The 'Engaging Faith Communities for Coastal Resilience' (EFCCR) project builds upon previous work carried out by the Deal Island Peninsula Project (DIPP) to develop collaborative networks between rural coastal communities and government to address ongoing and future environmental impacts anticipated with sea level rise. Many rural coastal communities on the Maryland Eastern Shore are organized around the church and guided by a strong sense of faith, which plays an important role in leading community members through challenges and uncertainties. Yet, churches remain largely disconnected from government resources and assistance that could additionally help support these communities when flooding, erosion, and storms interrupt or threaten community health and well-being.

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To address these gaps, this project draws upon the DIPP's collaborative learning approach -- where all participants teach and learn from each other -- to engage church members and government decision-makers in developing adaptation projects that fit local needs and priorities in the face of ongoing and future environmental change. 

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This project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and led by researchers from the University of Maryland.