At AWS, our community outreach strategy is centered on the following tenets, adapted from our strategic plan:
Honor and celebrate the indigenous Anacostan people in our education and outreach programs, and engage their descendants in our conservation and restoration programs.
Ally with African American, Latino, and Asian communities in the watershed, learning their needs and aspirations, and seeking their guidance and experience as we plan and implement conservation activities and develop programs for the Anacostia Watershed Center.
Ensure that our climate resilience efforts meet the needs of historically underserved neighborhoods in DC Wards 7 and 8 and Maryland suburbs southeast of the city, working with them to mitigate flood, water quality, and other risks posed by climate change.
Make certain that everyone has equitable access to increased resources and amenities, such as fishing and swimming, that will become available as the river recovers.
Ensure that local communities, particularly those that have been historically marginalized, are not inordinately subjected to pollution, habitat loss, flooding, etc. due to government and private sector decision-making.
