A day of connection, collaboration, and collective action
On November 18th, Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (GVC) successfully hosted the second annual Gunpowder Watershed Forum. Over 65 attendees gathered at the Baltimore County Ag Center to address shared challenges, highlight the important work already happening, and identify solutions that can move us forward together. Participants represented a wide range of organizations, across every county in the Gunpowder Watershed! (See list below)
And, the Forum was the official launch of Gunpowder Watershed Partners, an inclusive, collaborative effort dedicated to a healthier environment across all 480 square miles of the Gunpowder Watershed. The Gunpowder Watershed Partners is a collaborative network of caretakers working to protect and restore the Gunpowder Watershed through shared knowledge and aligned efforts. The group is committed to four shared goals:
- Building a collaborative framework
- Restoring and regenerating the watershed
- Promoting responsible land use and community stewardship
- Ensuring safe, enjoyable water resources
The Gunpowder Watershed Forum kicked off with a motivating speech from our keynote speaker, Aneca Atkinson, Maryland Department of the Environment’s first Assistant Secretary for Environmental Justice. Atkinson addressed unequal access to green spaces and waterways, and the mental and physical health benefits these spaces provide. For organizations to better reach underserved communities, Atkinson recommended approaching outreach and measuring organizational success through an environmental justice lens. Her perspective underscored the real-world impact of our collective work.
Then, participants learned from presentations by nine diverse panelists. Each panelist spoke about their organizations’ work, with emphasis on recent wins and ongoing challenges. The presentations highlighted a range of organizations, from Mad about Mud to the Maryland Forest Service to Maryland Trout Unlimited, and more! Before the close of the day, participants were split into groups for facilitated discussions to brainstorm and identify future directions for the Gunpowder Watershed Partners.
In the environmental conservation field, it’s easy to feel discouraged, but gathering and connecting over shared goals and challenges is a powerful tool for maintaining our drive. The biggest difference we can make is locally, and more collaboration results in a bigger impact.
Interested in learning more about Gunpowder Watershed Partners or attending the next Forum? Email info@gunpowdervc.org
We’d like to thank everyone who made this event possible!
- Karen Stupski of Gunpowder Valley Conservancy for envisioning this collaboration and securing the grant that made it possible.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for recognizing the value of regional collaboration and funding this effort, including funds for support from Green Fin Studio.
- Our Forum Committee, co-chaired by Riley Layman from the Baltimore County Land Trust Coalition and Karen Stupski
- Rich Dennison of Maryland Trout Unlimited, who shared his dream of uniting environmentally minded groups across the region; his passion and vision earned him the role of Chair of the Gunpowder Watershed Partners.
- Our keynote speaker, Assistant Secretary Aneca Atkinson, for sharing key lessons from her extraordinary background.
- All our amazing panelists; we had such a strong lineup of leaders!
- And finally, the organizations who were represented at the forum! We’re lucky to have such incredible groups working toward the same goals across the Gunpowder Watershed.
ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED AT THE FORUM (panelists in bold)
- Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability
- Baltimore County Department of Planning
- Baltimore County Forestry Board
- Baltimore County Land Trust Coalition
- Beaverdam Green Team
- BGREEN
- Camp Puh’tok for Boys and Girl, Inc.
- Carroll County Government
- Chesapeake Bay Trust
- City of Baltimore
- Faith Lutheran Church
- Friends of Oregon Ridge
- Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition
- Green Trust Alliance
- Gunpowder Valley Conservancy
- Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake
- JGL Design Associates
- Harford Land Trust
- Land Preservation Trust – The Environment at Kings Eye
- Loyola Blakefield High School Science Department
- Mad About Mud
- Manor Mill
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Park
- Maryland Department of the Environment
- Maryland Forest Service
- Maryland Trout Unlimited
- Maryland Dept. of Agriculture Resource Conservation – Baltimore County Soil Conservation District
- NeighborSpace of Baltimore County
- Nepali American Cultural Center of Baltimore (NACC), Hindu Buddha Mandir
- Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church’s Green Team
- Sierra Club, Maryland Chapter and Greater Baltimore Group
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- University of Maryland Extension – Baltimore County Master Gardeners
- University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension
- Watershed Alliance of York
- York County Planning Commission