In the early morning of Saturday, September 7th, more than 90 students and faculty members from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) climbed aboard buses across Maryland and Washington, DC to travel to NorthBay Outdoor Education Campus for the 2024 HBCU/MSI Chesapeake Bay Summit. Similar to last year, the HBCU/MSI Bay Summit had three major goals:

  • Foster connections between students and faculty at HBCUs and MSIs in the watershed;
  • Build the capacity of students to pursue environmental careers and address environmental challenges in their communities;
  • Highlight environmental initiatives on HBCU and MSIs campuses in the watershed.

But what do you really get when you convene more than 100 passionate, intelligent, and ambitious young adults and environmental professionals in one place?

A group of people pose for a photo on a sunny day in front of a large building

Summit participants pose on the front steps of NorthBay at the end of the 2024 HBCU/MSI Chesapeake Bay Summit.

 

A RoadMap for Passion & Purpose

At the core of the Summit is its emphasis on the many ways that students can pursue careers that protect and restore the environment. Over the course of just 24 hours, more than 15 professionals spoke to students about their work and the paths they took to where they are now. With expertise in climate justice, community engagement, environmental law, restoration, nature photography, and much more, speakers shared the wisdom and knowledge they’ve built over collective decades of experience. Beyond building an understanding of the potential career paths available after graduation, speakers also shared tips for finding your passion, building your network, and engaging with the natural world in the way that makes your soul light up.

A person giving a presentation in front of a large television screen

Bello Mahmud of Morgan State University leads a breakout session on stormwater and engineering.

 

The Co-Creation of Knowledge & Expertise

Building on the stacked speaker list in the agenda, the HBCU/MSI Bay Summit also leveraged the wealth of expertise and experiences that attendees brought with them. During short-form ‘Lightning Talk’ presentations, students boldly presented their research, ideas, and experiences to other attendees. Their presentations explored a wide range of topics, from water quality monitoring to study abroad experiences, and each brought a fresh perspective to the environmental movement. Through these brief presentations, students fostered connections, engaged in thoughtful discussions with their peers, and explored opportunities for future collaboration. As the sun set across the beach, students continued the conversation while playing charades, roasting marshmallows over a bonfire, and competing in games of ping pong. Under the guidance of Kesha Braunskill, with Delaware Bat Rehabilitation and Conservation (DBRC), participants also explored the campus, listening and looking for bats.

A person giving a presentation next to a projector screen

Howard University student, Nahdia Parks, delivers a Lightning Talk on the history of Africatown, a gulf coast community in Mobile, Alabama.

 

A Deeper Connection to the Bay & to One Another

A large group of people kayaking with a tree line in the background

Students participate in a guided kayak tour on the Chesapeake Bay.

For the education and betterment of ourselves and the planet, it’s vital that people are both educated on and shown the beauty of the Earth. So, as the summit entered its final hours, students and staff had the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities like kayaking, fishing, birding, and an art and nature workshop to reconnect with nature and each other. While the state of the attendees after these activities varied from total zen to a bit damp (or a combination of both!), everyone could be seen exchanging contact information, taking pictures, and waving goodbye to new friends as the buses arrived.

A group of people smile while one person takes a selfie with their phone

Students take a photo together during the first day of the Summit.

 

Building Momentum for the Work

As we review the feedback surveys collected at the end of the Summit, we’re delighted to see that the most consistent request is to expand the Summit to three days, instead of two. Despite the long bus ride and weekend commitment, students and faculty showed up and engaged fully, from start to finish. Importantly, though, the annual HBCU/MSI Bay Summit is only the beginning of this work. We will continue building on this momentum together because, in the words of our opening keynote speaker, the inimitable Dr. Mamie Parker: “We can. We will. And we must.”

This year’s Summit would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the Steering Committee and generous support of our sponsors, listed respectively below.

Summit Steering Committee Members

  • Dr. Janelle Burke, Howard University
  • Dr. Elizabeth Gearin, University of the District of Columbia
  • Ms. Emma Gregory, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
  • Ms. Julie Lawson, DOEE (University of the District of Columbia)
  • Dr. Eric May, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
  • Dr. Patrice Nielson, Trinity Washington University
  • Dr. Christopher Rivera, Coppin State University
  • Dr. Mercy Shenge, Coppin State University
  • Dr. Stephanie Stotts, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
  • Ms. Tameka Taylor, Morgan State University
  • Mr. Jabari Walker, Bowie State University
  • Dr. Anne Wiley, Bowie State University

Summit Sponsors

See the full gallery from this year’s summit

By Emma Gregory, Capacity Building Projects Manager, and Alex DuBuclet, Environmental Projects Intern