November 28th’s log lunch began a series of presentations of student internships funded by the Williams Center for Environmental Studies this passed summer. Andrea Lindsay ’13 and Olivia Delia ’12 discussed the opportunities they seized to work at NGOs with missions now close to their hearts.
Andrea spent the summer working for Lettuce Link, a Seattle-based organization that works to connect lower income communities with fresh, local, organic produce. The group focuses on developing community gardens throughout the city, managed by different leadership units. They have also created a Seed Distribution Program, in which seeds are donated, packaged, and distributed by volunteers to those who want to grow produce on their own, Food Bank Giving Gardens, which organize individuals who run their own garden plots to work together on a communal plot in order to donate produce to neighborhood food banks, and a Work Share Program, in which volunteers log their hours working in gardens and take home food accordingly. Andrea was attracted to “Lettuce Link” for its anti-racism initiative: “What this meant to me is that…they’re starting with a perspective of social justice.” Andrea emphasized that the urban agriculture movement is not just about growing food in the city but also about outreach and job creation. Inspired and excited by the work she became a part of, Andrea affirmed that “this was definitely a confirmation that I could see myself doing this type of work later in my life, so a big thanks to CES.”
Olivia spent her summer working for Eagle Mount, a group in Bozeman, Montana that provides recreation opportunities for people of all ages and physical and mental health standards. From working as an aquatic aerobic instructor singing show tunes with the elderly, to acting as one of the four volunteers stabilizing a rider in the therapeutic equine program, to organizing a group visit to a botanical garden, Olivia led a diverse array of people through a diverse array of activities. She ended the summer volunteering in the cancer camp program for campers either cured or in remission. One session was organized for campers ages 8-19 who could bring one parent, while the other was organized for campers ages 5-9 who brought their whole families. These camps relied solely on donations, which often let Eagle Mount choose families who wouldn’t be able to afford such a thing. “The people who were there were brought together by such sad circumstances but there was so much hope,” said Olivia admiringly. Olivia had never expected to find herself working in therapeutic recreation, but even so, or maybe because of this, she noted, “it was the best summer of my life.”
Written by Claire Lafave, Research Assistant
Megamenu Social