{"id":1023,"date":"2016-05-26T13:04:15","date_gmt":"2016-05-26T13:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serchapter2018.wpengine.com\/newengland\/?page_id=1023"},"modified":"2022-10-19T15:55:36","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T19:55:36","slug":"2018-regional-conference-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chapter.ser.org\/northeast\/2018-regional-conference-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Archive \u2013 2018 Regional Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
Connecting Communities and Ecosystems in Restoration Practice<\/div>\n

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October 11-13, 2018 \u2022 Southern CT State University, New Haven, CT <\/i><\/div>\n
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A big thank you to all of our presenters, sponsors, organizers, and participants for an excellent conference!<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

At this conference, we hosted speakers and discussions that highlighted innovative projects and thinking <\/a>that connected communities—including humans and other living organisms—within and across ecosystems. The conference was held in urban New Haven, a designated Environmental Justice community set within an ecologically essential coastal matrix. The vibrant network of environmental and community-based organizations in this region have supported numerous upland and aquatic restoration projects that were also featured in our field trips and workshops<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Keynote Talk<\/div>\n

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Thursday, October 11th, 6pm. Free and open to the public.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Learning from the people and the land: Traditional ecological knowledge toward restoration of ecosystems and of our connection with nature<\/h2>\n

The traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous and local communities throughout the world could lend guidance for restoring ecosystems and adapting to climate change. Through a long-term relationship with place, communities often have intimate understanding of the nature that surrounds them, and of which they are a part. They also may have a strong understanding of how to sustainably manage that ecosystem.<\/p>\n

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Stewart Diemont<\/a><\/b>
\nSUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry<\/em><\/p>\n

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Stew Diemont works with people to better understand how traditional knowledge can be part of ecosystem design. With his students and the people of communities in which he works, he has studied soil, plants, fungi, insects, and birds, as well as talked extensively with community members. Dr. Diemont will speak about his and his students\u2019 experiences working with a Zapotec community in Mexico; Mayan communities in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala; the Haudenosaunee of New York; and with traditional vineyard growers in Europe.<\/p>\n

His ecosystem design focuses on connecting people with place. He is particularly interested in how food can be a part of ecosystem restoration in rural and urban settings. He will outline how restoration could move forward in partnership with traditional knowledge for sustainable socioecological systems.<\/p>\n

Photos by Eva Diemont, Deb Diemont, Jay Martin, Brittany Sprague, Stew Diemont, Syracuse Post Standard<\/em><\/p>\n

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Plenary Speakers<\/div>\n

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Plenary talks will be held during the conference sessions on Friday October 12th.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Michelle L. Johnson<\/h3>\n

Research Ecologist USDA Forest Service, NYC Urban Field Station<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"Michelle Johnson is a research ecologist with the USDA Forest Service at the NYC Urban Field Station. Trained in both social and ecological sciences, her research toolkit includes spatial analysis, quantitative social science, and field ecology methods. Her research areas at the NYC Urban Field Station broadly include urban natural resources stewardship and urban tree health, with a current focus on spatial analyses of environmental stewardship organizations’ activities, a qualitative case study of interdisciplinary research & management efforts, and participatory social-ecological modeling. Dr. Johnson holds a B.S. in Biology from Eckerd College, a M.S. in Natural Resource Planning from the University of Vermont, and a PhD in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maine.<\/p>\n

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Nelson Villarrubia<\/h3>\n

\"\"Executive Director at Trees New York<\/em><\/p>\n

After 10 years with Trees New York, Nelson became Executive Director in 2013. As Executive Director, Nelson has introduced a host of innovative new projects and programs, including the Young Urban Forester Internship and FruiTrees New York.<\/p>\n

Nelson has drawn on his strong experience in program management and community engagement over the last few years to forge strategic partnerships and make several keen personnel choices, bringing strong and creative new staff and board leaders to the organization.<\/p>\n

As a mission-driven non-profit leader with a passion for environmental and economic development, Nelson spearheaded the most successful fundraising effort in the history of the organization.<\/p>\n

In addition to his aptitude in managing people, fundraising and introducing a host of innovative new projects, Nelson is a strong collaborator who has forged fruitful partnerships with groups as diverse as the New York City Housing Authority and Green-Wood Cemetery to drive positive and substantive change. .<\/p>\n

Nelson has an MS in Urban Affairs with a concentration in Environmental Policy.<\/p>\n

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Dr. Chuck Stead<\/h3>\n

Adjunct Profe<\/em>ssor of Environmental Studies, Ramapo College of New Jersey<\/em><\/p>\n

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Dr. Chuck Stead has long been an advocate on behalf of the Ramapough Lunnape Minsi Nation. Having grown up among the native community, he has witnessed first-hand the degradation and environmental injustice that is daily impressed upon the people of the land. He spearheaded an investigation into the dumping of lead paint into the Ramapo Watershed by Ford Motor Company, leading the successful fight to bring Ford back for a remedial and restoration process. Over the years he has worked with the elders of the Ramapoughs (in particular the members of the Turtle Clan) to seek the recovery of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and to re-instate their place as the true stewards of the watershed. Dr. Stead works on behalf of the Town of Ramapo Government with Ford and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to further the recovery of the impacted lands. He is also a professional storyteller and is an adjunct professor at Ramapo College of Mahwah, New Jersey where he teaches a course entitled Ecology, Society and the Sacred.<\/p>\n

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John Banks<\/h3>\n

Director of the Department of Natural Resources for the Penobscot Indian Nation<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"John Banks is the Director of the Department of Natural Resources for the Penobscot Indian Nation, a federally recognized Indian Tribe in Maine. Mr. Banks has served the Penobscot Nation in this capacity since 1980, following the enactment of the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of 1980. As Natural Resources Director, Mr. Banks has developed and administers a comprehensive Natural Resources management program for his Tribe, which advances an integrated management approach, in recognition of the inter- connectedness of all things in the natural world. Mr. Banks has served on many local, regional, and national organization boards including the National Tribal Environmental Council, Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, National Indian Policy Center, and the Tribal Operations Committee with USEPA.<\/p>\n

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Chief Vincent Mann<\/h3>\n

\"\"Turtle Clan Chief of the Ramapough Lenape Nation, which encompasses Passaic County\u00a0<\/em>NJ, as well as Warwick and surrounding areas in NY.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Chief Mann has held the title of Turtle Clan Chief for\u00a0Approximately 8 years, and in this time he has been\u00a0awarded the Russ Berry Foundations highest award\u00a0for being a Unsung Hero for his efforts to bring light\u00a0to the struggle of his community to fight back after\u00a0the Ford Toxic dumping.<\/p>\n

Chief Mann has been working with NYU Environmental\u00a0in Tuxedo Park NY for the past 3 years spending 2\u00a0years of that time creating a community health survey\u00a0to address the health concerns of his community, and\u00a0continues to work with NYU to date.\u00a0Chief Mann has also been at the forefront of\u00a0protecting 4 million peoples drinking water, as well as\u00a0the greater community in the areas surrounding the\u00a0Ringwood mines superfund site.<\/p>\n

Chief Mann has also began the rebuilding the community\u00a0of one of the two Churches the Ramapough communities\u00a0attend, one of which is listed on the National\u00a0Historic Registry as a Historic Native American Church, founded by Samuel Defreese a Ramapough.<\/p>\n

He is also on the Legacy Council of the Highlands\u00a0Coalition, and a former member of the Ringwood\u00a0mines superfund site’s Citizen Advisory Group (CAG).<\/p>\n

Among many other things Chief Mann takes time\u00a0out to speak at Ramapo College in the Environmental\u00a0Masters Program on pipelines and environmental\u00a0justice. Also in 2016 he was asked to speak at a forum\u00a0at the University of Dayton Ohio on the effects of toxic\u00a0dumping on his people.<\/p>\n

As a advocate for cultural and environmental issues he\u00a0continues to this day to offer up prayers for humanity and for our natural environment.<\/p>\n

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Registration Information<\/div>\n

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Register\u00a0here.\u00a0<\/em><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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Registration Rates:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Category<\/strong><\/td>\nEarly Bird
\n(Until Sept 13)<\/strong><\/td>\n		Regular Rate (Sept 14 \u2013 Oct 4)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Standard<\/td>\n$200<\/td>\n$250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Government (Municipal, State, or Federal Employees)<\/td>\n$200<\/td>\n$200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Member (SER or CFE\/Save the Sound) *<\/td>\n$120<\/td>\n$160<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Member, Government (Municipal, State, or Federal Employees – also member of SER or CFE\/Save the Sound)<\/td>\n$120<\/td>\n$120<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Student **<\/td>\n$65<\/td>\n$65<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Requesting financial assistance ***<\/td>\nsee below<\/td>\nsee below<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\n* To join SER, visit <\/em>http:\/\/www.ser.org\/membership<\/a>. To join CFE\/Save the Sound, visit http:\/\/www.ctenvironment.org\/take-action\/become-a-member\/<\/a><\/div>\n

\n** Students registering for the conference are encouraged to take advantage of the many student opportunities<\/a> available, including grants that cover registration fees and that support travel. If you intend to apply for financial support, fill out the grant application<\/a> rather than registering for the conference.
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\n*** Funding is available to help support non-students for whom conference attendance presents a financial hardship.\u00a0The application deadline is August 27, 2018. If you intend to apply for financial support, fill out the grant application<\/a> rather than registering for the conference.
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Other Conference Information<\/div>\n

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