Youth Leadership Fellowship
Past Fellows
2010-2011
Pippa Biddle, Youth Leadership Fellow
Pippa Biddle served as the Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Fellow in 2010 and 2011. Today, Pippa is a student at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR where she is studying anthropology and environmental studies. Pippaattended Miss Porter's school in Farmington, CT for high school where she was the head of the Free the Children club and the co-head of Concordia, Miss Porter's community service organization. Pippa is a Youth NGO Representative to the UN for the Jane Goodall Institute, a Development Intern for Bridge the Gap TV, and helps to organize and run the Clinica de Familia Summer Camp for HIV-positive children in the Dominican Republic.
Accomplishments
During her fellowship, Pippa coordinated the Roots & Shoots National Youth Leadership Council and launched the global youth campaign On The Edge: Hope For Animals and Their World. Pippa presented at the Global Issues Conference in Abu Dabai, UAE and the U.S. Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy in Washington, D.C.. In total, Pippa reached over 1,500 people with her inpspiring presenatations.
2008-2009
Shanay Healy, Youth Leadership Fellow
Shanay Healy served as the Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Fellow in 2008 and 2009. Today Shanay is a student at the University of Portland in Portland, OR where she is studying Spanish and Communication. During High School Shanay lead a Roots & Shoots group and fulfilled the requirements of her Senior Project by participating in the ReBirth the Earth campaign contributing more than $1,500 to the effort. In between high school and her Fellowship Shanay traveled to Spain and completed a gap year with a host family attending a fifth year of high school. Shanay is Co-President of the UP Fair Trade Club and is currently studying abroad in Granada, Spain.
Katia Rossi, Graduate Fellow
Katia Rossi served as the Roots & Shoots Graduate Fellow in 2008 and 2009. Today Katia works at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington in Vancouver, WA where she serves as an Intake Care Technician. A graduate of Washington State University, Pullman, Katia served for four years as Roots & Shoots Club President. With her leadership the club led and completed many amazing projects which ultimately positioned Roots & Shoots as a key organization in the WSU community. After her Fellowship with Roots & Shoots Katia was selected to be a core team member of the newly formed Natural Leaders Network, and collaborates with other leaders across the United States in a movement to strengthen the bond between children and nature. Remaining an active member of Roots & Shoots, Katia continues to support Roots & Shoots, by volunteering at events such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conference, and by representing Roots & Shoots at celebrations such as Roots & Shoots International Day of Peace in New York, NY.
Accomplishments
During their Fellowships, Shanay and Katia coordinated the National Youth Leadership and College Leadership Councils, and helped to plan and host the 2009 Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Retreat at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Virginia. Shanay and Katia also spent a great deal of time on the road during their fellowships, representing Roots & Shoots at conferences such as the Global Issues Conference in Doha, Qatar, or on university campuses such as Berry College or Young Harris College. From all of their accomplishments it came as no surprise that Shanay and Katia were invited to be featured in the newly release book Girls Gone Green by author Lynn Herschfield.
2007-2008
David Chase, Youth Leadership Fellow
David Chase served as the Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Fellow in 2007 and 2008. Today David is a Junior at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in St. Mary’s City, MD where he is studying political science. Outside of the classroom David works as a freelance web designer, photographer, the Managing Editor for The Point News, St. Mary’s College student run newspaper. Following his passion for politics, David has served as the Volunteer Coordinator for a State Delegate campaign in Maryland and the Deputy Campaign Manager for a State Senate campaign in Massachusetts. David joined Roots & Shoots when he was ten years old, and has remained active with Roots & Shoots even after his fellowship attending events and speaking on behalf of JGI and Roots & Shoots.
Shawn Sweeney, Graduate Fellow
Shawn served as the first ever Roots & Shoots Graduate Fellow in 2007 and 2008. Today Shawn is a Senior Program Coordinator for Roots & Shoots National and Regional Programs in the United States. In his role with Roots & Shoots, Shawn manages press, print and electronic communications, event planning and the continued development of the Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Initiative. Shawn is currently a M.Ed. student with the Institute for Humane Education. He earned his B.A. in psychology at the College of Wooster in 2006. After completing his Master’s degree, Shawn hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in social psychology with an emphasis on conservation psychology.
Accomplishments
During their Fellowships, David and Shawn coordinated the National Youth Leadership and College Leadership Councils. These Councils, with Shawn and David’s help successfully completed the ReBirth The Earth Trees for Tomorrow campaign raising more than $18,000 to build tree nurseries in Tanzania, and planting more than 3,000 trees in local communities here in the United States. Together, David and Shawn also planned and hosted the 2008 Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Retreat at Camp Highroad in Middleburg, Virginia. During this time too, David also planned and lead the Summer 2008 Youth Leadership Immersion Experience with 10 other youth leaders to Tanzania.
2006-2007
Chase Pickering, Youth Leadership Fellow
Chase served as the first ever Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Fellow in 2006 and 2007. Today, Chase is the Conservation Programs Representative for The Walt Disney Company. In this role Chase supports the daily operations of the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund. He graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 2011 where he is studied strategic communications, environmental studies and entrepreneurship. Chase has previously worked with Discovery Communications in their Emerging Networks division. With his keen interest in photography, Chase has expanded his portfolio in recent years, and serves today as an advisor for Nature’s Best Photography magazine. After his fellowship he was invited to the Jane Goodall Institute Board of Directors and plays a key role in bringing a fresh perspective to this very important leadership role.
Accomplishments
During his tenure as the Youth Leadership Fellow Chase lead the National Youth Leadership Council, and supported the California and New England Youth Leadership Councils. The members of these Councils, with Chase’s help successfully completed the Tchimpounga Youth Campaign by raising over $50,000 to build a new dormitory for orphan chimpanzees at the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of Congo. With Roots & Shoots staff, Chase led the 2007 Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Council Training Retreat held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
