Blacks Of The Chesapeake Foundation Inc

THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO PREPARE A MASTER PLAN FOR A FACILITY TO SERVE AS THE EDUCATION CENTER AT THE NEW ELKTONIA HERITAGE PARK IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, A SIGNIFICANT GATEWAY TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOR UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES. A KEY OBJECTIVE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE AS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM WITH ACCESS TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY SHORELINE AND NEARSHORE WATERS TO SERVE AS THE HUB FOR DELIVERY OF AN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM PREPARED BY BLACKS OF THE CHESAPEAKE AND BLACK IN MARINE SCIENCE WITH PREVIOUS CHESAPEAKE GATEWAYS GRANT SUPPORT. THE FACILITY WILL HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IN THE LIVES OF THE BLACK, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) COMMUNITY (PAST AND FUTURE) THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ABOUT HISTORY, CULTURE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SUPPORT WORKFORCE TRAINING IN THE MARINE, MARITIME, AND ENVIRONMENTAL TRADES. PROGRAMMING WILL EDUCATE VISITORS ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE DURING SEGREGATION, SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF BLACK WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN THE 1930-40S, TELL THE STORY OF A FAMED GREEN BOOK SITE, AND CELEBRATE THE BLACK MUSICIANS WHO PERFORMED HERE. THE SECONDARY GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO SUPPORT THE RELATED GOALS OF ADDITIONAL PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDING CITY OF ANNAPOLIS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION ANNAPOLIS-ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY RESILIENCY AUTHORITY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CHESAPEAKE CONSERVANCY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND OTHERS. THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE PLANNING, PROGRAMMING, AND SITE DESIGN FOR THE FACILITY. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH A SERIES OF COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOPS WITH THE PROJECT PARTNERS SUPPORTED BY A CONSULTANT. BLACKS OF THE CHESAPEAKE (BOCF) WILL TAKE THE LEAD IN CONVENING THE PARTNERS DURING EACH STAGE OF THE PROJECT, FACILITATING MEETINGS, AND CONTRIBUTING THEIR EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE OF HISTORIC DOCUMENTS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BACKGROUND MATERIALS. A VISION WORKSHOP (STAGE 1) WILL ENGAGE PROJECT PARTNERS TO CRAFT VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS AND DEFINE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. DURING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT (STAGE 2), PROJECT PARTNERS AND THEIR CONSULTANTS WILL IDENTIFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ACHIEVING THE VISION. THE OUTCOME WILL BE A FACILITY PROGRAM DOCUMENTING FUNCTIONS AND DESIRED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THEM. THE CONCEPT DESIGN (STAGE 3) WILL BEGIN WITH A DISCOVERY PHASE IN WHICH THE CONSULTANT TEAM DOCUMENTS EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS, REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, AND PRECEDENT INSPIRATION FOR POSSIBLE FACILITIES AND DESIGN APPROACHES. A PUBLIC WORKSHOP WILL INTRODUCE THESE FINDINGS TO THE INTENDED TARGET AUDIENCES AND PROJECT PARTNERS WILL SOLICIT INPUT ON PREFERENCES FOR HOW TO DEVELOP THE SITE. THE PARTNERS WILL WORK WITH THEIR CONSULTANT TEAM TO EXPLORE OPTIONS IDENTIFIED IN THE COMMUNITY MEETING. A DRAFT CONCEPT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC THAT IDENTIFIES ENVIRONMENTAL SITE DESIGN AND OTHER STORMWATER BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, WATERFRONT IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING SHORELINE RESTORATION, SHORELINE PROTECTION, AND SEA LEVEL RISE ADAPTATION, SITE IMPROVEMENTS, NEW AND RENOVATED STRUCTURES, AND OFFSHORE OR FLOATING IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED TO EXECUTE THE CURRICULUM SUCH AS PIERS, BREAKWATERS, AND EDUCATIONAL VESSELS. BASED ON PUBLIC INPUT, THE PLAN WILL BE FINALIZED AS THE EDUCATIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL, HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES (EECHO) CENTER MASTER PLAN THAT WILL SUPPORT FUND RAISING FOR IMPLEMENTATION. THE PROJECT WILL BENEFIT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BY ESTABLISHING A NEW INSTITUTION COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE BIPOC COMMUNITY IN EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES REFLECTING THE LONG-STANDING HERITAGE OF BLACK WATERMEN AND WOMEN AS KNOWLEDGEABLE STEWARDS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.