We are a Beacon Site - Advancing Coastal Resilience and Community Education in Biloxi, Mississippi

POCACITO Network is excited to be selected as a Beacon Site as part of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA).

This effort supports the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance which is comprised of members from around the Atlantic Ocean region. The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance's mission is to promote science diplomacy involving countries from both sides of the Atlantic to create an All-Atlantic Ocean community.

Our contribution is the Camp Wilkes Beacon Site, under the motto:
Advancing Coastal Resilience and Community Education in Biloxi, Mississippi
The Biloxi Beacon Site will be a blueprint for other Gulf Coast communities to transition from a hardened infrastructure model to a nature-based approach, while improving socio-economic benefits. The POCACITO summer camp has been an example of how to engage local youth and families in nature-based coastal resilience efforts. Find the entire story here.

We are very excited to be able to present the Biloxi Beacon Site at the 2026 All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance Forum April 15-16, 2026 in Bahia, Brazil.

We will also be able to join the Coastal Resilience Workshop “From Local to Global: Sharing Knowledge and Experiences”, sharing experiences and lessons from across the Beacon Sites Network.

Stay tuned for more updates.