Jackie Alvarado ’27: Learning together at Sustaining Way

“When there is no vision there is no hope” – George Washington Carver

I was introduced to this quote on my first day at Sustaining Way. This quote clearly defines the spirit of this non-profit organization. Sustaining Way is uniquely connected to the community through its location, environment and the people involved. Sustaining Way serves the Nicholtown community and provides ways to advocate for sustainable communities through education and collaboration.

I am Yaquelin Alvarado, but I go by Jackie. This summer I am part of the Shi Institute’s Summer Fellows program and I am working with Sustaining Way as a Sustainable Education Intern.  At Sustaining Way,  my responsibilities include assisting with the execution of the Steward Fellows Program, the development of lesson plans and the development of Annie’s House.

Currently, I am involved in the Summer Steward Fellows Program, a paid internship program for high school students to learn about the six areas of sustainability:  food landscape, energy, waste, healthy lifestyles, the environment and social sustainability, and personal skills. The program includes lessons and field trips. We also spend time working in the garden and learning agricultural practices such as composting.

Throughout my time with the Steward Fellows, I have seen friendships grow as we’ve learned about new concepts of sustainability.  A key component of being a Sustainable Education Intern is communication between students and co-workers. Communication drives a team forward and that is what I notice in the fellows and in myself.  This skill leads to education, which is the ultimate goal. I am exploring sustainability and learning alongside students. This program fosters healthy and sustainable habits that the fellows could potentially pursue such as biking and yoga.

Sustainable education is important because it provides a gateway towards living a more sustainable life through hands-on experiences in communities. It also helps spread the word in what sustainability actually means and how it benefits everyone.

I have enjoyed spending time with the Fellows and at Sustaining Way and I cannot wait to see what we do next!