Eroding History Goes to Orono

Rona Kobell • February 12, 2024

Eroding History Goes to Orono

By Rona Kobell

Last week, EJJI co-founder Rona Kobell and independent photojournalist André Chung flew to Bangor, Maine, to spend three days with communications, marine science, and policy students to talk to them about our work and our film, Eroding History. (Our co-producer, Sean Yoes, was not able to join us.) We also addressed a colloquium for doctoral candidates and master’s students to talk about how we formed the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative and what we are doing next.

All told, we probably screened Eroding History four times for different audiences. At our main screening, the climate scientist Jacquelyn Gill joined us. Dr. Gill is a paleoecologist and biogeographer, and she is also a social media star. She has hosted several podcasts, including the well-regarded Our Warm Regards. In the panel discussion, we talked about the difficulty in discussing climate change with the few people for whom it has not yet become an existential threat. The bad news is that sliver of humanity is getting smaller, as more and more of us are being forced from our homes.

We would like to thank our host, Michael Socolow, and generous support from the McGillicuddy Humanities Center for hosting us. Special thanks to Mike and all of his colleagues in the communications department for the wonderful reception. It was cold outside, but the generosity of our hosts made us forget about that. Well, that and the extra layers we brought!

You can catch Eroding History in the following places:

Reginald Lewis Museum

Martin Luther King Day Celebration, Inner Harbor

Thursday, Feb. 22, 6pm to 8pm

830 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore

University of Baltimore

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 6pm to 8pm

Wright Theater, Student Center, 5th Floor

21 W. Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore

Dorchester Center for the Arts

Saturday, March 9, 5:30pm to 8pm

Todd Hall, Dorchester Center for the Arts, Cambridge, MD

Reception at 5:30; Film at 6:30; Panel discussion to follow

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Thursday, March 14

Albin O. Kuhn Library, UMBC

This screening will be accompanied by several guest lectures from EJJI co-founder Rona Kobell.

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Reel Rewards Returns for 2026 Season with New Bounty Tiers

By Laura Quigley • March 24, 2026

Baltimore, MD – The Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative (EJJI) is excited to announce the return of Reel Rewards , a community-powered program that promotes sustainable fishing practices and helps control invasive species in the Baltimore Harbor. The 2026 season will run from April 25 to July 18, 2026 , and brings with it updated bounty tiers and continued opportunities for community engagement and environmental impact. This season, Reel Rewards features bounty tiers that support local anglers while providing gut content data that can be used by scientists and environmental managers. Participants are encouraged to catch invasive species like Northern Snakehead, Blue Catfish, and Flathead Catfish within the program boundaries, and bring the fish to designated drop-off locations on specific days. In return, fishers receive $10 for each fish head turned in, $10 for logging a picture of what’s inside the fish’s stomach, and $10 for each cleaned fish filet per fish to be re-used as bait. Reel Rewards is hosted by EJJI, funded by South Baltimore Gateway Partnership and the Maryland Whole Watershed Program , and in partnership with Reimagine Middle Branch and the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland . This unique collaboration brings together community voices, environmental researchers, and conservation advocates to tackle real ecological issues while uplifting Baltimore’s fishing communities. Registration is now open at: https://www.ianglertournament.com/ejji-reel-rewards-2026 For updates, official drop-off days and locations, and more details about participating, visit: https://www.ejji.org/reel-rewards . If you are with a community group or organization who would like to plan a joint event or educational engagement, contact EJJI at: veronica@ejji.org About EJJI The Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative (EJJI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental justice and community empowerment. Through storytelling, collaborative outreach, and hands-on programming, EJJI connects Baltimore communities with the researchers, policymakers, and advocates working on environmental justice issues in their neighborhoods. Contact: Veronica Malabanan Lucchese Environmental Science Program Manager, EJJI veronica@ejji.org ###