Promising Leaders Singled Out by Audubon/Toyota to Create Positive Environmental Change
NEW YORK, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reviving public gardens and edible landscapes in New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward. Introducing coalfield communities to biofuels. Increasing access for low-income communities to energy efficiency programs. Transforming abandoned lots into vibrant ecosystems. These are just a few ways in which 40 promising conservation leaders will advance their environmental vision and leadership skills as recipients of the 2010 TogetherGreen Fellowships.
The TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Program invests in high-potential individuals from all backgrounds, providing them with the tools, resources, visibility, and a peer network to help them lead conservation actions that will help shape a healthier environmental future. Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to fund innovative community projects, build a growing cadre of trained conservation leaders, and offer volunteer opportunities across the country to benefit the environment.
"We are thrilled to welcome another extremely talented and diverse group of TogetherGreen Fellows who have the passion and skills to inspire and lead others," said Audubon President David Yarnold. "Thanks to the generosity of Toyota, the TogetherGreen fellowship program allows Audubon to find and foster individuals who have innovative ideas and approaches for engaging people and achieving conservation results. They are poised to change the world—one community at a time."
Every year, 40 Fellows are chosen for their leadership potential, skills, and commitment to engaging diverse communities in conserving wildlife, land, water and energy. This year's Fellows class includes 15 individuals from within the Audubon network and 25 individuals from other organizations across the country. Fellows receive a $10,000 grant; assistance launching a conservation action project, specialized training, and the opportunity to become part of an exciting alumni network of conservation professionals.
TogetherGreen Fellows participate in a weeklong professional development course at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife's National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia focused on enhancing conservation skills and sharing the latest thinking on achieving sustainable conservation success. Near the completion of their 18-month fellowship, Fellows attend a multi-day retreat focused on sharing best practices, fundraising, diversity, evaluation, and strategies to sustain their conservation action projects over the long term.
The 2010 class was selected from a competitive pool of highly qualified individuals by a national advisory board of conservation and education leaders. Fellows must have at least six years experience in conservation, a passion for conservation, the desire to learn and grow, and demonstrate a proven ability in reaching new audiences. In all, the 2010 Fellows will help engage thousands of people to protect habitat, wildlife and water and save energy in 34 cities in 22 different states.
"TogetherGreen gives me optimism," said Diane Wood, President, National Environmental Education Foundation, and TogetherGreen Advisory Board Member. "TogetherGreen Fellows are smart, passionate, and representative of diverse communities. They bring vital new voices and perspectives into environmental conversations and are clearly ready to take on today's and tomorrow's ever more challenging conservation issues."
"The results from the first two years of the Fellows program brought to life everything that TogetherGreen sought to accomplish," added Patricia Salas Pineda, Group Vice President, Toyota Motor North America. "I'm confident that the next group of Fellows will continue that success and make a difference for years to come."
Since the TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership program launched in November 2008, Fellows have recruited nearly 24,000 participants and 650 partner organizations for their conservation projects and contributed nearly 98,000 hours of time.
If you or someone you know has a creative environmental project and would like to apply for a 2011 TogetherGreen Fellowship, applications will be available online beginning in early 2011 at http://www.togethergreen.org/fellows.
A complete list of the 2010 TogetherGreen Fellows and details about their conservation projects can be found at http://www.togethergreen.org/fellows.
The 2010 conservation projects that will be funded include (sorted by state):
| |
First Name
| Last Name
| City
| ST
| Organization
| Fellowship Project
| |
Jesus
| Garcia
| Tucson
| AZ
| Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
| Teaching about native desert plants in border lands schools for increased appreciation and improved desert habitat
| |
Mary
| Adelzadeh
| Sacramento
| CA
| Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council
| Developing Native American youth conservation leaders and establishing a network of environmental youth service providers
| |
Rory
| Cox
| San Francisco
| CA
| Pacific Environment
| Developing local clean energy projects for the San Francisco Bay Area, and publishing a how-to guide that Bay Area counties can use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
| |
Mindy
| Hiatt
| Tiburon
| CA
| Richardson Bay Audubon Center
| Implementing Audubon Youth Corps, an outdoor education and restoration project with Title I partner schools
| |
Shani
| Kleinhaus
| Palo Alto
| CA
| Santa Clara Audubon Society
| Improving habitat for burrowing owls through engagement of CA immigrant communities
| |
John
| Laws
| San Francisco
| CA
| Central Sierra Audubon Society
| Creating outreach and naturalist-skills school programs using a field guide for Sierra Nevada that he illustrated and produced
| |
Nina
| Suzuki
| Davis
| CA
| Center for Land-Based Learning
| Engaging diverse youth and adults in monitoring nest boxes and developing protocols to protect key species at the Farm on Putah Creek
| |
Marcos
| Trinidad
| Los Angeles
| CA
| South Bay Audubon Society
| Improving Madrona Marsh habitat by working with Korean, Hispanic, and at-risk youth
| |
Stacey
| Vigallon
| Los Angeles
| CA
| Los Angeles Audubon Society
| Engaging urban youth through scientific illustration and protection of threatened? coastal sage scrub
| |
Christina
| Nesset
| Durango
| CO
| Southwest Conservation Corps
| Piloting a river conservation program for Durango youth
| |
Greg
| Butcher
| Washington
| DC
| National Audubon Society
| Implementing an education and research project for Wood Thrush conservation
| |
Sara
| Espinoza
| Washington
| DC
| National Environmental Education Foundation
| Bringing the "Earth Gauge" program (broadcast meteorologists communicating environmental and climate info to viewers) to underserved & Spanish-speaking audiences in the U.S. through the Telemundo network
| |
Fernando
| Bretos
| Miami
| FL
| Miami Science Museum
| Installing mangrove seedling eco-art in Miami schools to increase appreciation for and improve Biscayne Bay mangrove habitat
| |
Lisa
| Botero
| Miami Beach
| FL
| City of Miami Beach
| Implementing a sustainability plan for the City of Miami Beach, and implementing a public campaign to engage south FL residents in water conservation and habitat restoration activities
| |
Sara
| Peel
| Warsaw
| IN
| Wabash River Enhancement Corporation
| Developing a web-based tool for residents to calculate storm water impact and their carbon footprint
| |
Daniel
| Dermitzel
| Kansas City
| KS
| Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture
| Designing and planting demonstration an urban forest garden in Kansas City. Promoting energy and ecological benefits through education and outreach.
| |
Kenya
| Stump
| Lexington
| KY
| Kentucky Division of Compliance Assistance
| Designing a high school education program focused on biofuels and biodiesel, incorporating chemistry and agriculture
| |
Jenga
| Mwendo
| New Orleans
| LA
| Backyard Gardeners Network
| Engaging Lower 9th Ward residents in a community garden project to reintroduce local agriculture and improve habitat
| |
Hilairie
| Schackai
| New Orleans
| LA
| Longue Vue House and Gardens
| Improving post-Katrina neighborhood planning & storm water catchment strategies
| |
Will
| Bullock
| Boston
| MA
| Trustee of Reservations
| Organizing a youth-run community supported agriculture market and designing urban agriculture curriculum to connect youth to land, ecology, and natural resources
| |
Rose
| Gonzalez
| Lawrence
| MA
| Groundwork Lawrence
| Working with urban youth to transform a vacant lot into green space for an outdoor classroom and for improved wildlife habitat
| |
Justin
| Schott
| Ann Arbor
| MI
| Voices for Earth Justice
| Implementing a youth engagement project with Detroit Youth Energy Squad that promotes youth leadership and helps households improve energy efficiency
| |
Greg
| Swick
| Ozark
| MO
| Greater Ozarks Audubon Society
| Designing a handbook for the Green Leadership Academy for Diverse Ecosystems
| |
Heather
| Ristow
| Billings
| MT
| Montana Audubon
| Implementing a land stewardship and college-elementary mentorship program, working with at-risk youth
| |
Andy
| Wood
| Hampstead
| NC
| Audubon North Carolina
| Implementing a "Share the Beach" social marketing campaign to protect nesting birds through production of videos that highlight how people can help neo-tropical migratory songbirds
| |
Thomas
| Perrigo
| Las Vegas
| NV
| City of Las Vegas
| Designing and implementing homeowner workshops and promoting retrofitting for energy efficiency
| |
Sean
| Mahar
| Troy
| NY
| Audubon New York
| Creating a coalition and steering committee to help secure long-term conservation funding for NY
| |
Jennifer
| Prediger
| Brooklyn
| NY
| Grist.org
| Producing a new media/feature film to help reduce threats to habitats, improve water quality, reduce greenhouse gases; building on videos produced for Sprig and Grist/Ask Umbra
| |
John
| Rowden
| New York
| NY
| New York City Audubon Society
| Managing a citizen science shorebird program in Long Island's Great South Bay
| |
Robin
| Seeley
| Ithaca
| NY
| Shoals Marine Lab, Cornell University
| Designing an education program to protect intertidal habitat
| |
Nicole
| Conrad
| Huber Heights
| OH
| Aullwood Audubon Center
| Expanding an Avian Art Contest to include habitat restoration and work with economically disadvantaged elementary students
| |
Beth
| Krisko
| Xenia
| OH
| Antioch College Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center
| Installing solar panels at an education center and designing an energy curriculum for diverse audiences
| |
Mary
| Coolidge
| Portland
| OR
| Audubon Society of Portland
| Piloting first "lights out" program volunteer protocol & monitoring for the city of Portland
| |
Nuin-Tara
| Key
| Portland
| OR
| Metro
| Improving access for low-income and minority communities to take part in energy efficiency programs in Portland
| |
Diane
| Husic
| Kunkletown
| PA
| Lehigh Gap Nature Center
| Designing and implementing a phenology-based school curriculum and citizen science monitoring program
| |
Chris
| Sheffield
| Austin
| TX
| American Youth Works Charter School
| Engaging youth in leadership and environmental career training and habitat restoration
| |
Samir
| Doshi
| Burlington
| VT
| University of Vermont
| Working with coalfield communities in Appalachia to improve reclaimed landscapes
| |
Bill
| Finnegan
| Montpelier
| VT
| Tamarack Media
| Creating an Phone app and Facebook interface that lets users see live, historic, and future weather and climate information
| |
Christi
| Norman
| Seattle
| WA
| Audubon Washington
| Using the State Birding Trail program to create a partnership with Olympic Tribal Tourism Association and restore habitat with Native Tribes
| |
Janelle
| Shafer
| Seattle
| WA
| Seattle Audubon Society
| Implementing an elementary school program using schoolyard habitat and scientific inquiry
| |
| |
| | | | | |
About TogetherGreen
Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to build the promise of a greener, healthier future through innovation, leadership and volunteerism. To date, 120 environmental leaders—both from within Audubon and from outside organizations—have received TogetherGreen Fellowships to protect land, water, and energy resources nationwide. For more information, visit www.togethergreen.org.
About Audubon
Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon online at www.audubon.org.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, including one under construction. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.
Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S.
For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community.
SOURCE National Audubon Society
