NORFOLK, Va. (February 2025) – The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of Ty Champion as Outreach Coordinator.

Champion will oversee community outreach and trail planning to the St. Paul’s community, and an additional 30+ neighborhoods across Norfolk. As the Foundation works to ensure everyone feels welcome on the trail and each community’s unique needs are met, Champion will attend community events and meetings, help increase support and awareness of the trail through education and storytelling, follow local, state and federal legislative priorities and opportunities and assist with demographic surveys and data analysis.

Champion was born in Norfolk and is an alumnus of Lake Taylor High School and graduate of Hampton University with a degree in Architecture. From a young age, he has held environmental stewardship in high regard with a passion for sustainability, coastal resilience, and reuse of materials for new work. This passion extends beyond advocacy, leading him to earn a LEED Green Associate certification in November of 2018. 

Beyond work, Champion maintains an active involvement in several community and civic organizations, such as NAACP, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and the National Hampton Alumni Association. “As a lifelong Norfolk resident, the Elizabeth River has been a constant force for almost my entire life. Growing up in the Villa Heights neighborhood along the Lafayette Branch, to my middle school field trip to Nauticus, and even experiencing the waterfront as an adult with visits to Waterside and the Armed Forces Memorial, it is truly an honor to join a team that values people and the wider community first, while striving to make Norfolk a better place,” Champion said.

“The Outreach Coordinator position marks significant growth for the Foundation, and we feel so fortunate to have Ty’s experience, commitment to our mission and warm personality to round out our team,” said Kindra Greene executive director of the ERT Foundation. “So much of what we work to do is connect communities, and with Ty’s extensive experience in relationship building and advocacy in Norfolk we see a bright future for a more connected Norfolk with access to green space and our Elizabeth River.” 

The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides the planning, programming and advocacy for the Elizabeth River Trail connecting Naval Station Norfolk to the Virginia Beach Trail. The Elizabeth River Trail runs 10.5 miles through businesses, historic attractions and is within a 5-minute walk of 28 neighborhoods. The multi-use trail is designed for walking, running, and biking. It comprises 11 sections from Norfolk State University, through Downtown Norfolk and Old Dominion University to NIT Terminals along the Elizabeth River. The Foundation has completed multiple new unique and award-winning amenities, including kayak launches, play sculptures, a double turbo challenge course in Plum Point Park, The Glowline, and most recently, the installation of the first ERT hydration station. Major sponsors include CHKD, Downtown Norfolk Council, PRA Group, and the City of Norfolk.