October 29th, 2024
When I took on the roles of CEO and President in April 2023, I quickly launched a comprehensive listening tour with board members, staff, principals, teachers, program alums, and nonprofit leaders. My assessment revealed that while our education programs were solid and practical, our infrastructure required significant improvement. Recognizing the opportunity to enhance our infrastructure to better support programming for students and staff, I promptly initiated a strategic planning process.
While attending the Climate Resiliency Conference at the University of Massachusetts Boston, sponsored by the Stone Living Lab, I identified the need to integrate climate resiliency education with our STEM initiatives. I emphasized empowering students to engage with the environment and tackle climate change without fear. I shared these insights in a podcast: Sylvia Watts McKinney, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center | Isaacson, Miller (imsearch.com)
At Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound School (CSIOBS), we integrate Outward Bound principles and practices by offering outdoor experiential programs that help participants develop essential skills such as courage, teamwork, and self-awareness. We are committed to strengthening our partnerships with the National Parks of Boston, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the Boston Harbor Partnership, the Stone Living Lab, and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
These collaborations create numerous opportunities for our students and educators to engage in nature-based work, explore climate resiliency options, and pursue entrepreneurship in the green and blue sectors. This marks a significant step toward providing a comprehensive and impactful educational program.
A year later, three pillars emerged from our year-long strategic planning process: 1) deepening programming, 2) cultivating partnerships, and 3) building a solid foundation. Underlying these pillars is a focus on transforming the island while fostering a vibrant island ecosystem in partnership with renowned architects and designers. This work is critical to our pillars. Through this process, we will deepen our impact by growing supportive relationships between students and their teachers, communities, and peers, developing leadership skills in confidence, compassion, and curiosity, and increasing contributions to the natural world and their communities. We also envision a pipeline of qualified BIPOC leaders for green/blue sectors and communities that are improved through youth climate advocacy.
Transforming the Campus and the Island
Our commitment to modernization goes beyond strategic planning. We are developing a Comprehensive and Conceptual Master Modernization Plan (CCMMP) to modernize our campus and expand our services to more students. This expansion aims to foster a stronger, more inclusive community.
A committee composed of staff, board members, Indigenous community representatives, and a Conservation Foundation expert played a crucial role in helping CSIOBS select an architectural team to advance these transformative projects. The Indigenous community representatives were not just token members but active participants in decision-making, ensuring that every aspect of our unique ecosystem can thrive harmoniously for future generations.
Additionally, this endeavor will honor the history and traditions of Indigenous peoples and acknowledge the diverse backgrounds of our visitors from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia. We must respect and celebrate all legacies.
I worked with Mossik Hacobian, chair of the Asset Management Committee, to initiate a comprehensive process to secure a team of experts in architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, storytellers, sustainability, and climate resiliency. This process involved careful consideration of each expert's qualifications and their alignment with our mission. With the involvement of volunteers, representatives from the indigenous community, and staff, the selection of a dynamic team of experts to lead was confirmed in September 2024.
With philanthropic support, CSIOBS will invest over $250,000 to support the implementation of the CCMMP. This plan is crucial for addressing the complex challenges and uncovering the island's rich history, from its early occupation by Indigenous People to its role in integrating students and its current and future programming. The CCMMP will focus on modernizing our campus, expanding our services to more students, and fostering a stronger, more inclusive community. This month, we had the privilege of touring with the renowned landscape architect Kongjian Yu, who champions the concept of sponge cities. His visit, along with many other influential figures in the climate resiliency movement in Boston, has sparked a wave of excitement about our work on the island and his insights will significantly influence our modernization plan.
Stantec, a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting, will oversee the entire project, including its architectural and design components. This will involve reviewing the existing building conditions, supporting the program analysis, and recommending strategies for building and sustainability improvements to align with our modernization master plan goals.
Arup, a global collective dedicated to sustainable development, will implement the climate resilience plan using technology and a rigorous approach.
Ground, INC, an award-winning landscape architecture firm committed to creating exceptional, artful, and sustainable designs, will assess current site conditions, gather input from stakeholders, and develop landscape concepts for the master plan to guide the island's future modernization.
Lastly, Dr. Aisha Dinsmore Bey, a renowned author, illustrator of children's books, filmmaker, and graphic designer, will collaborate with Sebastian Ellington Flying Eagle Ebarb, a member of the Choctaw-Apache tribe of Ebarb. Together, they will push past conventional thinking by using storytelling and signage to enhance the island's visitor experience, branding, and appeal, with a particular focus on incorporating narratives and cultures of Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC).
The CCMMP will address Boston's complex history with race and education and will particularly leverage the island's pivotal role in promoting equity and inclusivity in education. The CSIOBS plans to expand opportunities for educating students on climate resilience advocacy and advancing outdoor learning, explicitly focusing on serving children of color from marginalized communities. This commitment to inclusivity and equity is at the heart of our mission, ensuring that all voices are heard and all communities are served.
The work on the CCMMP began in October 2024 and is expected to conclude in June 2025. This timeline was carefully chosen to ensure that the project is completed promptly, allowing us to start reaping the benefits of the modernization plan as soon as possible. We are committed to this timeline and are confident in our ability to deliver on it.
The project's success is underpinned by the team's diverse perspectives and, more importantly, their shared commitment to the organization's mission. This diversity of thought and shared dedication promises a bright future for CSIOBS, ensuring that our final product will significantly bolster fundraising efforts for larger goals and pave the way for a more sustainable and inclusive future.
This innovative planning will transform our campus and programming, and through it, we will deepen our commitment to sustainability. This work is about creating a legacy of resilience, environmental stewardship, and social justice that will benefit future generations. To support these initiatives, we have recently completed the hiring of two key positions: the Vice President of Asset Management, who will oversee the operations and development of our island facilities, and the Vice President of Climate Resiliency, Entrepreneurship, and Programming, who will lead our efforts to identify new opportunities for our students and educators.
We are asking big questions and setting reasonable goals: How can we ensure our entire ecosystem flourishes harmoniously with nature? How can we empower even more students with the skills and knowledge to navigate a world marked by climate change? And how can we honor the legacies of Indigenous peoples and diverse communities while building a more inclusive future?
I am excited about our future.