Hosted by EarthEcho International
With nearly half the world’s population under age 25, youth leadership is critical in driving policy to protect and restore our ocean planet. Join EarthEcho International Youth Leadership Council members and staff from EarthEcho and the National Ocean Protection Coalition to dive into the importance of elevating youth voices as we work toward a more equitable and inclusive vision for ocean conservation, and share lessons learned and best practices for meaningfully engaging youth leaders in ocean conservation policy/advocacy. Speakers will highlight their experiences and facilitate a dialogue among participants to help support organizational efforts to increase youth voice in this space.
Speakers:
- Sean Russell, Associate Director of Youth Engagement and Partnerships, Earthecho International (moderator)
- Armon Alex, EarthEcho Youth Leadership Council and Board of Directors member
- Apurva Iyengar, EarthEcho Youth Leadership Council member
- Isha Sangani, EarthEcho Youth Leadership Council member
- Erin Eastwood, Program Director, National Ocean Protection Coalition
Hosted by Audrey Peterman, Diverse Environmental Leaders Speakers Bureau
Individuals, groups and entire communities create ocean-focused programs responding to the interests and needs where they stand. They often lack resources and technical expertise to grow. By recognizing and prioritizing support for this sector, we can exponentially increase representation and strengthen resilience for all.
Speakers:
- Queen Quet, Chieftess and Head-of-State of the Gullah/Geechee Nation
- Kamau Sadiki, Lead Instructor, Diving With a Purpose
- Stefan Moss, Director, the Saltwater Underground Railroad Experience
- Ayana Omilade Flewellen, Co-founder, Society of Black Archaeologists
Hosted by NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
NOAA Research, with Sanctuaries, is working to increase Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion through science to support Sanctuaries and the communities that they serve. NOAA Research laboratories play an important role in partnering with the National Ocean Service and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in understanding climate risks and vulnerabilities for ecosystem services and cultural resources. Sea Grant is a key partner in bringing NOAA’s wealth of scientific information to sustain healthy coastal ecosystems and support community needs. This panel will engage climate scientists, decision-support providers, and end users to discuss the importance of climate and ocean observations and models for community decision-making. This panel will discuss a successful partnership in the Pacific Northwest, highlighting the benefits that inclusive collaborations bring to community resilience.
Speakers:
- Libby Jewett, Director of NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (moderator)
- Melissa Watkinson, Community Engagement Lead with Washington Sea Grant
- Jenny Waddell, Research Coordinator at NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
- Tommy Moore, Oceanographer, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
- Charles Stock, Research Oceanographer at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
Hosted by NOAA Fisheries
NOAA recognizes that building a diverse workforce is essential to meeting the challenges of our ever-changing environment and ensuring the continued support of our mission. During this guided discussion, we will highlight current programs across NOAA Fisheries that aim to train the next generation of fisheries scientists and managers by creating pathways for students of all backgrounds. Panelists will share strategies for getting students excited about a career in marine science, and discuss innovative approaches to helping them persist in and excel in the field.
Speakers:
- Kate Naughten, Director of Communications, NOAA Fisheries (moderator)
- Steve Copps, Senior Policy Analyst, Fisheries West Coast Regional Office
- Dionne Hoskins-Brown, PhD, Fisheries Biologist, NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center and Director, NOAA Programs, Savannah State University
- George Liles, Director, Academic Programs Office Director, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Hosted by NOAA Leadership
This session will be an introduction to the four new political appointees at NOAA. They will discuss their unique backgrounds, the various Executive Orders related to equity, climate, and oceans, and how their diverse backgrounds and experiences have shaped how they approach their work at NOAA.
Speakers:
- Karen Hyun, Chief of Staff, NOAA
- Walker Smith, General Counsel, NOAA
- Letise LaFeir, Senior Advisor, NOAA
- Emily McAuliffe, Special Assistant, NOAA
Hosted by Anthropocene Institute
This panel will cover existing U.S. ocean protection, beginning with a map of protected areas that exist today. Then, the panel will showcase inclusion of diverse voices in past protected area planning that were essential for creation of these areas. The panel will also discuss lessons learned and how diverse voices can more seamlessly be included going forward in 30×30.
Speakers:
- Virgil Zetterlind, Director, ProtectedSeas (Moderator)
- Calla Allison, Director, MPA Collaborative Network
- Shanna Edberg, Director of Conservation Programs, Hispanic Access Foundation
- Jennifer Sletten, Lead Attorney, ProtectedSeas
- Angelo Villagomez, Blue Nature Alliance
Hosted by Creation Justice Ministries
Throughout sacred scriptures of many religious traditions, water is life and water is holy. Creation Justice Ministries works with Christian communities to protect, restore, and rightly share God’s Creation — particularly the ocean. In this session, we will give an overview of the connection between the Christian faith and ocean conservation and share how we are working with Christian communities for healing in God’s Marine Creation.
Speakers:
- Avery Davis Lamb, Resilience Coordinator, Creation Justice Ministries
- Helen Smith, Ocean Climate Action Associate, Creation Justice Ministries
- Amanda Robinson, Fundraising and Operations Manager, Creation Justice Ministries
Hosted by NOAA National Ocean Service
Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) is important to NOAA’s mission and culture. While NOAA has made significant strides in this area, JEDI work is an ongoing process and never truly completed. Nicole LeBoeuf (Acting Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, NOAA) will be moderating a panel discussion on advancing JEDI efforts within NOAA. The panelists are advocates and leaders in JEDI initiatives at NOAA and bring unique perspectives on the work that still needs to be done. This breakout session will be a frank conversation between these leaders on the successes they’ve experienced and where they’ve faced challenges.
Speakers:
- Nicole R. LeBoeuf, Acting Assistant Administrator, NOAA National Ocean Service (Moderator)
- Becky Cruz Lizama, Congressional Affairs Specialist, NOAA Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
- Claudia S. Womble, Management and Program Analyst, Weather Program Office, NOAA Office of Ocean and Atmospheric Research
- Lucas Johansen, IT Specialist, Office of Science and Technology, NOAA Fisheries Service
- Lonnie Gonsalves, Environmental Scientist, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, NOAA National Ocean Service
Sponsored by: National Marine Manufacturers Association
As seascapes and coastal landscapes experience a rapid change as the climate crisis accelerates, communities are working to define the future of their health and livelihoods to ensure survival. This panel will highlight the individuals working to protect the quality of life in their communities. Participants will share their experiences, and the strategies that communities are developing to prepare for and address the climate crisis.
Opening Remarks
- The Honorable James E. Clyburn, U.S House of Representatives, Majority Whip, SC-06
- The Honorable Kathy Castor, U.S House of Representatives, FL-14 and Chair, House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
- The Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, U.S. House of Representatives, OR-01
Moderator
- Monica Patrice Barra, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Race and Environment in the School of the Earth, Ocean & Environment and Department of Anthropology and Faculty Affiliate of the African American Studies Program, University of South Carolina
Speakers
- Sandy Ha Nguyen, Executive Director, Coastal Communities Consulting
- Victoria Herrmann Ph.D., Managing Director, The Arctic Institute
- Colette Pichon Battle, Esq., Founder and Executive Director, Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy, and National Lead, Red, Black & Green New Deal
Closing Remarks
- Radhika Fox, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
To support the health, well-being, and sustainability of humanity, our ocean and Great Lakes depend on the actions we take now and require the knowledge, perspectives, and values of the communities most affected by environmental racism and climate change. Achieving justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion requires the marine and Great Lakes community examine its decision-making and power structures to ensure access to the resources, benefits, and opportunities that come from those structures. CHOW’s opening plenary will look at the historical lack of inclusion and the failure to center justice and equity in ocean and coastal conservation. The plenary will discuss how the broader ocean and Great Lakes community can work together toward collective action and equitable outcomes in the future.
Opening Remarks
- Brenda Mallory, JD, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality
Moderator
- Yoshitaka Ota, Ph.D., Director, Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center, University of Washington EarthLab
Speakers
- Michael E. Roberts, President and CEO, First Nations Development Institute
- Jacqueline Patterson, Senior Director, Environmental and Climate Justice, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Founder and Executive Director, Azul
- Summer Lee Haunani Sylva, JD, Executive Director, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation