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. For information on progress towards this outcome please visit Chesapeake Progress
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
DEIJ for Beginners
Are you new to the Chesapeake Bay Program? Are you new to work involving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Environmental Justice? Check out these resources
- Diversity Equity Inclusion and Justice in The Chesapeake Bay Program 2022 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- CBP DEI and EJ [PDF, 625.2 KB]
- Committing to Consistently Acknowledging Systemic Racism [PDF, 203.4 KB]
- Anti Racist Continuum [PDF, 27.4 KB]
- Anti-Racism Resources [PDF, 143.3 KB]
- Restorative Practices for this Moment [PDF, 269.3 KB]
DEIJ in Our Culture & Work
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. More resources from this training are available upon request.
Allyship Training Series
The DEIJ Implementation Plan calls to provide CBP staff and partnership bodies training on diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice issues to build a common understanding of DEIJ and connect these topics to CBP’s mission and operations. Allyship is a practice focused on building lifelong relationships of trust, respect and accountability. In these trainings, participants learned how to navigate unconscious bias, power and privilege as well as important skills such as active listening.
Cultivating and Strengthening Partnerships with Underrepresented Stakeholders (Scope 11)
The "Cultivating and Strengthening Partnerships with Underrepresented Stakeholders" project was funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) Goal Implementation Team (GIT) Funding Program. The project, proposed by the Chesapeake Bay Program Stewardship Goal Implementation Team (GIT 5) and their Diversity Workgroup, aimed to understand the needs, barriers, and priorities of organizations serving historically underrepresented and underserved communities. Chesapeake Conservancy was contracted to complete the project, which began in spring 2021 and ended in summer 2022. The project involved conversations with community leaders and Chesapeake Bay Program staff to identify barriers and opportunities for engagement. A Leadership Workshop was conducted to define meaningful community engagement, and a Community Forum in July 2022 brought together community members and Bay Program leadership to build trust and develop engagement strategies. Recommendations for next steps were compiled based on input from participants, and a community engagement guide was developed. The project's outcomes will help the Chesapeake Bay Program develop long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with organizations serving communities of color and other underrepresented communities.
Environmental Justice
Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Resources
According to EPA, Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Everyone has the right to protection from environmental and health hazards, as well as, equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment. The resources in the PowerPoint below are funding programs and opportunities to receive technical assistance from CBP to achieve environmental justice.
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
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.
Communication and Outreach
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, 213.2 KB]
- Regional Resilience Toolkit (See Step 1 - Engagement) [PDF, 33.2 MB]
- Spectrum of Engagement [JPG, 125.1 KB]
- NPS Community Engagement Continuum [PDF, 76.0 KB]
- DEIJ Community Engagement Resources [PDF, 237.2 KB]
- Chesapeake Bay Funders Network Expanding the Circle: Strategies to Authentically Engage Under-Resourced Communities to Improve the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for All [PDF, 1.5 MB]
![Spectrum of Engagement [JPG, 125.1 KB]](https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/spectrum-of-engagement_1.jpg){kind=link}
Publications
Cultivating and Strengthening Partnerships with Underrepresented Stakeholders
Published on August 25, 2023 in ReportThe "Cultivating and Strengthening Partnerships with Underrepresented Stakeholders" project was funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) Goal Implementation Team (GIT) Funding Program. The project, proposed by the Chesapeake Bay Program Stewardship Goal Implementation Team (GIT 5) and their Diversity Workgroup, aimed to understand the needs, barriers, and priorities of organizations serving historically underrepresented and underserved communities. Chesapeake Conservancy was contracted to complete the project, which began in spring 2021 and ended in summer 2022. The project involved conversations with community leaders and Chesapeake Bay Program staff to identify barriers and opportunities for engagement. A Leadership Workshop was conducted to define meaningful community engagement, and a Community Forum in July 2022 brought together community members and Bay Program leadership to build trust and develop engagement strategies. Recommendations for next steps were compiled based on input from participants, and a community engagement guide was developed. The project's outcomes will help the Chesapeake Bay Program develop long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with organizations serving communities of color and other underrepresented communities.
View detailsCBP DEIJ Strategy Implementation Plan
Published on November 23, 2021This Chesapeake Bay Program Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Strategy Implementation Plan (Implementation Plan) presents a roadmap for advancing the recommendations found in Restoration from the Inside Out: A Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay Program (DEIJ Strategy). The Implementation Plan was developed by the CBP DEIJ Action Team with input from partnership entities and the public following the release of the Principals' Staff Committee Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Action Statement.
View details2022-2023 Diversity Workgroup Logic & Action Plan
Published on May 2, 2022Related Links
Green 2.0 Research
Green 2.0 is a 501(c)3 independent advocacy campaign to increase racial diversity among environmental organizations. The Diversity Workgroup references their research often including: State of Diversity, Beyond Diversity and Leaking Talent
DEIJ in Action Guide
A Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Guide for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
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.
Diversity and Inclusion in Conservation: A Proposal for a Marine Diversity Network
The researchers highlight some measurable benefits of workforce diversity, and give an overview of some of the barriers to inclusion in marine conservation that help perpetuate low workforce diversity
A Call for Inclusive Conservation
Heather Tallis, Jane Lubchenco and 238 co-signatories petition for an end to the infighting that is stalling progress in protecting the planet.
18 F Content Guide Inclusive Language
This page is not exhaustive, but aims to provide principles, resources, and specific suggestions for writing and talking about diverse groups of people.
Equity & Justice: Aspirations for the Environmental Movement
People of color have been separated from leading this movement for too long. I am calling on the Bay community and challenging you to ask, “What are the aspirations of communities of color?” To breathe? To have a voice? To have hope? by Gabrielle Roffe
How Conservation Is Shaped by Settler Colonialism
The legal concept of “terra nullius”—meaning “no one’s land”—influenced European colonialism and continues to shape the practice of conservation.
Watershed Agreement
Stewardship Goal
Members
Brittany Omoleye-Hall (Chair), National Park Service (NPS)
National Park Service, Chesapeake Bay
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 314
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
Email: brittany_omoleye-hall@nps.gov
Britt Slattery (Coordinator), Fostering Chesapeake Stewardship Goal Implementation Team Coordinator, National Park Service (NPS)
Wuillam Urvina (Staffer), Stewardship Goal Implementation Team Staffer, Chesapeake Research Consortium
Meredith Lemke (Staffer), Chesapeake Research Consortium
Jessica Blackburn, Stakeholders' Advisory Committee Coordinator, 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, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: vannote.vanessa@epa.gov
Phone: (410) 267-5756
Cirse Gonzalez, Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)
Julie Lawson, Stakeholders' Advisory Committee
6548 Eastern Avenue NE
District of Columbia, District of Columbia 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
Pamela Bingham, Virginia State University
Rev 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
Alan Anderson, Bowie State University
Renee Hoyos, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Amber Doherty, National Aquarium
Hana Jones, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Allison Ng, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Bo Williams, Implementation and Evaluation Team Lead, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 3
Lora Harris, UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL)
Wendy O'Sullivan, National Park Service (NPS)
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: wendy_o'sullivan@nps.gov
Phone: (202) 374-9051
BeKura Shabazz, First Alliance Consulting LLC
13708 Cedar Cliff Ter.
Chester, Virginia 23831
Email: firstallianceconsutling@gmail.com
Phone: (804) 602-9166
Kesha Braunskill, U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
Ola-Imani Davis, Staffer, Local Government Advisory Committee, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
501 Sixth St
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
Email: odavis@allianceforthebay.org
Phone: (443) 949-0575
Ruby Stemmle, EcoLatinos Consulting, LLC
Trena Ferrell, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Goddard Space Flight Center
8800 Greenbelt Rd.
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
Email: trena.m.ferrell@nasa.gov
Trystan Sill, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: trystan.sill@maryland.gov
Phone: (410) 260-8827
Susan Casey, Maryland Department of the Environment
Frank Rodgers, Cacapon Institute
Cacapon Institute
10 Rock Ford Rd
Great Cacapon, West Virginia 25422
Email: frodgers@cacaponinstitute.org
Carmera Thomas-Wilhite, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Alexandra Cenatus, Maryland Humanities
Kevin Newman, District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)
Joseph Schell, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
89 Kings Hwy SW
Richardson & Robbins Building
Dover, Delaware 19901
Email: joseph.schell@delaware.gov