On Saturday, April 5, Wesleyan’s Beckham Hall became a hub of energy, inquiry, and collaboration as the Bailey College of the Environment co-hosted the second annual Connecticut River Valley Environmental Summit. The event, organized by the Connecticut River Museum and cosponsored by the Bailey COE, brought together a broad coalition of local voices—scientists, policymakers, academics, nonprofit leaders, and cultural institutions—all united by one shared goal: protecting the health of the region’s waterways for generations to come.
Between a series of insightful presentations, attendees mingled and spoke with the poster presenters lining the walls, which included Wesleyan students, professors, and marine science educators. The room buzzed with multi-disciplinary energy.
From CT River Coastal Conservation District Chair Denise Savageau’s data-driven update on the health of Long Island Sound to an insightful panel on migratory fish populations with Andrew Fisk (New England regional director, American Rivers), Ken Sprankle (project leader, US Fish & Wildlife Service), and Kevin Job (fisheries biologist, CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection), the summit made clear that our ecosystems are at a turning point. Hartman Deetz, environmental and cultural steward of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, brought a powerful perspective to the conversation, speaking on Indigenous rights, cultural stewardship, and the transformative potential of rights of nature laws.
Later presentations turned to justice and action. Connecticut River Conservancy Connecticut River Steward Rhea Drozdenko and ConnecticutRiver Conservancy Environmentnl Education and Outreach Assistant Ava Gandhi led a forward-looking discussion on what environmental justice means for the next generation, while a river steward roundtable—featuring Anthony Allen, Julia Cavicchi, Jon Morrison, and Rebecca Todd—highlighted on-the-ground strategies for change. Over lunch, attendees sat down with local experts for candid, connective conversations.
Beneath the day’s energy was a shared concern: the erosion of environmental protections under the current federal administration. “It’s an assault on public service,” said Andrew Fisk, to a round of applause.
By hosting the summit, the Bailey COE didn’t just lend a space—it showed its role as a center of environmental advocacy and policy innovation. The message was simple: protecting our rivers takes all of us. And here, in the heart of Middletown, that work is underway.