Cultivating Action

The mentorship I received was outstanding. The professors clearly cared deeply about the subject and their students.

Major: Environmental Studies

Concentration: Environmental Politics, Policy, and Economics

Award: LeadNow Fellowship, SustainUs

On the recommendation of a MHC Environmental Studies Department professor, my classmate Emily Donaldson and I applied for a LeadNow Fellowship through a youth-led organization called SustainUS.

We were thrilled to find out that we received the fellowship, which would help us realize our goal of creating an environmental education organization focused on horticulture. We were flown from Mount Holyoke to Washington DC, given leadership training, mentorship, and a $500 stipend.

With the help of several ES Department professors, we co-founded Cultivating Action. Cultivating Action helps to introduce community gardens and other horticulture projects into schools and the larger community. We have formed several partnerships in the community and have collaboratively organized events related to environmental education.

I cannot speak highly enough of the Environmental Studies Department at Mount Holyoke. The mentorship I received both related to Cultivating Action and beyond was outstanding. The professors clearly cared deeply about the subject and their students.