The March ELA Session was this year’s first Project workday, and with this year’s project brief focused on the neighborhood of Chesterfield Heights in Norfolk, the students spent the day learning about the history and future of this neighborhood. Early in the day the students heard from Shereen Hughes, Mason Andrews, and Mujde Erten-Unal, from Wetlands Watch, Hampton University, and Old Dominion University respectively. With help from the Hampton and ODU students, Shereen, Mason, and Mujde presented the current research and projects about Chesterfield Heights. They spoke on how this area is being greatly affected by sea level rise, discussed some current methods for dealing with the issue, and provided concepts that the students had developed during their fall and spring semesters.
To put this new knowledge into practice, the students were treated to a tour of Chesterfield Heights. During the tour, the students were presented with the many ways that the Elizabeth River Project is educating residents and trying to bring the community together to help alleviate the pressures presented by constant flooding. Also during the tour, the students were able to visit the new Grandy Village Learning Center. During the presentation and tour of the facility given by Russell Carlock, AIA, the students learned how this LEED Gold certified building was helping to bring the community together through education and other activities on the water.
Once the students returned to the Slover Library, they met with Christine Morris, the Chief Resiliency Officer from the City of Norfolk. She spoke about how Norfolk needs to become more adaptable to various manmade and natural shocks and stresses. To point all this information in the right direction, the students used the rest of the day as a project work day.
The next session takes place on April 10th in Alexandria.