A little over a month ago, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake (IPC) welcomed John Collins to the team as an Outreach Assistant for Baltimore City, Baltimore County, as well as Howard and Harford Counties. He is thrilled to work in his hometown of Columbia, MD and was originally born in South Korea.

John’s love for the outdoors began in his childhood, with fond memories of exploring the woods, hiking with his family, playing basketball at the park, and fishing until sunset. This early passion for nature led him to develop a keen interest in conservation and understanding the impact of human actions on the environment. As he grew older, his appreciation for the natural world deepened, and he became an avid fisherman; spending most of his free time on the water. Whether from a boat or on shore, he cherished the beauty and tranquility of his days spent fishing.

John pursued his education at Towson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication. His educational background will help IPC reach even more faithful stewards so that they can join the movement of caring for sacred waters.

During college, his love for the water remained strong. He often spent his time outside of class fishing at the nearby Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County, catching largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and the occasional northern snakehead. These experiences further solidified his deep connection to the water, ensuring it remained a core part of his life by calling him to pursue a career in watershed, which brought him to IPC.

John is extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed, a resource he holds very dear to his heart. Come and meet John at our upcoming One Water Partnership Juneteenth & Solstice Celebration in Baltimore on June 19th. The planning of this event has been his first big project for IPC and will feature African and Native American drummers, storytelling, yoga, guided walks, native plant gardening, bug hunts with Blue Water Baltimore, and even fishing lessons from One More One Less (John's personal favorite activity). This free event is full of activities designed to help people of faith connect and learn more about the celebration of the Juneteenth holiday and the spiritual significance of the summer solstice, so we hope to see you there!