By Jody Couser, Senior Vice President of Communications, Chesapeake Conservancy
When I first met Vince, he asked me to help him tell the Chesapeake's Black history through ebony eyes. In that moment, I understood this meant he was putting a great deal of trust in me.
A few months ago, I asked Vince if I could show him a special place I had recently visited—a privately owned beach on the Patuxent River that held significant Black history. Despite his packed schedule, he readily agreed, and I arranged for a visit with a few colleagues while we were in the area for other business.
I introduced him to the property owner, and as the conversation turned toward the history of the land, I noticed Vince had walked away.
He was drawn to a different spot, one that wasn’t obviously marked but where history had left its imprint: it was near the burial site of freed Blacks and others who escaped enslavement.
Conversely, the area where we had been standing with the landowner had been used solely for military storage during that time period. As he shared with my colleague, who had sensed there was more to Vince’s walk, he just wasn’t feeling it there.
Vince’s deep connection to both Black history and the land was palpable—spiritual, even.
There are certain mentors in life who leave an indelible mark on you, and Vince was one of mine. I can’t count the number of times I’ve stopped and asked myself, "What would Vince do?" It’s a question I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life because Vince’s wisdom and grace will always guide me.