Community Engagement Committee
Photo by Donté Jackson
The Community Engagement Committee is focused on engagement between the VSO and a variety of communities across Virginia.
In 2024 we created a successful grant program - See https://www.virginiabirds.org/scholarships-grants. We plan to offer this program in 2025 and beyond given the success of the 2024 program.
The VSO is using these grants to increase access to the joy of connecting with nature through birds by engaging historically under-served communities, including but not limited to Minorities, Tribes, LGBTQ, and those with accessibility needs. The ultimate goal is to bring all voices together for nature conservation to benefit people as well as nature.
Our Committee was very happy to have successfully made all budgeted awards for outreach grants in the cycle ending May 1, 2024. Five awards were made for approximately $1000 each. We believe that these awards will help Virginia birds, Virginia Ornithology, and Virginia birders by engaging more communities more heavily in nature. We, the VSO, also benefit from hearing and learning from these communities.
Members: Guy Babineau (Chair), Chris Bolgiano.
Also accepting new members.
| Applicant | Program | Venue |
| Crow’s Nest Research Center & Patawomeck Indian Tribe | 4 seasonal gatherings for Tribal youth to learn birding techniques and historic relationships with birds | 132 acres of wetlands and uplands with three miles of mowed trails winding through diverse natural habitats. Stafford, VA |
| Black Avian Enthusiasts of Richmond, VA | Hosting an instructional birding walk for new birders during Black Birders Week | Bryant Park, Richmond, VA |
| Eastern Woodland Revitalization (Indigenous Nonprofit) | Restore historic agricultural relationship between Native Tribes and Purple Martins | Eastern-Central VA |
| Elizabeth River Project | 3 birding walks for low-income, diverse youth | Paradise Creek Nature Park, Portsmouth, VA |
| Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute | Improve accessibility and foster a more inclusive learning environment in the new bird banding station | Front Royal, VA |