Call for Proposals: Expanding the Benefits of Coastal Restoration
By: Shahela Begum, Program Director, Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund
Nature is more than the sum of the ecosystem services it provides—it is a source of belonging, healing, and connection. At Restore America’s Estuaries, we believe coastal restoration should strengthen not only ecosystems, but also the people and communities who depend on them. Our vision is simple and powerful: healthy, thriving, resilient coastal ecosystems that benefit everyone.
While this theme crosscuts the entire Summit, there is a need to explicitly build the community’s capabilities on these topics. This focus area highlights efforts to improve coastal access, community resilience and equity in the coastal sector to ensure the costs and benefits of coastal management are equitability and accessibly distributed. This includes issues of staffing and retention within the sector, serving the communities we work with and among, and the incorporation of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), tribal representation, tribal partnerships, and other perspectives that enrich decision-making and broaden the beneficiaries of coastal investments.
As we look ahead to the 2026 RAE Coastal & Estuarine Summit, we see a pivotal opportunity. As a national convener, we can help shape a more inclusive, equitable future for coastal restoration—one where every community has a voice, and every community benefits from the protection of our nation’s most valuable coastal resources.
To guide this work, we frame our commitment through CARE: Coastal Access, Resilience, and Engagement:
Coastal Access
- Every community deserves the chance to experience, enjoy, and benefit from our coasts. That means breaking down longstanding barriers so that conservation, restoration jobs, and decision-making are truly accessible to all.
Resilience
- Stronger ecosystems mean stronger communities. Through sustainable, community driven restoration practices, we can help coastal regions adapt to rising seas, increased flooding, and climate driven change—while ensuring that the most vulnerable populations are not left behind.
Engagement
- Restoration succeeds when leadership is shared. We bring together voices from federal, state, and local governments; Tribal Nations; nonprofits; academia; and community partners to cocreate solutions that reflect diverse experiences and priorities.
Together, we can restore our coasts—and ensure that everyone shares in their benefits.
We invite you to help lead the national conversation at the 2026 RAE Coastal & Estuarine Summit. We invite you to submit proposals that explore:
- Approaches that broaden who benefits from coastal investments
- Programs that reflect the diverse needs of local communities and inclusivity
- Incorporation of Tribal leadership, TEK, and authentic partnerships
- New pathways for workforce development and nontraditional hiring
- Strategies to reduce gentrification and displacement
Submit your proposal here: https://estuaries.org/2026-summit-call-for-proposals/
We are also inviting sponsors who want to champion equitable, community centered coastal protection—whether you aim to connect with new partners, showcase innovations, or recruit top talent.
For sponsorship information, contact LSpeidell@estuaries.org.
Registration for the 2026 RAE Coastal & Estuarine Summit opens April 13.
