Hello CDRW community!
My name is Kimberly Pelosi and I am happy to announce that as of April 2021, I joined the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) as their Policy Intern. Below you can find a little more information about myself and how I landed here.
I have been drawn to the outdoors for as long as I can remember which lead me to Rutgers University New Brunswick, where I studied Environmental Policy and Economics and graduated in 2015.
In late March 2021, the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA), joined by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and property owner International Process Plants (IPP), met with Congressman Malinowski (NJ-07) to discuss a feasibility study and plans to remove the largest dam on the Musconetcong River in Holland Township, Hunterdon County and Pohatcong Township, Warren County.
Every year the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed heads to Washington D.C. to educate Members of Congress about key policy and funding priorities that support conservation and restoration in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. While COVID-19 restricted travel to the Capitol this year, the Coalition adapted and transformed Hill Day into a virtual Hill Week. During the second week of March 2021, 71 participants from Coalition member organizations, including 12 constituents, took part in the virtual Hill Week. These participants met with 31 out of 32 congressional offices that represent the watershed.
The Delaware River Watershed is unique in that it is home to six National Wildlife Refuges, each with their own unique character and ecological benefits. These wildlife refuges not only provide vital habitats for migratory and resident wildlife, but also provide an opportunity for all of us to connect to nature.
To celebrate Black History Month this February, take some time to learn about historical figures and groups in the environmental movement that are too often overlooked. George Washington Carver: In 1894, Carver became the first African American to earn a Bachelors of Science Degree, after attending the Iowa State Agricultural School. He went on to earn his Masters of Agriculture and began working at the Tuskegee Institute to establish an agricultural school. His early academic concentration was on fungal infections of soybean plants, and at Tuskegee he continued his work with plant diseases while also researching agricultural practices to help poor southern farmers.
In partnership with trail organizations and agencies, Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) held an online event in mid-December to launch the Protect the View campaign at ProtecttheView.com. Protect the View is a science-based campaign and call to action resulting from rigorous conservation and land development analyses. The launch event covered a review of the underlying visual assessment research, a virtual tour of the Protect the View website including the ten selected trails focus areas and the corresponding interactive maps, photos and videos, a discussion of the need for a partner-based approach to trail view and land protection advocacy, and an introduction to the social media toolkit.
I’m excited to announce that as of January 2021, I’ve joined the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed as Communications Intern! I currently study at Rutgers University - New Brunswick as a sophomore, double majoring in Environmental Policy and Environmental Planning & Design. I’m excited to meet with and work with you all, but let me tell you a little bit about myself and how I got here first.
We were outraged that the promise of a fresh new year was tainted so quickly by the violent and shameful attacks in Washington. And yes, the attack was fueled by white supremacy and racism and incited by President Trump. Following the attack the Coalition’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Workgroup met and provided space for members to express their feelings from the day prior. This space to acknowledge the pain and frustration from the attack was vital for validating the emotions that workgroup members were holding with them during the work day.
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