Outreach and Education Work Group
Mission
The Outreach & Education Work Group mission is to support and develop outreach and education efforts to maintain and improve stream health within the French Broad River watershed.
Work Group Chair
Jane Margaret Bell: janemargaret@landofsky.org
Current Work Group Focus
Love Your Watershed – French Broad Watershed Ambassador Program
- This project builds upon and expands the French Broad River Partnership’s initiative “Love Your Watershed: Cultivating River Stewards of the French Broad Basin.” It engages river and water-related businesses as official “French Broad Watershed Ambassadors” by providing a suite of participating actions that include Outreach Events, Fundraising, and Signage. This Love Your Watershed second phase continues the focus of increasing broad public awareness of and involvement in addressing water quality issues in the French Broad River Basin (FBRB). It synergizes with member organization outreach efforts throughout the basin, and provides unifying Love Your Watershed messaging and branding across the entire FBRB. The current French Broad Watershed Ambassadors include Hi-Wire Brewing and Oklawaha Brewing.
Long Term Goals
- Engage river and water-related business members in water quality education and public outreach in a way that is mutually beneficial. Host ongoing events throughout the year.
- Bring more business members into the Partnership and foster long term engagement.
- Develop a sustaining source of funding from local businesses to support the Partnership.
- Reach a wide, public audience with the Love Your Watershed (LoYoWa) campaign and teach water-friendly actions you can do in your own yard.
- Install more Love Your Watershed signs in public spaces around the watershed.
- Generate educational content on water quality topics for the wider public.
Work Group Highlights
- Awarded EPA 5-Star Waters Grant for LoYoWa phase 1 project
- Created LoYoWa brand and logo.
- Through LoYoWa Phase 1, 8 commercial-grade educational signs were installed at parks and breweries across the watershed.
- Developed LoYoWa French Broad Watershed Ambassador program and were awarded a 205j grant to implement the project.
- Hired graphic designer to develop promotional and education materials for outreach events. Developed FBRP + LoYoWa logo.
- Hosted two successful Ambassador outreach events.
- Raised funds to support ongoing Partnership work.
