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Coastal Connections: Focus Groups Collected Input from Hispanic Communities
Maryland Sea Grant’s mission is to foster healthy coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies through science, education, outreach, and broad collaboration. We define coast as the shoreline, waterfront, and surrounding areas affected by tides. We want to know more about the Hispanic community’s environmental values and priorities for a healthy coast.
We hosted focus groups in September 2023 to learn more from the Hispanic community. During the focus groups, we asked about positive and negative experiences Hispanic community members have had with the coast and changes they would like to see to improve it.
With the experiences shared, Maryland Sea Grant will work to understand the best ways we can partner and collaborate with Hispanic communities. Potential partnerships and collaborations may include working to share science, information, or available resources with the community, connecting the community members with government or other partners who can help enact the desired changes, or assisting with new project development.
If you are interested or have questions, please contact Taryn Sudol (tsudol@umd.edu).
About the Focus Groups
Maryland Sea Grant held two focus groups in Annapolis and one in Baltimore (22 participants total). They were held in-person in Spanish for 90 minutes. Participants were compensated for their time. ecoLatinos, an environmental nonprofit, worked with Maryland Sea Grant on how best to conduct these groups.
The results of the focus groups can be viewed here. Maryland Sea Grant created a list of resources in Spanish based on the topics and interests mentioned in the focus groups. Please view the list of resources here and contact us with further questions!
Conexiones Costeras: Grupos Focales Recolectaron Información de las Comunidades Hispanas
La misión de Maryland Sea Grant es fomentar ecosistemas costeros, comunidades y economías saludables a través de la ciencia, la educación, la divulgación y una amplia colaboración. Definimos costa como la orilla del mar, el paseo marítimo y las áreas alrededor afectadas por las mareas. Queremos saber más sobre los valores y las prioridades medioambientales de la comunidad hispana para una costa saludable.
En septiembre de 2023, organizamos grupos focales para obtener más información de la comunidad hispana. Durante los grupos focales, preguntamos sobre las experiencias positivas y negativas que han tenido los miembros de la comunidad hispana con la costa y los cambios que les gustaría ver para mejorarla.
Con las experiencias compartidas, Maryland Sea Grant trabajará para entender las mejores formas en que podemos asociarnos y colaborar con las comunidades hispanas. Las posibles asociaciones y colaboraciones pueden incluir trabajar para compartir ciencia, información o recursos disponibles con la comunidad, conectar a los miembros de la comunidad con el gobierno u otros socios que puedan ayudar a implementar los cambios deseados, o ayudar con el desarrollo de nuevos proyectos.
Si está interesado o tiene preguntas, comuníquese con Taryn Sudol (tsudol@umd.edu).
Sobre los Grupos Focales
Maryland Sea Grant organizó dos grupos focales en Annapolis y uno en Baltimore (22 participantes en total). Los grupos fueron en persona, en español, y duraron 90 minutos. Los participantes recibieron una compensación por su tiempo. ecoLatinos, una organización de protección del medio ambiente, colaboró con Maryland Sea Grant en cómo organizar estos grupos de la mejor manera.
Los resultados de los grupos focales pueden ser vistos aquí. Maryland Sea Grant creó una lista de recursos en español basada en los temas e intereses mencionados en los grupos focales. ¡Por favor, vea la lista aquí y póngase en contacto con nosotros si tiene más preguntas!
The Chesapeake Bay Sentinel Site Collaborative is a group of scientists, coastal managers, decision makers, and community liaisons across Maryland and Virginia focused on applying sea level rise science to stakeholder decision making.
For more information, please contact:
Taryn Sudol
Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Sentinel Site Cooperative
Phone: (301) 405-6378
Email: sudol@mdsg.umd.edu
Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Sentinel Site Cooperative
Phone: (301) 405-6378
Email: sudol@mdsg.umd.edu
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Featured Fellow
Leone Yisrael is a cephalopod-loving scuba diver, cook, and loves to try new activities. She conducts genetic analysis and fieldwork at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center through the Coastal Disease Ecology Lab.
Featured Research Project
Developing a habitat model for mysids, an important link in Chesapeake Bay food webs
Mysids are important mesozooplankton prey for many species of fish in Chesapeake Bay and are an important link in transferring energy from lower to upper trophic levels. Mysids also serve as biological vectors for benthic-pelagic coupling due to their diel vertical migration and omnivorous prey-switching behavior, which makes mysids important regulators of food web architecture. Despite their central role in coastal food webs, surprisingly little is known about mysid ecology and dynamics in Chesapeake Bay.
