Resources

AAG JEDI Committee Resources for Defending Geographic Inquiry and Our Communities

Key values and ethical commitments held by geographers, including those encapsulated in the AAG Statement of Professional Ethics, have been challenged by presidential executive orders, Dear Colleague letters, and other executive branch actions. This resource guide aims to gather a usable set of materials to inform action across a range of issues and groups that have been directly targeted. Two throughlines in these documents are recommendations: 1) to refuse anticipatory obedience and its iterations of over-compliance or anticipatory compliance; and 2) to organize to assert rights as part of defending our communities.

We will add to and update with new material. Please message [email protected] with resources you would like to recommend.

Defending Immigrants

Statements

Organizing Networks & Resources

Defending JEDI

Statements, Research

Organizing Networks & Resources

Defending Academic & Scientific Inquiry

Statements, Research

Organizing Networks & Resources

Defending LGBTQ+ People

Statements, Research

Organizing Networks & Resources

Data Repositories for Federal Agency Data

Digital Security

Statements, Research

Addressing Transnational Repression on Campuses in the United States. 2024. Freedom House

Organizing Networks & Resources

Legal Defense & Liability Insurance

Statements

(Check back for resources to be added)

Organizing Networks & Resources

Mental Health

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President's Column

Meeting in Detroit, and Meeting the Moment

Word cloud created by Patricia Ehrkamp to complement her column including the major words: Detroit; movements; agency; communities; land; talk; indigenous; reparations; urban; returns; black; anishinaabe; ways; etc.

Photo of Patricia Ehrkamp

When I first considered “Making Spaces of Possibility” as the theme for our 2025 Annual Meeting, it would have been difficult to imagine how much the world of geography and higher education would be in turmoil by now. Rapid policy shifts in the U.S. with regard to funding for geographic research and the scientific enterprise more broadly, restrictions on academic freedom and the topics we can teach, drastic challenges to the institutions of democracy, and the looming upheaval in geopolitical alliances in the world were not what I anticipated when envisioning our Annual Meeting this year. Alas, this is where we find ourselves.

As our conference in Detroit is approaching, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the importance of such a gathering as geography scholars, educators, and practitioners come together. We do so in order to exchange scholarly findings and insights, think about geographic futures, and collectively contribute to geographic knowledge production. Gathering, collaborating, thinking, debating—sometimes fiercely, and organizing for better futures strike me as critically important in the current moment, a moment that seems intent on undermining the very foundations and principles of our work. My hope is that gathering in Detroit will energize us and strengthen our commitments to working toward more equitable futures. The Annual Meeting program is a testament to these commitments, and I am very much looking forward to learning from and with geographers later this month.

Speakers in this year’s presidential plenary will address how geographers and interdisciplinary scholars may contribute to Making Spaces of Possibility, spaces that allow for imagining and enacting more equitable worlds, that are tuned into local and global processes, and respect and validate the experiences of diverse residents, advocates, and activists. Drawing on their respective fields of expertise, Kyle T. Mays, Natasha Myhal, and Jessi Quizar take on these questions with regard to racial capitalism, land, sovereignty, ecological restoration, and repair. Thinking through questions of reparations, ecological restoration, and care, as these talks will do, the speakers highlight how geographers can engage in meaningful scholarship and political actions that affect positive change. Their scholarship also reminds us that organizing for change takes time, energy, and dedication. I look forward to hearing our speakers’ arguments in depth, and to the questions and conversations that these talks will spark.

After all, geographers have been making spaces of possibility for a long time. Whether these are our classroom spaces, research labs, reading groups, activism, or community mapping efforts (we honor Gwendolyn Warren this year for her innovation and advocacy in this field!) As an institution, the AAG has been fostering geographic research, education, and geographic careers for over 120 years, through journal publications, annual and regional meetings, and advocacy on behalf of our discipline and members. Along the way, our organization has evolved—for the better, as far as I’m concerned. We have been working toward broadening the tent of geography, insisted on valuing different viewpoints, affirming different research approaches and a broad range of topics, and considering how, as geographers, we can continue to make significant contributions to making this world a better place for all its inhabitants. At the same time, we have created more inclusive and accessible spaces for participating in meetings and the discipline more broadly.

While we prepare for the Annual Meeting, write our talks, and make plans to meet up with colleagues, collaborators, and friends, I also wanted to highlight opportunities for taking immediate action. If you are able to and feel so inclined, please join this week’s Stand Up For Science March in Washington DC or the numerous local events across the U.S. And please continue to call your elected representatives. There are numerous good reasons to urge Congress to protect NOAA, restore funding for science and/or for international education and exchange programs such as Fulbright, which have long been supporting geographers, geographic research, and teaching.

I also wanted to highlight opportunities for taking immediate action. If you are able to and feel so inclined, please join this week’s Stand Up For Science March in Washington DC or the numerous local events across the U.S. And please continue to call your elected representatives.

Over the past few weeks, AAG has continued to build coalitions with other scientific and professional organizations. We have signed on to several initiatives, including a letter to Congress to restore access to Federal public data. Earlier this week, AAG was one of 48 professional organizations to call on Congress to protect the future of science. The full letter, representing 100,000 scientists and experts through their professional organizations, is available here. Similarly, just last week AAG signed on alongside more than 550 organizations to urge Congress to protect the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (sign-ons are still being accepted). The AAG JEDI Committee issued a confirmation last week that the work to uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion in geography will continue. And of course, we will continue to champion NSF and work toward restoring funding and staff to the Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Program.

As important as these activities are in the short term, we cannot stop there. One of the priorities for AAG’s next 10-year long-term plan is to strengthen support for geography departments. Among other ideas, we’re working on expanding our year-round offers of online workshops and webinars, including those for department leaders. All of these new plans will take some time to map out and implement. I am heartened to see, however, that our colleagues are already thinking about the consequences of policy shifts. Beth Mitchneck and Stephanie A. Goodwin encourage departments and institutions to consider amending tenure and promotion rules for early career scholars who experience research delays or interruptions while lawsuits and advocacy for restoring funding play out. It is wonderful to see that their arguments build on AAG’s JEDI and advocacy work, and research collaborations fostered by AAG.

As we return to Detroit, I very much hope that the meeting will energize us, allow us to build better support structures, and generate a variety of ideas and conversations about geography, catalyze future research, and inspire geographers to continue making spaces of possibility. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Please note: The ideas expressed in the AAG President’s column are not necessarily the views of the AAG as a whole. This column is traditionally a space in which the president may talk about their views or focus during their tenure as president of AAG, or spotlight their areas of professional work. Please feel free to email the president directly at [email protected] to enable a constructive discussion.

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Patricia Ehrkamp
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News

AAG announces 2025 election results

AAG seal and American Association of Geographers logo

 

The 2025-26 AAG Election results have been tallied and those elected to office are as follows:

President: William G. Moseley, Macalester College

Vice President: Sara Smith, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

National Councilors

  • Andrew Curley, University of Arizona
  • Amy Frazier, University of California Santa Barbara

International Councilor: Anindita Datta, University of Delhi

Honors Committee

  • Cindi Katz, CUNY Graduate Center
  • Chandana Mitra, Auburn University
  • Joann Mossa, University of Florida

Nominating Committee

  • Caroline Faria, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Wendy Jepson, Texas A&M University
  • Francis Magilligan, Dartmouth College
  • Jay Newberry, Binghamton University
  • Jane M. Read, Syracuse University

The terms of office begin July 1, 2025.

Thank you to all the candidates and to our members for participating in the election. It’s an exciting time for all to work together to help move the AAG forward in the coming year

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Perspectives

Places of Possibility: Resources for Challenging Times

Person holding their hands in the shape of a heart with sunlight in background

By Risha RaQuelle, Chief Strategy Officer

Photo of Risha Berry

In times of such profound transformation, it’s crucial to lean on the work and relationships we’ve built over years of collaboration. The strength of our professional networks, resources, and shared commitment is what helps sustain us through challenging periods.

The constraints and threats we face are real—anti-DEI legislation, funding elimination, and systemic shifts challenge the very fabric of our work. But despite these obstacles, we continue to press forward. AAG, like each of our members, is navigating the path forward Yet, we persist—in supporting your career, your well-being, and the values that unite us as a community.

We encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the resources that sustain you. We’d also like to highlight some of the support AAG offers to contribute to your success and thriving.

For Individual AAG Members

Keep up your peer and mentoring network. Use the opportunities AAG offers for members to connect—through our Annual Meeting, career-focused sessions throughout the year, and local connections through the AAG Regional Divisions. As an AAG member, you are automatically part of your Regional Division, allowing you to engage with peers near you, strengthening community ties among geographers. The Regional Divisions also sponsor events focused on the next generation, from preliminaries for the World Geography Bowl to paper competitions and travel grants.

Your career matters, and we can help. From job search tools to liability insurance, AAG wants to help you navigate your career. The AAG Job Board lists opportunities in all sectors, at all levels of experience. AAG’s member-created Statement of Professional Ethics provides clarity and peer-sourced insight into the values and principles we seek to uphold in our discipline.

Communities of practice to support you.  AAG Specialty and Affinity Groups and Communities of Practice are designed to connect you with colleagues who share your expertise or interests. Your AAG membership makes you eligible for all of these communities of practice, which are renewed annually and carry their own modest dues, generally from $1 to $5 each year. These groups can serve as vital resources for advice, networking, and new opportunities.

Dedicated AAG staff can answer your questions. AAG’s Communities Team—Eddie McInerney and Mark Revell—can answer questions and support your participation in the Specialty/Affinity Group communities. You can also sign up for AAG’s regular JEDI Office hours.  JEDI Office Hours offer individuals and programmatic leaders the chance for one-on-one conversations about your ideas, experiences, and questions. Schedule a time to talk.

For Department Chairs and Program Leaders

AAG is strengthening tools to offer leaders of geography departments and programs new ways to protect and advance the discipline:

TLC-GRAM: This bridging inventory is designed to promote strategies for increasing belonging within the geography community, especially through strategic planning. We’ve curated a collection of resources, ideas, and initiatives, aimed at fostering inclusive and supportive environments that promote good governance and focus on making sure that all members of a community feel welcome and valued. If you have adapted this toolkit or have ideas for how to do so, we’d like to hear from you at [email protected].

State of Geography Dashboard: AAG’s repository for data on geography higher education as a field of study. These data provide insight into the educational landscape for geography in the U.S., as well as insights into the field that might inform dialogues within your institution, especially strategic planning.

Each summer, over the past years the Geography Faculty Development Alliance workshops have offered early-career geographers and department chairs support in pursuing their work in teaching, mentoring, and leadership.

The Healthy Departments Initiative addresses the challenges faced by geography departments. The HD Committee assists department chairs and provides practice information that can improve program quality. To find out more, contact [email protected]

For Protecting and Advancing Our Discipline

AAG offers ways to monitor and participate in activities on behalf of the geography discipline. AAG’s Advocacy Hub provides Information on AAG’s policy stances and recent advocacy efforts. Learn about our policy principles here.

Positions and Task Forces at AAG have taken up critical disciplinary questions that can aid your direction and decision making within our discipline. One of the core such documents for this moment is AAG’s Statement of Professional Ethics.

Visit our governance page to view reports of past AAG task forces and find out about current task forces, such as the Mentoring Task Force, which is examining how to expand mentoring opportunities within geography. AAG’s Professional Conduct Policy is also a foundational document that keeps all of us accountable to one another and sets the standard for professional conduct within our discipline.

Navigating Hostile Environments

Reflecting on the hostile working conditions that critical geographers have faced—attacks on tenure, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and challenges to academic unionization—I recognize the delicate balance between advocacy and pragmatic action. We, too, face shifting political landscapes. The AAG, like you, is navigating a world where decisions are made rapidly.

Here’s what I want you to know: The AAG is your member association. As a member, you are integral to how we adapt, educate, and advocate for the discipline of geography. We are a bridge, ensuring that geography remains a space where belonging is fostered, even when forces of othering try to dominate. Together, we can continue advocating for the values that matter most to our community, even as the political climate shifts.

Moving Forward Together

In closing, our commitment to promoting scholarly spaces, critical geographic research, and JEDI initiatives remains steadfast. We will continue to publicly affirm our dedication to advancing these principles through advocacy, awards, career-enabling functions, and providing access to training for students. By engaging in these efforts, we ensure that geography remains a space of possibility, even in increasingly inhospitable environments.

Through our annual meetings, regional gatherings, and resources, AAG offers opportunities to not only share research but also connect with others who understand the unique challenges we face. AAG will always be a space where ideas are shared freely, and all members are given the opportunity to contribute.

Let’s continue to work together—to build a future where geography and its practitioners can thrive, no matter the challenges we encounter.

The AAG Culture of Care column is an outreach initiative by the AAG JEDI Committee. Don’t forget to sign up for JEDI Office Hours. The current theme of Office Hours is An Ethos of Care in the Research Enterprise.

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Advocacy

Statement by AAG JEDI Committee: Recommitting to Our Core Values

Since January 20, 2025, over 100 Executive Orders have been issued together with a raft of “Dear Colleague” letters and other executive branch actions have resulted in funding freezes, audits and removal of identity and justice-related words from agencies, stop work orders, slashes to overhead rates for grant funding, and layoffs. These actions have sown chaos and distress. This shock and awe approach is awful. It has wreaked havoc on the education sector and seeks to curtail academic freedom of inquiry and teaching through funding mechanisms and ideological litmus tests. These actions take aim at issues, values, and people whom geographers hold close to our hearts and ethical commitments:

  • The indivisibility of justice. Racial justice, environmental justice, climate justice, gender justice, disability justice, social justice are interdependent and uphold one another.
  • Freedom of ethical inquiry and teaching: Our capacity to conduct research and teach can be eroded through austerity measures, including the shuttering of departments, indebtedness as the condition of study, and cuts to government funding of research. It can also be eroded by seeking to invalidate and legislate away entire areas of inquiry. As the association held in 2023, “Knowledge, accessible and freely offered, remains the best tool against intolerance and injustice. Whenever state-level actions are taken to suppress civil rights and academic freedom, they threaten the principles of equity, knowledge accessibility, and educational freedom that are the pillars of a healthy society. They also undermine the safety and fundamental human rights of LGBT2QIA+ people and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).”
  • Transformation of our field and association: Geographers have been working to confront the field’s colonial past and histories of harmful research and exclusion. We have been actively working to transform the AAG to dismantle barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

During this difficult time, we affirm the AAG member-created Statement of Professional Ethics: “Our discipline of geography is stronger when we uphold equity, human rights, and educational freedom across the breadth of geographic inquiry. We appreciate the diversity of our members’ experiences and backgrounds, as well as the broad variety of ideas and approaches to geographic knowledge production.”

This commitment is enshrined in the AAG Statement of Professional Ethics. The AAG remains true to these ethical commitments and to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI). We reaffirm our previous statements opposing cuts to HEGS at NSF, our opposition to “state-sponsored attacks on diversity initiatives and on critical studies of racial inequity across the United States,” and our support for critical inquiry and the rights and lives of LGBT2QIA+ people and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

We still have work to do and will continue our commitment and support for our members who have fought for human flourishing, fought for the Earth, and have fought to make this discipline responsible to and worthy of the world.

— The AAG JEDI Committee, February 2025

View JEDI Committee’s Resources for Defending Geographic Inquiry and Our Communities

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Resources

A Student’s Guide to the AAG Annual Meeting

AAG annual meeting attendees interact with AAG's giant inflatable globe during a break in the conference.

Attending an annual conference can be confusing and intimidating; regardless of whether you’re a first-time undergraduate attendee or a seasoned postgraduate student. At AAG, we want to do what we can to provide you with advice to cover all aspects of the Annual Meeting. Although this isn’t a comprehensive checklist, here are some tips and tricks to make the experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

Preparing for the Meeting

Travel, Lodging, and Packing

There are many factors to consider in deciding where to stay, including cost, proximity to the meeting venue, and desired experience (e.g. access to a kitchen, neighborhood vs. downtown, ability to share accommodations). Different kinds of lodging offer different advantages: the conference hotel, nearby hotels, or an option such as AirBnB or VRBO. However, AAG does reserve discounted rooms in a nearby conference hotel at each annual meeting. Understandably, attendees will seek the best deal for lodging. Students can pool their expenses together and stay in accommodations with each other.

Note details about the local airport or train station you’ll be arriving in, and public transportation options. AAG tries to select conference locations that are walkable, with good public transportation, and we share what we learn about local transportation options in our conference information.

If it’s your first time attending a conference, consider this packing list from Rebecca Rice, author of PhD in Clothes, who provides guidance about work-life balance, professionalism, authenticity and style on the academic career path.  Make sure to pack shoes for easy walking—you’ll be doing a lot of walking even just inside the conference center. Think about the field trips and excursions you’d like to do, and pack shoes and outerwear for them.

Building your presentation

Whether you’re presenting a paper, poster, or attending a panel discussion, start building your presentation early. Ideally, working with a mentor can help you tailor your presentation to communicate the necessary findings and next steps of your work. You may also consider asking your department faculty and staff about their experiences attending past academic conferences. Seasoned attendees often have secret hacks or insight gained from first-hand experience.

If you are presenting, host a small social practice session with fellow students and faculty. This will allow you to time the presentation to keep within the allotted limit and to practice without a script. A practice session can also present opportunities for your colleagues to provide feedback or propose possible questions the audience is curious about.

It’s important to note that presenting is not required; If you’re an undergraduate, attending a conference gives you the opportunity to hear a wider variety of viewpoints, and can help in giving you a better impression of the discipline as a whole.

Review the Program

The AAG Annual Meeting program will be released about a month before the start of the conference. Take advantage of the available information to plan out your daily schedule by checking out familiar names, sessions related to your interests and research or abstracts which sound interesting to you.

To one side of the online program (the right side in 2025), you can refine your search by session type, modality, sponsor groups, or a curated track, which is a compilation of sessions put together with a common theme or goal. From special sessions and workshops to networking events, you can find every event listed in the program. Don’t forget to download the AAG Meeting app to keep up-to-date on the latest changes of events, reminders, and meeting information. Consult our tip sheet for quick set-up and user guidance or delve more deeply into the functions of the app with our user guide.

Attending the Conference

Check In

When planning your trip, typically plan to arrive at the conference the day before it starts. AAG’s on-site registration will open the afternoon before the first day of the event, so you will be able to go to the venue and check in to collect your name badge. It’s crucial to wear your badge when attending any event affiliated with the meeting. This will often be your first introduction to and from other attendees as you familiarize yourself with others.

Day-by-Day

With a day long schedule, it’s recommended to dress comfortably, bring a water bottle, and a snack. With numerous keynote speakers, workshops, and panel discussions constantly ongoing, the meeting will feel hectic and confusing. Embrace the experience! Narrow in on sessions that call out to you and take the time to gain insights from presenters in your research niche. Engage in Q&A sessions, introduce yourself to other students, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

Networking doesn’t come easy, but with practice, it will come naturally over time. Students may take the time to prepare business cards and a brief elevator pitch about research interests or future goals. Get in touch with university professors and other students to start building a network of acquittances. Here are annual events that offer these opportunities. The best way to find these sessions are to filter the program by “AAG Events.”

  • Welcome Reception—The reception takes place on the first evening of the conference with drinks, bites, and space to mingle with other attendees.
  • Plenaries, Award Sessions, and Panels—With more than 1,000 sessions to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. AAG has several special types of sessions you can seek out in the program, from the special events to numerous awards sessions and plenary panels hosted by AAG Specialty groups.
  • World Geography Bowl—An AAG tradition is the World Geography Bowl, a fun, often fast-paced competition of student teams from AAG Regional Divisions. It’s a great opportunity to cheer on your peers, learn a few new things about geography, and mingle with other students.
  • Careers and Professional Development Center—Each year, AAG features a large track of over 50 panels, paper sessions, workshops, and networking events focused on career preparation and professional development for geographers. These sessions and events will take place throughout the entire conference in the Careers & Professional Development Center, a central hub for students, early-career professionals, job seekers, and other attendees to network and learn from professional geographers and develop strategies for finding employment in geography-related occupations.
  • Student Day—In addition to specialized offerings for students throughout the entire week, AAG works with student members to organize a full day of sessions dedicated to student research, methods training workshops, career planning & mentoring, and networking events and activities for students at all levels of higher education. Keep an eye out for the curated track and create your own schedule year after year.
  • Specialty and Affinity Group Business Meetings—AAG’s more than 75 specialty and affinity groups all have business meetings during the annual meeting. These meetings are usually small gatherings that provide excellent opportunities for you to discover an interesting community of your own—or several. The meetings are open to all AAG 2025 participants, and in fact many specialty and affinity groups see their business meetings as an important way to engage and recruit new members.

Conquer Your Fear of Missing Out

Take a break! Explore the area! It’s likely you won’t have time to attend everything you planned, and you may even skip an event you had slotted into your schedule to keep yourself from getting worn out. Many attendees are travelling from out of town, so this is an opportunity to connect with our host city. Specialty and Affinity Groups often organize field visits that align with their core interests that venture out to local neighborhoods, historical sites, or a hands-on engagement project. During the registration process, you can choose the workshops and field trips you’d like to participate in. If you are already registered, simply click the Register Now button on our website to access your registration and add events.

The Follow Up

Reflection and Outreach

As you travel home, take a moment to collect your thoughts. Make note of any interesting papers or suggested readings, save all contact details business cards, or make note of any plenaries that inspired you.

Remember our networking events? Follow up with new contacts after the conference to maintain relationships and explore potential collaborations. LinkedIn is a great way to maintain professional relationships as a network grows.

Take Advantage of AAG Resources

With your student membership, you can join a number of Affinity Groups or Specialty Groups that align with your research interests and stage of education. Specifically, the Community College, Undergraduate Student, and Graduate Student affinity groups strive to enhance the participation and representation of students within the organization and better prepare students for further study and careers in geography. Additionally, connecting with one of your nine Regional Divisions allows you to network with geographers and other members in an area located near you. Held annually each fall, Regional Division Meetings empower AAG members to connect around regional issues of significant importance.

Your membership also grants access to the AAG Job Board. If you’re looking to start your career in geography or transition to a new field or position, members can view hundreds of open positions from a variety of employers, upload a resume to help employers find you, and sign up for job alerts to be the first notified of open positions relevant to your job search or interest. If you’re looking to advance your education, explore our Guide to Geography Programs and Opportunities to take the important step to understand the different academic opportunities and how they align with your goals.

Read more about student resources
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On the Map

Sowing the Seeds for Food Sovereignty in Detroit

An urban farm plot of beds with crops and flowers sits in front of a building painted with an artistic mural, courtesy Michigan Urban Farming Initiative - MUFI
Photo courtesy Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI)

Urban agriculture is blossoming in Detroit, gaining recognition for its “green revolution,” through the rise of urban gardens and farms. With a total of 139 square miles or over 100,000 empty lots being vacant, this provides an opportunity to incorporate green spaces into communities throughout the city.

Urban gardening isn’t new to Detroiters. During the economic crisis of 1893, “Potato patches” helped feed hungry families and taught people how to grow their own food during times of social and economic crises. Later, in the 1970s, Mayor Coleman Young’s “Farm a Lot” program set an ambitious goal of transforming 3,000 empty lots into urban gardens. In the late 1960s the Black Panther party served breakfast to children in Black communities — highlighting the racialized gaps in funding from the United States government. The connections among community, mutual aid, and growing and providing food go far back in Detroit. Rather than working against each other, cooperatives and mutual aid programs ensure that groups can pull resources together to beat the system at its own game.

Detroit’s history of gardening, farming, and giving to neighbors shows how communities can move beyond food justice and into food sovereignty. Food justice addresses hunger at a basic level; food sovereignty takes it up a level to define, own, and dictate a food system. This in turn provides the earth with increased resilience to crises and climate impacts, in addition to promoting autonomy for communities. According to shakara tyler, co-executive director of the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network, part of creating a just society and systems means, “shifting from extractive economy and reinvesting into the regenerative economy.”

The growth of urban agriculture in Detroit is a testament to the resilience and innovation of its people. Initiatives such as the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm and Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network are prime examples of how community-based organizations can catalyze change, serving as educational platforms for sustainable living. Explore gardens and organizations below to see how modern food sovereignty is inspiring Detroiters to create a deep praxis within other justice movements across local and state-wide levels.

View of plants growing in beds in an urban garden plot in Detroit, Michigan
Urban garden plot in Detroit, MI

 

Michigan Urban Farming Initiative

7432 Brush St, Detroit, MI 48202

Based in Detroit’s North End community, Michigan Urban Farming Initiative’s (MUFI) redevelopment of a three-acre area in Detroit’s North End, is being positioned as an “epicenter of urban agriculture.” With the goal of creating a sustainable “agrihood” with multiple projects, the campus is divided into thirds: production farming, interactive agriculture, and hardscaped spaces, such as their Community Resource Center. Since operating out of their new headquarters, MUFI has been able to grow and distribute over 50,000 pounds of produce (grown using organic methods) to over 2,000 households within 2-square miles at no cost to the recipients.

Oakland Avenue Urban Farm

9227 Goodwin St, Detroit, MI 48211

Operating out of Detroit’s North End neighborhood since 2010, the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm (OAUF) is “cultivating healthy foods, jobs, and active cultural spaces.” The “Farm” grows over 33 varieties of vegetables and fruits and operates a “Harvest on Demand” option with local farmers markets, allowing neighbors to have consistent access to produce. In addition to partnering with local chefs and nonprofits to distribute tens of thousands of hot meals across the city, OAUF provides training opportunities, manages a community land trust, and brings together youth to improve learning and leadership skills.

Keep Growing Detroit

1445 Adelaide St, Detroit, MI 48207

Keep Growing Detroit (KGD) is working to cultivate a food sovereign city where the majority of fruits and vegetables consumed by Detroiters are grown by residents within the city’s limits. Their Garden Resource Program (GRP) supports urban gardening in the city by providing high-quality resources to family, community, school, and market gardens located in Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck. Participants receive seeds, transplants, personalized garden assistance from staff, and a connection to an incredible network of gardeners, farmers, and advocates for a thriving food system across the city.

Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network

11000 W Mcnichols Rd Ste 103, Detroit, MI 48221

Another non-profit that aims to amplify and create sustainable and equitable food systems is the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network (DBCFSN). The 7-acre urban “D-Town Farm” grows more than 36 different fruits, vegetables, and herbs with cultural and social significance, with the intention of farming what people want to eat and in high demand. Their work to shift the understanding of food, is a way to have sovereignty and learn about the importance of these systems. In addition to providing security, DBCFSN co-founded the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund with KGD and OAUF to support rebuilding black land wealth. Since 2020, over 239 awards have been made to residents, businesses, and organizations.

North End Agri-Arts Alley

Currently under-going construction

In March 2023, the city announced four new Arts Alley locations in North End, Detroit. Specifically, the North End Alley will be the first Agri-Arts alley as part of a federal grant to transform dilapidated alleys into artistic oases. Anchored by the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm in partnership with artists from the Oakland Avenue Artists Coalition, this green alley will complement the Oakland Avenue Farmer’s Market, North End Resource Center, Oakland Avenue Cooperative Greenhouse, and Black Bottom Garden Center. Major construction is currently underway and is expected to be completed in late Spring 2025.

Urban farms and gardens are not just places to grow food; they are hubs of community activity, education, and empowerment. While the challenge remains to make these green spaces accessible to all, efforts are being made by the city to provide urban agriculture government guidance and infrastructure. In September 2023, the city of Detroit named Tepfirah Rushdan, former co-director of Keep Growing Detroit, its first director of Urban Agriculture. Over the past decade, the movement has seen substantial growth, transitioning from a few community gardens to a network of over 2,00 gardens and farms engaging nearly 20,000 Detroiters as of 2023.

Watch the webinar recording “Building Black Food Sovereignty in Detroit,” featuring shakara tyler, as part of our Preparing for the Detroit 2025 Annual Meeting webinar series.

You can register for the 2025 Annual Meeting field visit “Feeding a City: The Geography of Urban Food Systems” hosted by the Food and Agriculture Specialty Group to further explore Detroit’s urban food system landscapes.

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Emily Frisan
Emily Frisan
News

Program staff at the National Science Foundation’s Human Environment and Geographic Sciences have been terminated

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On the Map

The Hidden Costs of Commercial Fishing: Sustaining Economies and Ecosystems

Image of a trawler boat sailing near Malta. Source: Peter Grima

Geography In The News logoGeography in the News is an educational series offered by the American Association of Geographers for teachers and students in all subjects. We include vocabulary, discussion, and assignment ideas at the end of each article. 

By Adeti Afe

Fishing has been a part of human life for thousands of years, helping to feed societies while maintaining a balance in marine ecosystems. Traditional fishing usually keeps fish populations in check. But now, methods for industrial-level commercial fishing can cause serious harm to marine ecosystems. Scientists warn that some of the world’s most important fishing areas and habitats could be permanently damaged due to issues like overfishing, habitat destruction, and the problems caused by aquaculture.

Image of a static map showing fish habitats off the East and Gulf Coasts, as well as in the Caribbean Sea. Credit: NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintains Fishmapper, an interactive mapping tool for examining important habitats for managed fish populations worldwide. Credit: NOAA

 

Overfishing disrupts the balance of marine life. When certain fish populations decline, predators lose their prey, and smaller fish can overpopulate. This creates even more problems in the ecosystem. Coral reefs, for instance, rely on fish to control the growth of algae. Without enough fish, algae can grow uncontrollably, killing the reef’s ecosystem.

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that more than one-third of global fisheries are overfished. Over the past 50 years, the number of overfished areas has tripled. A major factor contributing to this is bycatch, which is the unintentional capture of animals like sea turtles, dolphins, and sharks in fishing nets. Millions of animals are killed this way each year, adding to the damage in already struggling ecosystems. Sea turtles are often caught unintentionally by getting tangled in nets and are harmed before they can be freed. Similarly, endangered species such as certain whales and dolphins suffer high mortality rates due to poor fishing practices. Bycatch damages the biodiversity necessary for healthy ecosystems.

Image of a trawler boat sailing near Malta. Source: Peter Grima
A trawler in Malta. Trawlers drag nets through the sea, either above the sea floor or along the sea floor. This method of fishing is indiscriminate and has negative impacts on sea ecologies. It is banned in many areas. Source: Peter Grima

 

The methods used in industrial fishing often cause harm to underwater habitats. Bottom trawling, for example, involves dragging heavy nets along the seafloor. While effective at capturing fish, this practice devastates coral reefs and seagrass beds, which are essential habitats for many marine species.

The Complex World of Fish Farming

To meet the growing global demand for seafood, many businesses have turned to aquaculture, also known as fish farming. On the surface, aquaculture appears to be a solution to overfishing, but it introduces its own set of environmental and ethical concerns. Farmed fish are often raised in overcrowded enclosures, which can lead to water pollution from waste.

Aquaculture relies heavily on fishmeal and fish oil derived from wild-caught fish, which means it continues to put pressure on already overfished stocks. Escaped farmed fish can further disrupt ecosystems by competing with native species for resources or introducing genetic and behavioral differences that harm wild populations.

Finding a Better Way

The negative effects of commercial fishing extend beyond the environment, impacting human communities. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing increases the problem. Operating outside the bounds of international and local laws, IUU fishing often targets the waters of vulnerable nations. This practice robs local fishers of their resources and disrupts efforts to maintain sustainable fishing practices.

Several actionable steps can mitigate the damage caused by commercial fishing. Stricter regulations on fish catch limits and the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) can help ecosystems recover and maintain biodiversity. MPAs provide safe zones where marine life can thrive without the pressure of fishing.

Technological advancements can also play a role by including selective fishing gear that can reduce bycatch. Consumers can make a difference by choosing sustainably sourced seafood, certified by organizations such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Commercial fishing is essential for feeding millions of people around the world, but it comes at a cost. Our oceans, and the communities that depend on them, are under serious pressure from overfishing, habitat destruction, bycatch, and unsustainable fish farming. These practices are pushing marine ecosystems to their breaking point. The good news is that we still have a chance to make a difference. By enforcing smarter regulations, using better technology, and making informed choices as consumers, we can create a fishing industry that works well with the environment. If we act now, we can protect the health of our oceans and ensure they continue to provide for generations to come.

To get a glimpse of fish habitats and fishing areas mapped worldwide, use the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Essential Fish Habitat tool.

And that is Geography in the News, updated January 31, 2024.

Material in this article comes from “Gone Fishing, or, Who Will Catch the Last One?” (1999), an original article for Geography in the News by Neal Lineback, Appalachian State University. 

Sources Consulted for this Article
Vocabulary and Terms
  • Overfishing: Catching fish faster than they can reproduce.
  • Bycatch: Sea creatures caught accidentally in fishing nets.
  • Bottom trawling: A harmful fishing method where nets are dragged along the ocean floor.
  • Aquaculture: Raising fish in farms for food, also known as fish farming.
  • Fishmeal: A food made from ground-up fish, often used to feed farmed fish.
  • IUU fishing: Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing that breaks fishing laws.
  • Marine protected area (MPA): Parts of the ocean where fishing is restricted or banned to protect ecosystems.
  • Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): An organization that certifies seafood as sustainable.
Questions for Discussion and Further Study
  1. What are some of the main environmental issues caused by commercial fishing, and how do they affect marine life?
  2. The article mentions how overfishing impacts local fishing communities and their ability to make a living. How do you think these communities might respond?
  3. Do you believe fish farming could be a solution to overfishing? Why or why not?
  4. What actions can governments, companies, and individuals take to make commercial fishing more sustainable for future generations?
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AAG Staff
AAG Staff