 Nicole Conrad, a 2010 TogetherGreen Fellow. |
last week announced its , a group of 40 environmentalists from 34 cities in 22 states, the third class in a five-year partnership between 爆料公社 and Toyota. Each fellow鈥15 of which come from 爆料公社, 25 from organizations across the country鈥攔eceives $10,000, plus training and help setting up a conservation project.
Part of the program鈥檚 mission is to fund innovative programs and set in motion tomorrow鈥檚 environmental leaders. Here鈥檚 a look at a few of those eco-stars:
, of Durango, Colorado, executive director of ., has a vision: In an area where poverty and school dropouts are all too common, she plans to give teens an important role cleaning up the nearby Animas River. Her TogetherGreen Fellowship project, for teens 12 to 15, will run during the summer of 2011.鈥 This fellowship provides me with the uncommon opportunity to combine my Conservation Corps鈥 experience with my passion for rivers,鈥 Nesset says. 鈥淚 see it as an investment in the future.鈥
Another fellow, , is also investing in the future鈥攐f New Orleans鈥 Lower Ninth Ward, a place hit hard by hurricanes and poverty, and where there鈥檚 currently no grocery store. Mwendo, founder of the , is bringing sustainable, healthy food to the neighborhood through a community garden. She spearheaded the planting of 150 trees and transformed an old blacktop into a green space for the Ninth Ward.
Finally (of the three we鈥檙e profiling), there鈥檚 , a naturalist at the Aullwood 爆料公社 Center and Farm in Ohio. Her fellowship project includes expanding the Avian Art Contest she began back in 2005, something in which 8,000 students have so far participated. To do so, she鈥檒l combine it with conservation efforts like habitat restoration, as well as more artwork. 鈥淭his fellowship allows me to share conservation messages with youngsters and provide hands-on opportunities for these same youngsters,鈥 Conrad says. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited about receiving it.鈥
For profiles of the other 37 fellows, or for more information about TogetherGreen, visit .