Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake (IPC) is excited to welcome two new members of our team, Dr. Ebony Jenkins and Jobilynn Curran. Ebony is our new Outreach Coordinator for the Lower Eastern Shore, and Jobilynn joins us as a Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps member through the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
Dr. Ebony Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator for the Lower Eastern Shore, is a passionate environmental advocate with deep roots in the Eastern Shore, where she developed a lifelong love for nature and the environment. Ebony is excited to engage communities on the Lower Eastern Shore and looks forward to utilizing her expertise in entomology and food systems. And IPC is delighted that her background in food science and sustainable practices aligns perfectly with Strategic Plan goal to expand our work on local issues related to climate and food justice.
Ebony's fascination with the world of entomology began with her love for honeybees and local honey, which opened her eyes to the intricate relationships between insects and ecosystems. This curiosity led her to explore the vital role insects play in agriculture, which eventually inspired her to pursue a Ph.D. in Food and Agricultural Science. Ebony's research has had a significant impact on the field, and was featured in a PBS NOVA program focused on the potential of using edible insects as a sustainable food source.
Ebony is committed to educating the next generation. As a substitute teacher in addition to her work with IPC, she introduces elementary school children to the insect world, showing the students how these tiny creatures impact the food we eat. Hands-on learning experiences, such as rearing crickets from eggs to adults, help students see firsthand the role insects play in our food systems.
Ebony's insights will be crucial as we work to improve the health of our ecosystems and the Chesapeake Bay.
Jobilynn Curran, Jobi for short, a member of the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps, is thrilled to support IPC. Originally from Southern Maryland, she is excited about opportunities for professional development, including exploring new career options that allow her to pursue her passion for helping the environment. While a high school junior, Jobi found her calling - an Earth Day sermon about stewardship and care for creation echoed in her heart as a call to action. So after high school, she completed an environmental science degree on the Eastern Shore at Salisbury University. While there, Jobi served as the Vice President of the Environmental Students Association, and volunteered with environmental organizations on beach clean-ups, invasive species removal, and macroinvertebrate sampling.
After college, she worked in different aspects of the environmental field, while she continued to search for additional professional environmental experiences. Then, when exploring placement opportunities as a Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps member, Jobi connected with IPC, and was excited by our mission of creation care and environmental stewardship. Her personal call to action, interest in creation care and environmental stewardship, and desire to explore professional opportunities are the start of a exciting year of collaboration with IPC.
As Jobi says: "Sometimes our calling is not found in obvious places. Sometimes, it is hidden in the quiet moments of reflection, and when we listen to it and let it guide us, we get on a path to find our purpose that fulfills us."
She is excited to dive into this experience with IPC and continue her path of finding purpose and help better what we all have in common – the natural world around us.
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