“We can’t have nature if people don’t care.” Inspiration for Work Baltimore native, Marlo Atkinson, is passionate about mending the gap between people and our environment. As a child, Marlo was inevitably drawn to nature. Her mom would joke that she could be entertained for hours with just a pile of dirt and the outdoors. Growing up outside guided Marlo to a path in urban ecology. But on top of he ...[Read More]
Meet Marlo Atkinson: Connecting People and Nature
Meet Koa Kaulukukui-Barbee: Believing in Better
“Enjoy the natural beauty as much as we are protecting it.” Inspiration for Work Hawaii native, Koa Kaulukukui-Barbee, has always had an affinity for our earth’s beauty. From a very young age, she witnessed volcanic eruptions that left her in awe of nature. As she grew up, she saw buildings pop up and overcrowding take over the Hawaiian islands. This inspired Koa to be a part of the conservation m ...[Read More]
Meet Angie Rosser: Advocating for a Brighter Future
“We are bound together for one movement.” Angie Rosser of the West Virginia Rivers Coalition has dedicated herself to a life of advocacy. During the early part of her career Angie worked against gender based violence; helping women and children feel safe at home. Themes of justice, safety, and security inspired her passion to help people feel safe in their environment too. Above all else, she beli ...[Read More]
Conservation Has Never Been a Straight Forward Path for Me
Growing up in rural Nevada, it was easy to access mountains, fields of sage and wild lilacs, and view the milky way in all its glory every single night. Back then, I didn’t understand the importance or why there was so much public land in Nevada, I just enjoyed it. As I got older, my interest and love for all things outdoors never wavered, but in college, I was unsure how to pursue this passion. I ...[Read More]
Meet Jessica Sotelo: Leading Together
“In order to be a leader, you first need to lift up your team.” Inspiration for Work Jessica Sotelo, of World Wildlife Fund, has combined her love for the natural world with her interest in nonprofit work. Growing up, her mom lead programs at a national organization focused on the transition of school to work while her dad was the head of policy at the National Park Service. When it came time to c ...[Read More]
Meet Trica Oshant Hawkins: Cultivating Lifelong Stewardship
“Appreciate the beauty in being both gentle and strong.” Inspiration for Work Conservation enthusiast, Trica Oshant Hawkins, has transformed her childhood love for nature into a career of lifelong stewardship. In her youth, Trica would capture horned lizards in Texas and praying mantises in Thailand. After discovering how these creatures died indoors, she decided wild things needed to stay wild. F ...[Read More]
Meet San Juana Olivares: Ensuring Clean Water for All
“Just because you’re not a permanent resident, doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference.” As president of Genesee County Hispanic Latino Collaborative – La Placita, San Juana Olivares paved the way to clean water for all. She used her passion for water and human rights to advocate for Hispanic-Latino populations in Michigan, especially those affected by the Flint water crisis. Much of her in ...[Read More]
Connecting to Countless Careers in Conservation
In the second semester of my sophomore year, I took Intro to Ecology. At the time, I had no idea what ecology was. Something to do with nature, I had (correctly) assumed. Since I loved the outdoors and wildlife, I thought it would be a fun class while satisfying the science requirement I had to fulfill, even as a language major. On the first day, we learned the definition of ecology: The study of ...[Read More]