Mercer Times

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is collaborating with Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) and the Outdoor Equity Alliance (OEA) to launch a new internship program aimed at increasing diversity in the land stewardship workforce. This initiative is supported by a $49,990 grant from the Watershed Restoration and Community Engagement Program, awarded by New Jersey Audubon through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The program's goal is to boost representation of non-white and first-generation college students in conservation roles while promoting watershed stewardship. Four TCNJ students have been selected for this pilot program: Jalissa Colon, Julian Delemos, Katherine Zumba, and Myara Gomez. They are pursuing majors in civil engineering, public health, and journalism.

Wendy Clement, chair of TCNJ’s Department of Biology, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative: “We are thrilled for the TCNJ interns to learn from experts at FoHVOS and OEA as they join a new generation of land stewards with tools to shape conservation efforts on campus and across Ewing.”

The interns will engage in conservation activities within the Shabakunk Creek watershed on lands owned by TCNJ and Ewing Township. Their work aims to support local land stewardship critical for maintaining water quality flowing into the Delaware River. Gomez shared her aspirations: “I have a passion for sustainability and this is a great opportunity. I hope to gain environmental writing experience and learn even more about how I can participate in stewardship opportunities in Trenton and Ewing.”

Participants will acquire skills like native plant identification, data management, conservation planning, professional development opportunities, and networking with industry leaders.

Jenn Rogers, Executive Director of FoHVOS, highlighted the significance of this grant: “This grant makes it possible for our stewardship team to expand our community-focused efforts in many exciting ways... Our goal is for this program to become a model for other New Jersey colleges and universities.”

This grant is part of a larger $228,000 award supporting projects that promote watershed restoration and community engagement. Leaders from FoHVOS and OEA hope this pilot program will inspire similar initiatives across schools and municipalities.

FoHVOS manages nearly 3,000 acres of preserves with 17 miles of hiking trails. The OEA works towards equitable access to nature for all communities.