Strong Communities | Alliance MRW

Photo given by Paul Duddy

Resilience is relational. Resilient communities are caring communities, where people care about all of the beings in their community. In the Alliance for the (CT) Mystic River Watershed, we learn together about this beautiful place, we learn about how the past influences the present, and that whatever we do on the land ends up affecting the water. A sense of shared purpose is emerging that sparkles with different insights and perspectives. Our relationships as allies in the endeavor to enhance and extend life in our whole watershed community brings both joy and hope through action. No one is resilient alone. We are only as resilient as the strength of our relationships.

Alliance Gatherings

Click on any image below to learn more about our Gatherings 1-4.

What is a Gathering?

*A gathering up of people who live, work, play, and care here in the Mystic River Watershed

*A gathering up of strengths and expertise

*Each gathering has a place-based learning opportunity

*The Alliance doing what the Alliance does: new research coalitions and opportunities; deepening understanding and awareness across cultures; injustices remedied...

*A gathering of hope and revitalizing energy

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1. Meet the Alliance Gathering, Coogan Farm

April, 2023. Coogan Farm and Denison-Pequotsepos Nature Center was our first organizational ally. 10 more, including Mystic Seaport, joined that night.

30+ people, ranging in age from 5 to 96

We talked about our personal connections to the waters we love and how we might work together across boundaries of all kinds.

A new community connected by the waters we love

So many new relationships were formed and commitments to continue researching, learning, and acting together. Carl Kaufmann, a cherished elder essential to the efforts to protect water quality on Block Island, created a guide for us with key questions we should be asking.

2. Wetlands & Floods, Old Mystic Methodist Church

We reminisced about the 2010 flood and learned about its causes upstream. Barbara Fontanella read a statement from the church district newsletter affirming the importance of caring for the rest of the natural world.

Viewing damage to the wetland at Smith St

The Alliance was awakened by the town's weakness in the face of an aggressive developer. We walked to the site and discussed the importance of wetlands for water retention and protection from more intense spring rains and summer storms.

Rep. Aundré Bumgardner asking, how can policy help?

Aundré Bumgardner represents both Stonington and Groton and tries to attend all of the Alliance gatherings. He is acutely aware of how policy needs to change at the state and local level to ensure healthy lives in the Mystic River Watershed.

3. Oyster Culture Gathering, Palmer's Provisions, Noank

Rahiem Eleazer and Mike Thomas (Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation) shared knowledge about the symbiotic relationship between Pequot culture and oysters. They also informed the group that the reason there is no longer a shellfish festival in Noank at Pequot-owned land is because the state now requires Native people to purchase licenses (unlike neighboring states). SeaGrant's Shellfish expert Tessa Getchis is working with the Tribes and the state on a solution now.

Oysterculturalists shared how important oysters are for regenerating whole ecosystems by cleaning the water and breaking waves, but also how important it is for them to grow in clean water in order to be at their best (and to be edible).

Underwater Community, Photos made by Bob Degoursey

Bob Degoursey, marine biologist and underwater photographer, shared some of his tremendous collection of photos from Noank Harbor 30 years ago, Now we need to take more to compare!

4. Honor the River & Paddle Culture, Mystic Seaport

Steve Fagin, Nature columnist and global kayak adventurer, led a paddle to honor the Mystic River. Starting from Old Mystic and Paddling to Noank and back to the Seaport celebration were 15 or so hardy souls...

Muhshoon Making at the Seaport Museum

Native American and African artists collaborated to create a beautiful muhshoon (dugout) which will be featured in an upcoming exhibit called Entangled. We were so lucky that they were still there to share some of their wisdom.

Short recording: Mike Thomas honors the river in the traditional way

Mashantucket Pequot Knowledge Keeper and Keeper of the Sacred Drum Mike Thomas honored the river with a prayer song. This is only one tiny piece of a moment that helped us all to reflect on our relationship to the river. Courtesy of Mike Thomas.