Four Corners Youth Leadership Council (FCYLC)

Pictured above:

Julie Velasquez, Emily Dietrick Millstein, Akilah, and Katie.

The Four Corners Youth Leadership Council is off to a great start! Beginning in August, 2008 three enthusiastic participants of the Four Corners Youth Leadership Retreat were accepted to become the first ever Four Corners Youth Leadership Council (FCYLC.) Council members have been busy starting their own Roots & Shoots groups, facilitating group projects and educating the community about Roots & Shoots and Dr. Jane. Some of the short term goals of the FCYLC are to create multimedia presentations of their work and ideas about the environment, to gain knowledge and create public awareness of local water issues and to help write for their regional publications and website.

Akilah

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Akilah Sanders-Reed, although new to Roots & Shoots, has led environmental projects for over six years, organizing trash cleanups, making posters, working a lemonade/cookie stand raising money for an animal shelter, and attending numerous conferences and water festivals citywide. One of her major accomplishments was designing and making a recycled book bag for herself and raffling off four (with Katie Herrmann) to raise funds for orangutans. She also enjoys digital art, photography, harp, guitar, Celtic Band, theatre crew (Thespian), and karate (black belt). Possible career paths include photography or communications for an environmental organization although her dream job is studying African elephants in Tanzania.
 
Katie

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Katie's interest in wildlife and environmental conservation was piqued during her three years in the Junior Ranger program in Northern California. After moving to Albuquerque three years ago, she became fascinated with animals and birds of the high desert. As an active member of her school's environmental club, she learned about Roots & Shoots and attended a 2008 Four Corners Youth Leadership Retreat. Katie is excited to now join the Roots and Shoots Four Corners Leadership Council. She loves science and competes with her school's Science Olympiad team at regional, state, and national competitions and enjoys slam poetry and sculpture.

Hallie

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Since the day she could walk, she could run. She would run barefoot, and often naked, alone or with a friend. She grew up with sunlight on her face, wind in her hair, all trees to climb, and the laughing of the stream over rocks; or moonbeams caressing her face, and stars reflecting in her eyes. Sometimes solitary but never alone, she wandered her home, the whole world.

One year of learning, one of friendship, one of writing, one of realization, and one of horrible truth came to pass. And then one of hope. Of nature, and happiness, and eagerness, and wonder. She has seen the damage of hatred, experienced the ignorance as seeds of anger. She knows the beauty a mind and face can hold, when others only look upon the crippled body. She knows how peace and love can spread, and she wants to help.

Hallie lives in Sandia Park, the East Mountains of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with two adopted sibling and two mothers. She enjoys reading, writing, camping, travelling, learning about the environment, it’s people and animals, playing imaginary games, volunteering for wonderful causes, learning from nature, and losing herself in pretending that she is one with her surroundings.

Become a member of the FCYLC today!

For more information on how to apply for the FCYLC please contact Four Corners Program Manager, Emily Dietrich Millstein.