Proven environmental advocate with roots in New Hanover County
Dr. Kelly A McConnell
for New Hanover Soil & Water Board of Supervisors
Hello! I’m an environmental advocate who gathers the community to fight for a better New Hanover County for all. We live in a beautiful area with wonderful natural resources, which we must protect and manage both now and for our future.
I grew up here in Wilmington, left for 16 years & returned in 2018. In the meantime, I've been very involved in the local environmental advocacy community. Currently I'm the chair of the Cape Fear Sierra Club, serve as the secretary for the NHC Democratic Party Climate Committee and I am on the Advocacy Committee at Cape Fear River Watch.
In the past few years, I've advocated for our local environment with these organizations. We're working together to protect the West Bank of the Cape Fear River, protect Sledge Forest from an environmental & community damaging development, prevent the catastrophic deepening of the Cape Fear River, protect our water supply from unfair usage,, demand better protection from toxins in our water (like PFAS).
Your Questions,
Answered
What is the Soil & Water Board of Supervisors?
Soil & Water boards were created in the 1930s after the dust bowl when the United States realized we MUST better manage our natural resources. These boards are organized by states, into areas, then local groups, often by counties. Soil & Water boards process grants, provide education, test soil & water, assess run off, erosion and monitor watersheds.
What’s Kelly’s background?
Kelly grew up in New Hanover County from the age of 5, in the NE part of Wilmington. She went to college at the University of Miami, spent time in San Francisco as an EMT, lifeguard & swim instructor, then went to medical school back at the University of Miami. Kelly trained as a pediatrician in Denver, CO then worked in Carson City, NV, just east of Lake Tahoe. In 2018, Kelly returned to Wilmington to be closer to family (& the beach) when she medically retired from clinical pediatrics.
It may seem odd to show up for Soil & Water with pediatrician training but pediatricians are strong advocates for their communities. They care about the environment as a crucial part of health - the farm land growing food, the water hydrating our bodies both impact us in many ways. Children are at increased risk of harm from environmental pollution due to their physiology and their natural curiosity. The physician background trains one to read scientific research with detail as well as interact with the community in a wide range - standing up to advocate or sitting down and leaning in to listen.n closely.
What will Kelly bring to the NH Soil & Water Board?
Kelly is a local community member who, like many residents, knew little about the Soil & Water Board — yet the Board's work holds real potential to benefit our homes and businesses. The challenge is simple: our community can only benefit from work it knows about. Kelly attends the monthly meetings regularly the last 6 months and has been surprised to learn the breadth of the organization.