Shana Payne (Fall 2005) and Steve Skelton (Fall 2008) are engaged!
David Rand (Fall 2008)
David is now working for the City of Chicago as the coordinator for the city run farmer's markets. He is responsible for connecting farmers to markets and to restaurants and promoting local food sourcing. He is also a member of Slow Food Chicago and is on the committee for event planning. There are some great ideas for events. The City of Chicago has just given 14 vacant city lots to an urban agriculture group which David will be helping develop.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Interview with Darcy Everett (Spring 2009)
Q: What were you doing before the Ecosa semester?
A: Before Ecosa, I was working as an interior designer at a furniture dealer/design firm in Lexington, KY called CG Concepts. Before that, I graduated from the College of Design at the University of Kentucky.
Q: Why did you come to Ecosa?
A: While I was in school studying interior design, I had always had an interest in sustainability. My senior year of college, I did an independent project on sustainable design after reading the book Cradle-to-Cradle by William McDonough. So, after that I was always interested in learning more about sustainability. After working in the commercial design world for about two years, I needed a change. I began researching Master's programs in sustainable design and realized they were few and far between. I also stumbled upon the Ecosa website at this time. I think I read through the home page and was sold. I knew that was the place. I called and talked to Tony on the phone about the program and he just confirmed that Ecosa was the next step I needed to take in my career and life!
Q: What have you done (career wise) since graduating from the Ecosa program?
A: After I graduated from Ecosa, I moved back to Kentucky and began looking for a job. I signed up for Americorps and sent out my application to a ton of different places all relating back to what I had learned at Ecosa. I got an interview for a program manager position at an environmental non-profit here in Lexington, called Bluegrass PRIDE. I did the interview, got hired, and started there in August. At Bluegrass PRIDE, I work on two programs. The first is helping apartments and businesses start and expand recycling programs for their residents and staff. The second is a program I recently helped launch related to stormwater and water quality here in Lexington. We work with the city of Lexington to help educate businesses and apartments on how they can improve water quality. I am really excited about this program because a recent survey completed in Lexington showed that almost 83% of people did not even know they lived in a watershed, so now I get to go out and help educate them so they can make better choices!!
Q: Do you feel that the Ecosa semester impacted your career path? How?
A: I can honestly say that Ecosa impacted my career path 200%. Ecosa gave me the knowledge, experience, and confidence to go out and make a difference in my local community and helped me become just a more conscious person in general.
Q: Have you taken anything from the semester and been able to apply it to what you're doing now?
A: Yes! My new co-worker has told me many times that when she called Tony and spoke to him as a reference for this new job, she was concerned that I had such a heavy design background, she didn't know if this was the job for me. Tony told her that design is in everything, and that, I completely agree with! But more than just design, Ecosa gave me knowledge on many topics I am utilizing today, a big one being water, ...watersheds, green infrastructure techniques, rainwater harvesting, localizing it, etc. Also, dumpster diving....we do dumpster dives for many businesses to see how well they are recycling! I can thank many of my fellow ecosans for that one.
Q: Do you feel that you're having a positive impact in your work now?
A: I certainly hope so! I know it is a great feeling when I visit an apartment complex that doesn't have any recycling at all and set them up through our recycling program, and then go back a month later and see those recycling bins filled to the brim. I also just think going out and educating people about the issues is helpful, I am amazed at how many people just don't really know!
Q: What have you learned through your work experiences since Ecosa?
A: I've learned that it is an uphill battle, but a very worthy battle!
Q: What do you see as the biggest obstacles and/or greatest opportunities for moving towards a more ecological society?
A: Well, I think the conversation is at least out there, which is great. So, I think setting the example is a huge opportunity. I know since coming back from Ecosa, just explaining my experience to other people, and explaining the changes I made in my life have made others re-evaluate or at least think twice maybe, which is empowering. I don't know, there are still many things that need to happen, but as Tony told us many times....know that while you are making a difference doing whatever you're doing, trust that there are others out there doing their part as well.
Q: How did you get to be so cool?
A: That is obvious....I slow it, spread it, and sink it!
