Eroding History Film Premiere

Rona Kobell • April 17, 2023

Eroding History Film Premiere

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Rona Kobell

BALTIMORE – The Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative Presents Eroding History, a film that tells the story of two Black communities on Deal Island that are in danger of losing their history and culture due to rising seas, and how they are fighting to hold on to what remains.

The 27-minute documentary film is premiering at 7 p.m. on April 18 as part of the Baltimore Environmental Film Series, which Loyola University of Maryland is sponsoring. Award-winning journalist and photographer Andre Chung directed the film; longtime Chesapeake Bay reporter Rona Kobell produced it; and renowned West Baltimore radio host, columnist, and filmmaker Sean Yoes co-produced and co-wrote it. The team began working last summer.

The April 18th screening will also feature Disruption: The Highway to Nowhere, a short film that EJJI executive produced with director Sean Yoes about the wound in West Baltimore’s neighborhoods. The third short film, Smithville, is also about environmental displacement. EJJI co-founder Rona Kobell produced and wrote Smithville when she worked at Maryland Sea Grant. Maryland Sea Grant produced the film, with then-Morgan State University students Wyman Jones and Jalysa Mayo directing it.

All three films focus on Black displacement, whether on Maryland’s Eastern Shore or Baltimore City. Eroding History, which is premiering at the festival, explores the intersection of historical racism and climate change on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead, founder and executive director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace, and Social Justice, will moderate a filmmaker discussion after the screening.

The Center for the Humanities at Loyola, Messina at Loyola, Department of Communication, Department of Management & Organizations, and Global Sustainable Business Club are sponsoring the event. The screening is free and open to the public. For more information about Eroding History and EJJI, please visit https://www.ejji.org/media or follow us on Twitter @EnvJustJourn, Instagram @ejji_journ, and Facebook at @EnvJustJourn.

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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 ###