These sessions are designed to provide summit attendees with an in-depth overview of some of the work taking place across the WEL network and an opportunity to learn about the personal, educational, and professional pathways of women working in a variety of environmental spaces.

Imani Black was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Chestertown. Her passion for restoration and conservation began when she was a young girl and she continues to grow that interest in the rapidly growing shellfish aquaculture industry. After completing an aquaculture training program at Virginia Institute of Marine Science in 2016, Imani worked on oyster farms, nurseries and hatcheries along the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland. From 2018 to 2020, she was the Assistant Hatchery Manager of Hoopers Island Oyster Company, having the opportunity to work in all aspects of shellfish husbandry and production.

Through her love and career within the industry, Imani realized how her own demographic of women of color had been incredibly underrepresented and the least engaged in the space. In July of 2020, Imani founded Minorities In Aquaculture, a nonprofit organization that strives to empower and support underrepresented demographics (i.e women of color, women in general, people of color, etc) in the aquaculture industry by providing opportunities such as paid internships, technical skills training and career development resources.

Over the last 3 years, MIA has focused its efforts and resources toward specifically supporting women of color in their aquaculture careers. In addition to developing and operating the organization, Imani also obtained her Master’s degree in Marine, Estuarine, Environmental Science studying Ecological Anthropology from University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science. Overall, M.I.A has been recognized as an increasingly impactful network focused on sustainable seafood education, aquaculture workforce development, and active engagement approaches not only for the minority groups of aquaculture, but the industry as a whole in its efforts towards a more diverse and inclusive workforce and field.