Events

The Carolina Ocean Alliance Announces The Hope Summit 2023

Published

1 year ago

September 15, 2023

Press Release

The Carolina Ocean Alliance is pleased to announce its highly anticipated event, “The Hope Summit 2023”.

The Hope Summit is an annual conference and festival held in Charleston at the end of September to highlight our community’s challenges and celebrate the community-driven solutions possible through dozens of nonprofits, community organizations, schools, and local agencies working to create agency and hope in coastal South Carolina.

“At The Hope Summit, community-driven solutions mean solutions that create agency for all members of our living community, human and non-human,” said Grey Gowder, Executive Director of Carolina Ocean Alliance and Festival Director of The Hope Summit. “This multi-disciplinary and intersectional gathering exemplifies the power of community ecology where everyone can be part of creating a more vibrant and resilient community. The agency that comes from equipping ordinary people with the tools and collaborators they need to work towards the future they want for their children and grandchildren fosters the kind of hope that gives The Hope Summit its name.”

But that is only one of several forms of hope found at The Hope Summit. “Professionals in climate, conservation, or social justice fields often feel isolated and overwhelmed by sadness and guilt,” continued Gowder. “At our Conference, we aspire to carve out a few days a year for those professionals where they can find community in current and future collaborators, become inspired by other solutions practitioners, and remember the curiosity and love that inspired their life’s work.”

For The Hope Summit 2023, the Carolina Ocean Alliance is partnering with the College of Charleston’s Masters of Environmental Science and Sustainability program, the Daniel Island Neighborhood Association and Property Owners Association, and the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network to host a 3-day gathering that is free and open to the public from September 29th – October 1st, including a virtual schools program curated by The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network, kick-off party, conference, and festival.

September 29th, 6:00 – 8:00 PM The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network presents The Hope Summit 2023 Kick-off Party at 2022 host Brewlab (2200 Herriott Street). Meet and mingle with fellow Summit guests and VIPs as we kick off our celebration of community-driven solutions.

September 30th, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM The Hope Summit Conference returns for its first year in person at the College of Charleston’s School of Sciences, Mathematics & Engineering (202 Calhoun Street), sponsored by the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and co-hosted by the College of Charleston’s Environmental Science and Sustainability program. The Conference is an opportunity for a multidisciplinary community of solutions creators, practitioners, and accelerators to exchange knowledge, experience, and best practices to strengthen community-driven solutions in the South Carolina Lowcountry. The Conference will feature over 30 expert speakers across a mainstage panel series and two themed short talk blocks.

The Conference will open with a Welcome by Mayor John Tecklenburg, College of Charleston Dean Sebastian van Delden, Mark Haver of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and opening remarks by Grey Gowder.

Stan Rogers, Superintendent of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, will provide the closing keynote address on his vision for the future of National Marine Sanctuaries like Gray’s Reef based on comprehensive systems-based management that partners with neighboring coastal communities and upstream communities.

In addition to featuring today’s leaders, The Hope Summit Conference seeks to showcase and develop the next generation of leaders through the “Young Voices of Change” panel and mentorship sessions for students and early career professionals.

October 1st, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM The Hope Summit 2023 Festival is a family-friendly celebration of agency and hope on October 1st from 11 AM – 4 PM at the Daniel Island Waterfront Park co-hosted by the Carolina Ocean Alliance and Daniel Island Neighborhood Association. The Festival will feature dozens of local organizations, solutions providers, and sustainable vendors.

If traveling from downtown, West Ashley, or nearby communities, attendees can reserve a free round-trip pass for the Daniel Island Ferry from the waterfront near the South Carolina Aquarium to the Festival.

Explore the Family Zone, an immersive and sensory educational experience for children and their parents, curated by the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network and sponsored by Toadal Junk Removal. Come early and be one of the first 50 families to receive a free Yeti Load Out bucket from Beach Santa for litter sweeps and citizen science activities. Take a virtual reality dive into the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary and discover the scents and textures of native herbs and flowers with Roots and Shoots Nursery. Enjoy the healthy and delicious offerings of Roti Rolls or Daniel Island favorites like The Dime or Kings Tide, and enjoy a sweet treat from Holy City Italian Ice.

This zero-waste event is made possible in partnership with SMART Recycling and Keep Charleston Beautiful by diverting compostable waste from the landfill, and by reducing single-use bottles and cups with the help of Charleston Water System’s water refilling station. Attendees can recycle their used glassware with Fisher Recycling or fill them with sustainable hygiene products from Wake Refill.

Learn more about The Hope Summit at thehopesummit.org.

To register for this event, please visit thehopesummit2023.eventive.org/welcome.