April 13, 2022
The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP or Partnership) is proud to announce the release of its recently approved Inclusion and Diversity Statement. Development of the Statement was led by ACFHP Steering Committee member and former ACFHP Coordinator, Jessie Thomas-Blate of American Rivers. Ms. Thomas-Blate shares:
“We are at a critical time for environmental conservation. ACFHP has taken the first step towards making the connection that all people deserve to benefit from the work of the Partnership. We must all work together to ensure a healthy planet for generations to come. For the Statement to have meaning, it is my hope that the Partnership will follow up with actions that reflect a more inclusive approach to fish habitat conservation.”
The statement can be viewed on the ACFHP website’s at: Mission, Vision, and Inclusion and Diversity Statement – Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (atlanticfishhabitat.org). The Steering Committee voted to approve the statement unanimously at its virtual meeting on March 3rd. Kent Smith, ACFHP Chair, stated:
“ACFHP works on behalf of all people in the Atlantic coastal states where we conduct our habitat conservation efforts, so it is only appropriate that we commit to equal inclusion of the full diversity of individuals who enjoy and benefit from healthy fish habitat in this region. Our Steering Committee enthusiastically collaborated to develop this diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice commitment for ACFHP’s operations and we look forward to continuing to implement this as the Partnership moves forward on its mission.”
We at ACFHP are committed to making fish habitat conservation welcoming and accessible for all, and look forward to the work ahead. Our first step will be to thoughtfully and honestly examine our operations, culture, and conservation work during our new strategic plan development taking place this year.
For questions, contact Lisa Havel, ACFHP Director, at LHavel@asmfc.org.