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Join the Rhode Island Land Trust Council as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Rhode Island Land & Water Conservation Summit at the University of Rhode Island Memorial Union on March 9, 2024! This year, we are focusing on critical strategies to conserve our important landscapes and waterways, and will be grounding our program in contemporary environmental challenges and opportunities for collaboration.
We are honored to welcome Tarshire Battle, Founder and Executive Director of Roots 2Empower, as this year’s keynote speaker to present on the theme, “Rooted in Resilience: Centering Community in Land & Water Conservation.” Through her keynote address, Tarshire will share a wealth of insights and experiences, highlighting the important role that economic empowerment and social justice play in the future of the land and water conservation in Rhode Island. Roots 2Empower was founded in 2019, to support people of color as they break the cycle of mass incarceration through economic empowerment and connection to the earth. The keynote presentation will explore how Roots 2Empower connects individuals to green spaces and green jobs, provides tools for financial empowerment, and advances environmental justice in Rhode Island and beyond. It will focus on envisioning a Rhode Island where families can thrive without the systemic barriers of poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, and incarceration. In addition to founding Roots 2Empower, Tarshire is the Director of Special Projects for the Southside Community Land Trust. Learn more about Tarshire and her work here.
The Summit will feature 30 engaging workshop sessions, including a workshop series from our lead facilitating partner, the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG). NESAWG unites Black, Brown, Indigenous, Aboriginal Earthworkers and frontline communities in the Northeast region to cultivate a just, regenerative, thriving food system for all. Their purpose is to grow global collective power that uproots systems of oppression in order to co-create a culture of care and sacredness of all living beings. Summit workshop topics include (but are not limited to) farmland protection, land use planning, climate change solutions, community-centered conservation, fundraising and organizational development, wetland permitting, land trust 101 and more! Click here for more information on all of the workshops and speakers.
Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to be inspired and connect with a network of over 30 vendors, businesses, and non-profits in the Conservation Commons, our exhibitor hall. Immerse yourself in a dynamic space where organizations showcase their impactful initiatives, and explore innovative solutions that drive positive change. Event attendees that visit all of the exhibitors will be entered for a fabulous prize in a drawing at our first Closing Ceremony at the end of the event, which will include a 50/50 raffle and other surprises. There will be plenty of dedicated time for networking and connecting with your friends and colleagues! Are you interested in sponsoring the event or tabling at the Summit? Learn more about the benefits here.
You will leave the Land & Water Summit inspired and engaged, with a commitment to building a more equitable and resilient future. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of this transformative event, as we envision a Rhode Island where land, water, and people can thrive together.
Tarshire Battle is a native Bostonian, and has resided in Pawtucket since 2002. She is a self-taught artist, using this medium as a catalyst for change for the homeless, battered women, youths, and returning veterans who have experienced trauma. Over the years, Tarshire has collaborated with nonprofit organizations using art as a vehicle for social change to address pressing issues like homelessness, mental health, and addiction. As a former Mental Health Discharge Planner at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Tarshire saw her clients return to prison due to systemic barriers preventing formerly incarcerated folks from gaining employment, dignified housing, and access to basic needs like healthy food and sanitation. She currently works as the Director of Special Projects for the Southside Community Land Trust and is the founder and Executive Director of Roots 2Empower (formerly Restoration Urban Farm of New England), a social enterprise that provides business and agriculture training for formerly incarcerated individuals. Tarshire holds a Masters in Public Administration from Northeastern University, a M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Boston University. She is also an accomplished herbalist and Master Gardener.
About NESAWG:
We unite as Black, Brown, Indigenous, Aboriginal Earthworkers and frontline communities in the Northeast region to cultivate a just, regenerative, thriving food system for all. Our purpose is to grow global collective power that uproots systems of oppression in order to co-create a culture of care and sacredness of all living beings.
Date & Time
Sat, Mar 9, 2024 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Venue Details
University of Rhode Island Memorial Union
50 Lower College RoadSouth Kingstown, Rhode Island 02881
