University of Maryland—Anacostia Watershed Society

Reported by Devon Loetz, program manager for the full-time MBA program at University of Maryland Smith School.

Smith MBA Students assisted the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) with its mission to eradicate nonnative, invasive plants that threaten our local woodlands. Students helped remove Japanese stilt grass from the forest floor of Little Paint Branch Community Park in support of AWS’s efforts to rescue the native plant community. AWS shared with students its emphasis on community involvement as a critical component to achieving its vision. AWS seeks win-win solutions through strong partnerships and coalitions, with all parts of the community, government, and other stakeholders. A core component of AWS is reaching out to, educating, and engaging the next generation of decision makers.