairs, Partnerships Team Lead, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: barranco.greg@epa.gov
Phone: (410) 267-5778
Vanessa Van Note, Implementation Analyst, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: vannote.vanessa@epa.gov
Phone: (410) 267-5756
Amanda Knobloch, Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL)
Cirse Gonzalez, Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)
Emily Hendrickson, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR)
Rachel Carson State Office Building
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105
Email: emhendrick@pa.gov
Phone: (717) 787-9293
Hana Jones, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Julie Lawson, Citizen's Advisory Committee, Citizens' Advisory Committee
6548 Eastern Avenue NE
Washington, Districtofcolumbia 20012
Email: lawson.julie@gmail.com
Phone: (202) 347-0412
Kristin Saunders, Cross Program Coordinator, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: ksaunders@umces.edu
Phone: (410) 267-5711
Mariah Davis, Choose Clean Water Coalition
20 Ridgely Ave
Suite 203
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: DavisM@nwf.org
Phone: (443) 842-7535
Melissa Fagan, Career Development Program Coordinator, Chesapeake Research Consortium
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: faganm@chesapeake.org
Phone: (410) 267-9842
Noelle Chao, Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy
Pamela Bingham, Virginia State University
Rev Jacqueline Norris, Prince George's Environmental Justice/ Equity Marginalized & Low Icome Collaborative
1801 McCormick Drive Potomac Conference Room - Suite 500
Largo, Maryland 20774
Email: keanjagreen@gmail.com
Rico Newman, Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs
Shannon Sprague, Education Workgroup Coordinator, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: shannon.sprague@NOAA.GOV
Phone: (410) 267-5664