Engaged Communities Goal Team
The Engaged Communities Goal Team works to engage and grow a community of stewards through education, recreation and professional opportunities.
Meetings
Engaged Communities Goal Team Meeting - July 2026
Public Access Workgroup Meeting - August 2026
Workforce Meeting - August 2026
Stewardship Workgroup Meeting - June 2026
Workforce Meeting - June 2026
Chesapeake Steward Map 101 - June 2026
About
The long-term success of Chesapeake Bay restoration depends on participation from individuals and communities throughout the watershed. The Engaged Communities Goal Team works to increase access to outdoor recreation, provide learning opportunities to students, adults and job seekers, and empower local decision-makers to support conservation actions.

Projects
Chesapeake Steward Map
In ProgressThe goal of the Chesapeake Steward Map is to increase connections and collaborative partnerships among stewards across the Chesapeake region. The map helps identify hubs and gaps in connectivity and highlights opportunities to facilitate strategic connections for sharing knowledge and resources.
Our Watershed Agreement Goals & Outcomes
Engaged Communities Goal
Our Workgroups & Action Teams
Our Members
- Julie Lawson (Chair)
District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment julie.lawson@dc.gov - Julia Wakeling (Chair)
District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment julia.wakeling@dc.gov - Katie Ayers (Coordinator)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ayers.katie@epa.gov - Meredith Lemke (Staffer)
Chesapeake Research Consortium lemkem@chesapeake.org - Daniel Koval (Staffer)
Chesapeake Research Consortium kovald@chesapeake.org - Erin Sonnenburg (Staffer)
Chesapeake Research Consortium Sonnenburg.Erin@epa.gov - Norah Carlos
Chesapeake Bay Commission ncarlos@chesbay.us - Cassie Davis
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Cassandra.davis@dec.ny.gov - Jennifer Fetter
Penn State University Cooperative Extension jenn.fetter@psu.edu - Lori Schoenwiesner
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation lori.schoenwiesner@dcr.virginia.gov - Scott Settle
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection dallas.s.settle@wv.gov - Wendy O'Sullivan
National Park Service (NPS) wendy_o'sullivan@nps.gov - Holly Walker
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Holly.Walker@delaware.gov - Olivia Wisner
Maryland Department of Natural Resources olivia.wisner1@maryland.gov