Session 1 | 1:15-1:50 pm

• Engaging Communities in Achieving Plastic Free Seas with Mary Ellen Mateleska, Mystic Aquarium

• The Power of Collaboration in the Wake of Underwhelming Water Quality Results: A Case Study from Bridgeport, CT with Cally Guasti, Senior Program Manager at Trust for Public Land & Rick Landau, Project Manager for Ash Creek Conservation Association

• A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words: Telling your Long Island Sound Story

  Jerry Monkman, Reel Quest Films

  Melissa DeFrancesco, The Nature Conservancy, CT

• Potty Talk: Bacteria Pollution in Coastal Long Island Sound 

  Mary Donato, Research and Education Coordinator at Harbor Watch 

Session 2 | 1:50-2:25 pm

• Engaging Communities in Achieving Plastic Free Seas with Mary Ellen Mateleska, Mystic Aquarium

• Supporting Educators and Students to Engage as Environmental Stewards of Long Island Sound with Jim Clifford, State Lead for the Connecticut Climate Education Hub

• A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words: Telling your Long Island Sound Story 

  Jerry Monkman, Reel Quest Films 

  Melissa DeFrancesco, The Nature Conservancy, CT 

• Achieving Stormwater Success through Community Partnership in Northport, Long Island 

  Maureen Dolan Murphy, Executive Programs Manager with Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Engaging Communities in Achieving Plastic Free Seas

Join this session to explore a multi-faceted approach to plastic pollution reduction that blends creativity, education, and behavior-driven solutions to drive meaningful change. We’ll discuss how innovative collaboration with trusted community organizations can foster deeper engagement and discuss the power of impactful messaging and tailored solutions that resonate with audiences, reinforcing the importance of conservation. 

Roundtable Moderator

Mary Ellen Mateleska

Director of Education & Conservation, Mystic Aquarium

Supporting Educators and Students to Engage as Environmental Stewards of Long Island Sound

Participants will discuss best practices for teachers and students to learn about the Long Island Sound and watershed through various learning opportunities that promote environmental awareness, engagement, and stewardship. Discussions may include opportunities for teacher training and for student activities, including water quality experiments, shoreline cleanups, and the collection, analysis, and sharing of data. 

Roundtable Moderator

Valerie Cournoyer

President of Southeastern New England Marine Educators (SENEME)

The Power of Collaboration in the Wake of Underwhelming Water Quality Results: A Case Study from Bridgeport, CT

In the wake of underwhelming water quality results in the Bridgeport Harbor, Trust for Public Land charts a path toward a healthier, more livable waterfront through the power of collaboration. Join us for a conversation with Rick Landau, Ash Creek Conservation Association’s Project Manager for the Unified Water Study and Pathogen Monitoring Network. The goal of this discussion is to develop strategies for driving water quality improvements. 

Roundtable Moderators

Cally Guasti

Senior Program Manager at Trust for Public Land

Rick Landau

Project Manager for Ash Creek Conservation Association

Telling Your LIS Story: The Power of Visual Storytelling in Environmental Communications

Roundtable Moderators

Jerry Monkman

Conservation and nature photographer, writer, & documentary filmmaker with Reel Quest Films

Melissa DeFrancesco

Watershed Conservation Coordinator at The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut

Roundtable Moderator

Mary Donato

Research and Education Coordinator at Harbor Watch

Roundtable Moderator

Maureen Dolan Murphy

Executive Programs Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment