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Jessica • December
Connected (adj):
being joined in close association to people, to earth, and to life
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Our greatest legacy is to offer young people opportunities to be part of decisions made today. This requires that business, elected, and civic leaders embrace the visions set forth by the next generation. Being young myself, I know what it takes. I implement the schools program for the Climate Protection Campaign, which includes planting trees and reducing single car commuting. We are creating model projects from students to reduce greenhouse gas emissions locally and can be implemented in schools throughout California. These projects receive support from real estate agents enrolled in the model green business program I also implement. In the photos with me is Hugh Codding. He and his family are longtime Sonoma County developers and philanthropists. Now they integrate sustainability into both their business and giving to ensure a legacy for future generations. |
Profile
| Name: | Jessica |
| Age: | 24 |
| Diet: | Local and organic as much as possible |
| Occupation: | Grassroots organizer, Cool Schools Program Coordinator for the Climate Protection Campaign |
| Current Activities: | Student art show on global climate change, high school student commute project, planting trees in our greenbelts |
| Loves: | Hanging out on the Sonoma Coast, hot springs, eating fresh tomatoes from my garden, biking, supporting local candidates, initiatives, and organizations |
Interview Excerpts
How do you stay positive and inspired?
I really like working at the grassroots because I like making significant changes with one school or one town that I can then take to other communities as a model. There are so many small things we can all do, but don’t because we become apathetic about out ability to make a big-enough difference. Especially with students, I think that when a community comes together and significantly changes something that seems unchangeable, like driving, it then makes all the other little stuff easier to do. And really, it’s the sum of all the small, cumulative changes we make as individuals, communities, businesses, cities, and states that will shift our nation towards a sustainable, carbon-free future. I want to move mountains one boulder at a time.
Who are your role models?
My role models are people who have struggled before me and are currently struggling throughout the world. Recognizing in those stories that our heroes are diligently working at the grassroots to build communities and networks and that they are continually educating themselves and their community about the sources of injustice and the tools for fighting it. People in my life that work hard and are natural leaders; they have skills like being able to listen well, are organized and visionary. My role models are the people I work with that embody those qualities.
