"Before my son moved to NYC to go to college; on one of his last days here in Baltimore, just him and I took a canoe ride out on the Middle Branch. He is studying engineering and architecture and as we paddled under the Hanover Street bridge, we marveled at its construction and design. When I reimagine the Middle Branch area, I envision happy and prosperous communities that are gathering in peace and power. I would love for our community to have an enhanced connection to nature and the bay. Understanding that everything you do impacts the environment and understanding that everything someone else may do impacts your environment.

The most staggering feeling I have is that the waterfront is about to drastically change. When I look out, I see so much opportunity for growth and opportunity for everybody. I work, hope and try to make sure that not only is no one left out; but the developments are an opportunity for communities that have been underserved and at times forgotten. The Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative (EJJI) constantly surveys our outreach, especially among our youth education programming and what we find is that we have inspired, helped and even employed young people to consider environmental justice as a career path in disciplines from environmental law, advocacy, science, and journalism. Reimagine Middle Branch helps our organization access funding and helps to build networks in a cohesive and comprehensive way with the focus on equity, inclusion, and increased engagement through education.

I am encouraged about the possibility of enhanced amenities and facilities. It is our hope at EJJI that we can develop an Environmental Justice Community Center that can serve the community for education, research, art, recreation, and events that will bring all of those elements together for comprehensive engagement to the waterway."

- Donzell Brown

This interview was originally published on the Reimagine Middle Branch website as part of an interview series celebrating leaders, activists, and community members of the Middle Branch area.