Co-Founder of Gnara Apparel

Class of 2023

Hailing from the Appalachian Mountains of Western Maryland, Georgia Grace is an ex glacier guide, Fulbright Fellow, and economic consultant, and founder of Gnara Apparel.

Founder of Outpatch

Class of 2023

Rachel is a social entrepreneur, veteran, and avid traveler. Rachel is passionate about building community through adventure and founded Outpatch on the premise that community-led change is the most effective pathway to a better, more equitable, and more free world.

Founder of Treeswax

Class of 2023

Christian is a waterman, adventurer, and storyteller discovering a path to make an impact in the world at the intersection of passion and purpose.

Founder of Conversations with Forest

Class of 2023

Laurel is an artist, facilitator and founder of Conversations with Forest, whose work is inspired by her deep connection to nature. She believes that the natural world is constantly gifting us messages that she uses as inspiration for her work.

Founder of Mappy Hour

Class of 2023

Sarah is the Founder & CEO of Mappy Hour, a community platform that connects over 9,000 urban dwellers to outdoor recreation in cities across the U.S.. Through inspiring stories, communal mentorship and ongoing IRL events, Mappy Hour is transforming the relationship between city-dwellers and their environments and advocating for increased participation in outdoor recreation in key urban areas.

Founder of Rogue Environmental Leaders Program

Class of 2022, Idaho

My project aims to inspire, empower, and equip teenagers to become lifelong environmental change makers. Based in the Rogue Valley of Oregon, Rogue Environmental Leaders Program will be an environmental education and community action program designed for youth ages 14-19.

Founder of Tough Cutie

Class of 2022, Idaho

Tough Cutie is an up-and-coming women's outdoor brand on a mission to support women from the ground up. By women for women, we create premium quality women's hiking socks but have a larger mission of helping women and people of color step into our authority both on and off the trail.

Founder of Green Communities Across America

Class of 2022, Idaho

Green Communities aims to reduce pollution at the community-level across North, Central, and South America and to assist American countries with environmental governance development and capacity building, while creating an inter-American environmental bond.

Founder of Wayfinding Ecologies

Class of 2022, Idaho

Wayfinding Ecologies partners with public cultural institutions to use art, stewardship activities, and direct nature experiences to re-entangle communities with historic and future ecologies.

Founder of Life Stages

Class of 2022, Idaho

Life Stages is an outdoor holistic health service that combines the power of nature and science to help individuals self-actualize at any stage in life. We equip you with foundational skills to overcome life stressors and help you achieve physical, mental, emotional, and psychosocial well-being.

Founder of Solstice Sown Designs

Class of 2022, Utah

Michael is an emerging professional ecological designer in southwest Colorado. Practicing professionally since April 2019, Michael is incrementally growing Solstice Sown Designs LLC to serve larger acreage agricultural properties to develop drought resilient and food producing landscapes.

Co-Founder of Collective Power

Class of 2022, Utah

Kelly is an impact driven business strategist with diverse industry experience developing systems, products, ventures, and culture. She has a bachelor's degree in economics from Wharton Business School and an MBA from Yale University. Kelly’s aim is to change the way infrastructure is designed and developed by centering community needs, environmental justice, and collective action in the work of building a more regenerative future.

Founder & CEO of Seren Labs

Class of 2022, Utah

We need to develop and scale zero-carbon concrete to make a dent against the 8% of annual carbon emissions that come from concrete production today. Seren Labs provides a map of concrete R&D networks to make it easier for organizations to find the best experts and create novel solutions faster.

Founder of Peace Through Peace of Mind

Class of 2022, Utah

Peace Through Peace of Mind will provide girls and women who are survivors of domestic/sexual violence in New York City and the surrounding boroughs the chance to go on meditation and mindfulness nature outings as a way to build community and experience the healing power of greenery for the soul.

Co-Founder of Mesa Foods

Class of 2021

I am an experienced professional with two main areas of focus: customer experience and sustainability. Within customer experience, I spend my time thinking about and working with organizations to center their businesses on the customer. This includes a contemporary refinement of consumer centricity and considered analysis of the customer journey.

Founder of Nepal Tea Collective

Class of 2021

Founder of Nepal Tea Collective, a public benefit corporation on a mission to lift one million farmers out of poverty by selling their freshest, delicious organic teas directly to consumers around the world while making the tea supply chain more transparent, traceable, and impactful.

STRAW Education Manager, Blue Point Conservation Science

Class of 2021

In my role as STRAW’s Education Manager, I work with grade school students across the Bay Area in their classroom and in active restoration sites throughout the academic school year. In the summer, I coordinate the Community College Conservation Internship, aiming to support community college students of color exploration of the environmental field by building community.

Founder of Black Bear Soups

Class of 2021

I have been stirring the pot with Black Bear Soups since March 2015. Located in the Missoula Valley of Montana, Black Bear Soups & Produce provides local goods to local folks. Myself and some wonderful partners along the way are planting, growing, chopping, dicing, and stirring all season long.

Board Member, Rising Tide Surf

Class of 2021

Alyssa is a passionate educator, facilitator and mental health counsellor that works with communities to develop land-based healing and educational programs.

She is passionate about SUPing, kayaking, gardening, and being outdoors.

Alyssa was raised on Catawba and Potolmac territory in North Carolina, and is grateful to live and play on Tla-o-qui-aht territory.

CEO & Co-Founder, Verdant Seas

Class of 2020

Ashley is thrilled to work at the intersection of science, business, and sustainability. Prior to launching Verdant Seas, she worked on adaptation and resilience strategies at the World Bank, conducted product-level supply chain emissions analysis with CoClear and CDP, and helped plan the Global Climate Action Summit with the Office of the Governor of California. Ashley holds an M.A. in Climate & Society from Columbia University and a B.S. in Biology from the University of St. Andrews.

Field Operations Manager, Emerald Necklace Conservancy

Class of 2020

Jack currently works with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy where he manages tree care initiatives and landscape restoration projects throughout 1,100-acres of Boston's public parkland. He grew up in Massachusetts with a love for outdoor spaces and forests, and holds a BS in Environmental Studies from Yale College and a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment. He has a background in urban forestry and wildlife research, and has worked to found programs dedicated to increasing accessibility to parks and outdoor spaces for members of low-income and BIPOC communities. Wild Gift prompted Jack to work on a venture called Outdoor Rep that focused on gear distribution through brand partnerships to reduce barriers to camping and backpacking experiences.

Director of Conservation, Friends of Rye Nature Center

Class of 2020

Jax is a charismatic and innovative conservation biologist who is passionate about increasing community involvement and forest restoration. He has created national environmental initiatives, organized large volunteer teams, worked to rebuild forests, and spoken to diverse stakeholder communities. He is especially committed to building healthy forested habitat for migratory species and people alike.

Currently, Jax conducts ecological restoration projects to protect the forests of Rye NY. Previosuly, he managed tree planting programs for the Chesapeake Bay and addressed environmental injustices as an Urban Forester. As an Assistant Director, Jax created national upcycle programs, Leave No Trace trainings , and began the orginazation's first environmental committee. While working for the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, he guided landowners to foster better ecosystems on their own properties and worked with Title I schools around the country to implement scientific tools for research. During his graduate studies at the University of Rhode Island, Jax directed conservation efforts with the Nature Conservancy to protect genetic heritage of mammals on surrounding islands. He has developed a wide and unique set of skills, perfect for tackling large conservation issues.

Independent Conservation Technologist

Class of 2020

Ross Davison has spent the last decade immersed in applying 3D technology to new fields and applications. Ross has recently pivoted his focus from heritage conservation toward mitigating the effects of climate change on our endangered ecological areas.

Through these endeavors, Ross is developing new analytical techniques based on computer vision and deep learning. He co-founded Comon Solutions, a environmental analysis firm, that recently won the 2020 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Start-up Competition put on by United National World Tourism Organization for SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Ross has headed over 100 projects across 26 countries on 5 continents. These projects have included partners such as UNESCO, The Nature Conservancy, Nation Estuarine Reserve System, Google, Autodesk, IICOMOS, Adobe, Microsoft, the National Park Service, Leica, Faro, Trimble, and many others.

In 2015 Ross became a National Geographic explorer, in 2018 a Wells Fargo Coastal Sustainability Fellow, and in 2020 a Wild Gift Fellow. He is an avid diver, climber, and photographer.

Class of 2020

Founder & Director of the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project

Class of 2019

I am a graduate of Pomona College, with a B.A. in English and Environmental Analysis (Environmental Justice concentration). At Pomona College, I co-founded a Prison Abolition organization and an 120-page thesis titled "Prisons, Policing, and Pollution: Toward an Abolition Framework within Environmental Justice."

I am currently based in Washington, D.C. working on the Ocean Acidification team at the Ocean Conservancy. I am focused on stakeholder outreach and building relationships with coastal communities impacted by ocean changes.

Founder, Keep Earth Company

Class of 2019

Notably, he co-founded Keel Labs, where he served as CEO and then CTO, working towards transforming the apparel ecosystem with kelp-derived textile fiber for six+ years.

He obtained his Masters of Industrial Design at Pratt Institute, and a Bachelors of Biology at Beloit College. Some of his work has been exhibited around the world, in North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Aaron is also a lover of typography, sci-fi novels, and building things.

Executive Director & Founder, Black Outside Inc.

Class of 2019

Educator, Outdoor Equity Advocate, and Social Entrepreneur driven to deepen the connections of Black youth and communities to the outdoors.

Co-Founder & Executive Director, Zero Waste O’ahu

Class of 2019

I am 16 years deep (and counting) into my work as a sustainability professional. As an environmental entrepreneur, sustainability consultant, and NGO leader I support clients dedicated to building robust corporate or organizational sustainability programs. I enjoy what I do and approach my work with rigor, curiosity, and creativity.

Co-Founder, BoxPower Inc.

Class of 2019

Founder, Black by Nature

Class of 2018

Baltimore native on a mission to engage more people of color in environmental education, outdoor exploration, and land stewardship.

Founder & CEO, WeRadiate

Class of 2018

Head of Operations, Salient

Class of 2018

High energy, results-driven leader, board director, and investor for impact-driven startups. GSHIDO generalist with an active listening superpower who thrives on tackling complex, ambiguous challenges and delivering results. Laura is known for her high accountability, initiative, and resourcefulness.

Founder & COO, New Energy Nexus

Class of 2018

I'm a climate & clean energy ecosystem builder and have spent my career in 15 countries (7 of which I have lived in) with various incubators/accelerators/networks that I have either founded, governed, invested in. As a systems thinker, I get more excited about building programs that support entrepreneurship than doubling down on a specific breakthrough product or technology. I believe the enabling environment is needed first in order for breakthroughs to succeed in the market.

Class of 2018

Co-Founder, Reducing Bias in AI

Class of 2016

Co-Founder & Chief Reef Officer at Coral Vita

Class of 2016

I co-founded Coral Vita, a company that grows corals to restore dying reefs. I've been a scuba diver since childhood, and nothing pushes me harder than fighting for ocean health and the one billion people who rely on coral reefs. Together, we can jumpstart the Restoration Economy to protect the ecosystems that sustain us all while creating good local jobs.

Institutional Relations, Sustainable Agricultural Network

Class of 2016, Current Board Member

Regenerating health, the planet, and communities requires a rethinking of the status quo. My task is to use some of the earth's most nourishing plant-based foods to meet this need.

Founder & CEO, Skyven Technologies Inc.

Class of 2016

At Skyven Technologies, we have developed a revolutionary heat pump technology to decarbonize industrial heat -- a sector that accounts roughly 20% of global carbon emissions. That’s roughly equivalent to emissions generated by all transportation (including land, sea, and air). We sell the heat pump through an innovative Energy-as-a-Service model that saves our customers money with no capital outlay.

While decarbonizing industrial heat is a 'hot' topic today (pun intended), it wasn't always that way. When I started Skyven, no one was thinking about it. I found a home and network of support in Wild Gift -- it's an organization of people who care deeply. The Wild Gift community was able to provide some critical introductions in those early days, in addition to providing incredible hands-on leadership training.

Writer and Conservationist

Class of 2016

Founder & CEO, Re-Nuble

Class of 2014

I am a seasoned leader, strategist, and financial analyst. As an agile thinker, I thrive on creating ingenuity in traditional and conservative environments.

President & Founder, Blue Beta Tours

Class of 2014

CEO, SailFuture

Class of 2014

Focused on developing programs and services that provide young people with a path to economic freedom and social mobility.

Co-founder, The Compost Plant

Class of 2014

With The Compost Plant, I want to demonstrate that a business can be truly sustainable: creating opportunities for community and economic empowerment, providing goods and services that financially sustain operations, and having beneficial impacts on the local ecosystem. I see the opportunity to grow a business that provides jobs in a State with the second highest unemployment rate in the country, and helps build the foundation of a stronger food system in Rhode Island by turning a current “waste” into a resource.

Founder, Maps for Good

Class of 2012

I’m a cartographer and photographer with a focus on connecting people with conservation. I currently lead cartography and spatial analysis at the nation’s leading public lands conservation and advocacy organization, The Wilderness Society. My maps are used in debates in Congress, films, stakeholder meetings throughout the country, court cases, our digital stories, meetings with donors, and more. I recently designed and produced the maps for National Geographic Magazine’s September 2022 cover story, “America the Beautiful.”

Founder, Young Mountain Tea

Class of 2012

My work is fueled by a deep belief that rural agricultural communities have a critical role to play in reshaping food systems and addressing climate change.

Founder & CEO, Kuli Kuli Foods

Class of 2012

Lisa began working on Kuli Kuli while in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. As a volunteer in her village’s health center, she gained an understanding of nutritional challenges faced in West African villages and how moringa can help address those challenges. Prior to Kuli Kuli, Lisa served as the Communications Director at Mosaic, wrote political briefings for President Obama in the White House and worked at an impact investment firm in India. Lisa has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 leader, a Udall Scholar and a “dedicated humanitarian” by the Muhammad Ali Center.

Founder, Sunbank Solar & Solar Dividend

Class of 2012

Over the past several years I have been fully consumed by solar water heating. My business, Sunbank Solar, was born out of this interest and my Wild Gift project, Solar Dividend, springs from the desire to see this technology become more commonly utilized.

Solar water heating has been around for a long time. It is simple technology that does not create electricity–but instead offsets the use of electricity by directly heating water. It is much older and in many ways more developed technology than its solar panel cousin, yet the solar thermal industry is a disparate one that lacks a simple and cohesive message. The Sunbank, as it's known, is 6 times more efficient than the modern solar panel. Which is to say that it would take 6 times the amount of collector area for solar panels to create the same amount of energy. It also costs much less. This combination of factors makes solar thermal energy very attractive.

Solar Dividend uses these financial factors to its favor. By employing a financing model that has become popular among solar panel installers, Solar Dividend removes the traditional barriers (technological uncertainty and high up front cost) to adoption of commercial solar thermal energy systems. This, coupled with the current incentive structure, means projects that are financially very attractive for investors and the host site, alike. Large consumers of hot water, from hotels to hospitals, dairy farms to breweries, stand to save a lot. The potential environmental and economic impact is big.

Director of Saprinu

Class of 2011

Saprinu is a grassroots organization of socially- and environmentally-conscious individuals from Nepal and around the world. We are inspired by learning and self-discovery and believe that both are essential to creating a better world. By developing intimate partnerships with individuals and communities, we work together to cultivate nurturing environments that allow people to fully embrace exploration, discovery and creativity. Saprinu believes that every person possesses unique talents; our goal is to provide a platform that enables everyone to discover them. The world becomes a better place when everyone is able to discover their individual talents and pursue them fully.

Saprinu is transforming communities in rural Nepal: creating a place where children have access to a meaningful education; a learning experience where every child has the opportunity to learn and discover new and exciting things; and provide a platform where students are encouraged to explore their talents and passions. Our schools are a place where teachers are excited to come and teach. We invest in and appreciate them and in turn they invest in making their schools the best possible place for students to grow. By placing learning at the heart of the community, we come together to create safe and healthy environments where we flourish together.

We bring life and learning into classrooms, create jobs where there were none, embrace knowledge from older generations and share with the young, explore our hopes and dreams and work together to turn them into a reality. Saprinu is committed to working tirelessly to build lasting partnerships, which will create a better place in which all of us can live.

Harvard Food Literacy Project Coordinator

Class of 2011

During my Wild Gift Fellowship year I scaled back my farming operation (see below) so that I could spend more time and energy doing the food systems organizing work that I feel is so important. While establishing the Young Farmer Network (YFN) and creating the organizational structure and solid team to keep that good work going and growing, I was staff at the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. At New Entry I worked primarily with immigrant and refugee farmers to establish new farms in the greater Boston area. In April, 2014, I transitioned to Harvard University. As the Coordinator of the Food Literacy Project I manage a team of 25 student fellows who learn about food systems issues and plan events to educate their peers and the wider community about how food and agriculture connect to contemporary issues - from immigration to climate change. I also teach the garden internship program and manage the farmers' market. Additionally, I work with University partners such as the Office of Sustainability and the Food Law and Policy Clinic on large-scale events and campaigns to educate and engage our community in improving the food system.

In addition to my work at Harvard, I am still in an advisory and visioning role at YFN, am on the board of the Beginning Farmer Network of Mass and am farming about an acre of land- mostly in garlic and popcorn strains that I have been breeding for a local seed company. Las year I also worked part time for New Entry (teaching an Urban Agriculture and Entrepreneurship class to resource-limited people of color in Roxbury, MA), and chaired of the Wild Gift Selection Committee (and was on the Alumni Council).

My particular areas of interest are in food systems and climate change, and social justice, especially for women, in our food system.

Program Director, Putney Student Travel

Class of 2011

I'm an entrepreneur drawn to cultural fermentation - communities growing together and creating solutions to their problems. While my Wild Gift project, Five Valleys Appleworks (FVA), - an attempt to reduce negative bear interactions and increase food security through fruit harvesting programs - has ended, my work with Ecology Project International has increased. As a non-profit dedicated to creating the next generation of conservation stewards, EPI has worked with over 20,000 students since 2000, bringing them to field sites to conduct citizen science and learn about keystone species along the way. In 2015, EPI was named to Outside's Best Places to Work list for the 4th year in a row, thanks to workplace practices that encourage employees to live healthy, balanced lives.

CEO & Founder of PlayHard GiveBack

Class of 2011

As a kid growing up in Sun Valley, Idaho I never let an opportunity to participate in athletics pass me by. Living in a mountain town gave me the chance to specialize in winter sports. Ice Skating was my first passion and provided the foundation for my current role as a co-captain on the University of St Thomas NCAA mens hockey team in Minnesota. My gravitation to team sports was largely influenced by my enjoyment of the fellowship, teamwork, and camaraderie a team provides. The opportunity to lead and motivate a group focused on a single goal and develop my leadership skills further are the reasons I continue to play college hockey.

Through athletics, I have learned what it means to push myself mentally and physically to the next level. Striving for personal improvement and inspiring others to do the same continues to direct my life.

Hockey also provided the chance for me to develop a strong interest and concern for underdeveloped areas of the world. This world view was first simulated when I had the opportunity to travel in Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Kenya. In addition, I had the opportunity to live and play hockey for one year in Tingsryd, Sweden.

My experiences visiting developing world countries have led me to make a difference. I now want to take the tools that I have learned through sports and positively influence the world. Athletes dedicate themselves mentally and physically, improving their team and their sport. Now I am working with athletes to not only PlayHard but also GiveBack, putting the same amount of dedication to helping implement change. Through micro-social enterprise my work with PlayHard GiveBack, will support and develop athletes beyond sports. Changing the world, for the better!

Founder of Southern Hues

Class of 2010

In early 2012 I launched my new business, Southern Hues. Our mission is to increase the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems in the Southeastern US by helping women and beginning farmers diversify into natural dye crops. Southern Hues supports the next generation of land stewards and caretakers of the soil by lowering the barriers to entry into the value-added alternative crop market. Through our beautiful product line, we engage a broad range of consumers in support of a sustainable agrarian economy and restoration of our earth. From shawls to naturally dyed fabrics, we are making healthier products available to our customers while providing small farmers with a living wage.

Writer and Conservationist

Class of 2010

My primary interest is to understand, convey, and shape human belonging to the places we inhabit. I think about place broadly. It is ecological, certainly, but as a species moving through time it is also social and historical, rooted in the complexes of our being. Place, as I am interested in it, is the very identity we inhabit, the convergence of our myths and memories, our skins and thoughts, the physical pulses of our body and those hidden in our minds, the feeling of the land beneath our feet.

To this end, I use story-telling, exploration, and applied conservation to find common ground between different cultures and societies. For my Wild Gift project, I am compiling a book based on my experience in Kenya and my effort to find ways for humans and other species to co-inhabit place.

Chief of Chicha, SAMI Beverage Company

Class of 2010

Out of my experience of running my food stand, a new business is developing of Peruvian inspired beverages - SAMI Beverage Company, LLC. In the native Quechua language, SAMI is an offering of food made to the earth, a nourishing spirit that is transmitted through food, plants and people. People can exhibit SAMI through talent, grace, force of personality and good luck. 1% of SAMI's profits will go to projects that protect and promote Peru's rich indigenous and agricultural heritage focusing on protecting seed varieties.

SAMI is the next evolution of my dream to bring healthy, fun and traditional Peruvian food products to the rest of the world. The first beverage that SAMI is releasing is Chicha Americana, a modern spin on ancient Peruvian drink made from purple corn, apples, pineapple, and a variety of spices. Chicha Americana will be debuting in select Vermont stores during Fall 2013.

Executive Director at Global Awareness Local Action (G.A.L.A.)

Class of 2010

Shortly after college I became a youth delegation leader with a group called SustainUS where I worked on policy and lobbying efforts at conferences of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). During this same time I was also working with Clean Vibes, an outdoor event recycling and environmental education company providing services at some of the largest music festivals in the United States including Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN that draws a crowd of over 100,000. I was leading quite the colorful and transient life at this point in time.

Eventually, I had to decide - do I remain a wandering eco-activist, or do I settle down and establish some roots that lead to real lasting change. I chose the latter and soon moved back to my hometown of Wolfeboro, NH where I started to plant the seeds for a nonprofit - Global Awareness Local Action (G.A.L.A.). That was five years ago. Today, G.A.L.A. engages a diverse network of people in study circles, sustainable home & yard makeovers, homesteading workshops, and other events including an annual curbside cleanup day, farm to table feast, contra dances and more. I am employed nearly full time with G.A.L.A. and work closely with an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. My intention is to create a sustainable community building model that can be replicated throughout New England.Description goes here

CFO at Image Relay

Class of 2009

Wild Gift helped Chris launch Vermont Farm Tours in 2009, which he ran for ten years before switching careers from food and agriculture to finance and real estate. Chris completed his MBA in 2017 and currently works for Image Relay, a B Corp business software company based in Burlington, VT. In his free time, Chris can be found binging on podcasts about entrepreneurship, technology, and design while backcountry skiing, mountain biking, or gardening.

Teacher

Class of 2009

In 2008, there were 16 million refugees worldwide displaced by war, social injustice or environmental catastrophe. Over 60,000 of these refugees, most originating from Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, were settled in the U.S. The U.S. State Department matches refugees with one of 10 nonprofit agencies, for example the International Rescue Committee, which resettles them in targeted communities like Burlington.

The 2012 mission of my Wild Gift Project – Girls Outdoors (GO) – is to use outdoor adventure and exploration as a vehicle to support and empower these refugee girls, ages 14-21, to become social and environmental leaders. In the project’s first year, I will work with a group of 15 refugee girls, primarily of African origin, in creating a curriculum that incorporates outdoor skills, environmental education, leadership training, and interpersonal development. In the second year, the girls will then take ownership and leadership in GO to empower them to take action in bettering their community.

Educational Explorer

Class of 2009

My husband, Dave, and I are 2014 National Geographic Adventurers of the Year. I am the Director of Development of an educational nonprofit organization, the Wilderness Classroom. Each year the Wilderness Classroom conducts a series of online learning adventures, which allow students to interact with expedition members exploring remote locations around the world. The Wilderness Classroom has conducted a dozen previous online expeditions since its founding in 2001, gaining participation of over 2,200 teachers and 90,000 3rd to 8th grade students from around the world. Our mission is to educate third through eighth grade students about the plants, animals, and people of the wildest remaining places throughout the globe through an online curriculum, thereby empowering them to experience and protect wild waterways and wild lands.

Community Development Manager at Anchorage Community Land Trust

Class of 2009

ACLT aims to facilitate and catalyze community-directed economic revitalization in the Mountain View neighborhood of Anchorage, AK. Our primary goal is to bring more private sector investment into the community in order to provide jobs, diversify income levels, improve property maintenance and give residents and area businesses the opportunities and tools needed to capitalize on the community’s diverse energy. As the only non-profit organization working specifically on behalf of our community, ACLT works with partners to improve quality of life through a strong alliance of resources and programs grounded in a robust private sector.

Environmental Justice Advocate

Class of 2009

The mission of my Wild Gift Project – Earth Justice Initiative (EJI) - is to use grassroots organizing and coalition building to support indigenous First Nations of Canada who are protecting their traditional territories in North America’s largest wild forest ecosystem. Globally, only 20% of the world’s original forests remain intact. The largest wild forest in North America is the boreal forest – the world’s greatest reservoir of fresh water, and the biggest storehouse of carbon beyond the ocean. Canada’s vast boreal forests are being rapidly exploited for extraction of timber, energy and mineral resources. EJI believes the most strategic and responsible way to advance human rights and protect the boreal forest is to partner with First Nation communities who are working to protect their traditional territories. EJI works with a coalition of 50 organizations toward its goals including recognition for the right of First Nations to say ‘no’ to industrial extraction - as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - and protection for Ontario’s Boreal Forest.

Folk musician/music licensing research

Class of 2008

As a folk singer my mission for my Wild Gift project – This Land is Our Land – is to express people’s history and struggle through song-stories that inspire listeners to become aware of and be active in social and environmental justice. In partnership with community action groups and individuals in the eastern United States, I have created ‘This Land’, an Environmental Justice Folk Recording. On my website you can listen to all of the songs and interviews, as well as read the lyrics and background information. I perform the material from the CD while offering reflections on the project and environmental justice issues. If you are interested in having me give a performance or seminar near you, please let me know. Consider purchasing a CD or donating to the project. Purchases and contributions are given to the community action groups whose stories ‘This Land’ supports.

Program Manager at EarthCorps

Class of 2008

In 2008, with the generous support of Wild Gift, I initiated Tall Trees Youth Stewardship Project, a one-year pilot project to engage young people, neighborhood associations, and city agencies in stewardship of the urban forest of Olympia, Washington. I worked to provide the inspiration and technical capacity necessary for community and student groups, City staff, and non-profit organizations to kindle effective and collaborative ecological restoration efforts in South Sound urban forests.

Director of Marketing at Yerdle

Class of 2008

I now serve as Executive Director of CleantechU, a new initiative that catalyzes cleantech entrepreneurship on college campuses through the unique avenue of human capital development. I am the recipient of the prestigious David Brower Youth Award, the nation's top prize for young environmental leaders, as well as the Morris K. Udall Fellowship and of course, the Wild Gift. I reside in San Francisco, CA.

Veterinarian Associate in Avian Medicine and Surgery

Class of 2008

The mission of my Wild Gift project - Loons and People – was to develop wildlife conservation guidelines that will protect and enhance common loon habitat on Adirondack Lakes in New York State. I collaborated with Biodiversity Research Institute's Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation and New York’s Adirondack Park Agency to write “Loons and People: Guidelines for ‘Nesting’ Together on Adirondack Lakes”, which is available in formal treatise, brochure, and PDF Form. These guidelines serve as a valuable educational and management resource to help protect common loons and enhance their breeding habitat in northern New York and throughout their summer range. By increasing awareness and knowledge of common loon behavior and breeding habitat, the guidelines provide an informed basis for sustainable development and human stewardship of lakeshores, while strengthening the coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to the conservation of this symbol of the wilderness. There continues to be interest in these guidelines throughout the Adirondack Park, as well as in neighboring states such as Vermont and New Hampshire. My hope is that these guidelines continue to be utilized and distributed throughout all of the common loons' breeding range.

Environmental Practitioner and Researcher

Class of 2008

Promoting sustainable practices in various aspects of peoples livelihoods and local development processes. Creating awareness and changing behavior towards sustainable practices. Ensuring that lessons and new knowledge gained from my practical and research projects is utilized to inform a wider spectrum of stakeholders.

Born in a rural hamlet a few Kilometres from Nairobi, my family relocated to Korogocho slum in Nairobi to escape rural poverty. However, poverty in a slum manifested in our lives in worse-off ways than rural poverty.

In addition to practical work and advocacy, I have also conducted surveys and scientific research on environment and development issues and linked knowledge with policy, practice and learning. In the course of my work I have traversed diverse terrains and engaged with people from all walks of life including ordinary folks, community leaders, policy makers etc. I also engage in pastime creative writing in an effort to amplify my scientific voice by conveying the sustainable development message in a creative language.

Ecuador Country Director at Free The Children

Class of 2007

Today I work in Ecuador assisting indigenous communities in their attainment of high-quality education for the children and strengthening their autonomy to decide their futures. At every corner I look for a way to involve environmental awareness and rejuvenation. I thank Wild Gift for the ability to bring this perspective into all of my work.

Owner of Falling Sky Farm

Class of 2007

The Wild Gift provided us with the critical start-up capital and business mentoring needed to meet our intial goal of establishing a profitable, environmentally-friendly demonstration farm in the Ozarks, which promotes a local food system that reinvigorates the local economy.

Managing Director at Small World Carbon

Class of 2007

I was part of the Wild Gift class of 2007-2008 and subsequently launched Small World Carbon with the mission to improve clean energy infrastructure systems. My professional areas include specialization in project finance, carbon market analysis, project risk assessment, rural electrification, energy policy and clean energy technology implementation. I have about a decade's worth of experience in small-scale renewable energy project financing and development such as cellulosic ethanol, off-grid solar PV and hot water, small and micro hydro, and grid-connected wind. I act as a volunteer mentor with Wild Gift, VC4Africa and Mentor Capital Network.

President of Entegra Development & Investment LLC

Class of 2007

The mission for my Wild Gift Project – Entegra Development & Investment LLC – is to lead the field of environmentally sustainable development in the market sector of small-to-medium scale residential and mixed-use construction by 2015. Armed with a MBA from Babson College and BA from Dartmouth College, I created a profitable real estate firm dedicated to community development, sustainable design, and environmental stewardship. By employing green design practices, I hope to reshape the way real estate development is conducted. Entegra is currently engaged with local and global real estate companies and corporations as a third-party design consultant, assisting these groups in achieving green building certifications for their ongoing construction projects. These projects are registered with the USGBC’s LEED Certification program and range widely in scope, scale, and sustainable impacts. Of note, Entegra has worked with global corporations such as Verizon, Covidien, TD Bank, Bank of America, and Liberty Mutual on both Commercial Interiors and Existing Buildings certification programs. Entegra is often contracted by members of the design and construction teams to assist in navigating the LEED application process.

Director of Policy, Rhode Island Department of Administration

Class of 2007

Allison Rogers currently serves as the Director of Policy for the Rhode Island Department of Administration (www.admin.ri.gov). Alli previously served as the Executive Director for Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Green the Capitol Office at the U.S. House of Representatives, where she worked from 2007 to 2011. During her previous work as a sustainability consultant, Alli worked for a number of organizations, including the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Alli worked for Harvard University’s Office for Sustainability (previously known as the Harvard Green Campus Initiative) from 2002 to 2006. As a University Management Fellow, Alli coordinated the energy efficiency and sustainability programs for Harvard College, Law School, Business School, and Real Estate Services.

Vice President at New Ecology

Class of 2006

For my Wild Gift project, Lighten the Load, I conducted energy and water use audits for three existing affordable housing projects in the Boston area. In all three instances, energy and water conservation features were implemented that resulted in cost and resource savings.

Lighten the Load has evolved into the Existing Buildings program, which is one of New Ecology's primary programs. In January 2010, New Ecology hired a dedicated staff person to organize and carry out this work. We are currently working with a number of affordable housing owners to analyze and reduce their water, gas, and electric consumption.

In executing the Lighten the Load program, it was difficult and time consuming to access historical utility information for these buildings to understand their performance. Since then, New Ecology, Inc. has partnered with two other Boston-based entities to create WegoWise, a web based tool that allows multifamily building owners to easily access, benchmark, and track their building's water and energy usage and quantify performance improvements. WegoWise was launched as an independent business entity in March 2010.

Campaigner, lecturer, and trainer

Class of 2006

The Wild Gift experience gave me the supportive boost I needed to branch out and explore my passion in helping sustainability groups advocate for change. It is the combination of the awesome mountainous trek with inspiring people followed by the months of mentoring that makes this project so worthwhile for young environmental leaders. Thank you Wild Gift for this opportunity.

Environmental Education Specialist at Soldier Hollow Charter School

Class of 2006

The Wild Gift inspired personal and professional growth and has positively influenced me and my students. Throughout the Wild Gift experience, I learned leadership skills that I have carried with me and built upon during subsequent life experiences. Wild Gift lifted me off the ground and gave me wings to start my flight towards my next leadership goal- an outdoor science school in the Uinta Mountains (the headwaters of the Provo River watershed) bringing watershed education to thousands of students each year.

Conservation Manager at Pew Environment Group

Class of 2006

In 2006-2007, Wild Gift supported my project, “Conserving Nahuelbuta’s Biodiversity: Sustainable Management and the Creation of Private Protected Areas in Contulmo,” in Southern Chile. The project seeks to support small and medium landowners interested in creating private protected areas and empower their community-based, grassroots organization “Network for Conserving Contulmo’sNatural Heritage” (RECPAN-Contulmo). This project was a great success, helping to formalize the organization, build capacities, recruit new members, and gain financing from the Chilean government.

Artist

Class of 2006

My Wild Gift project — Now Coming to a Town Near You — was to write and self-publish a book that took a critical look at urban sprawl and its effect on communities. My mission was to inspire a change of heart among my readers and to encourage them to defend and preserve the unique character, quality of community, and purity of wildness in the places they called home. I sold over 600 copies of my book, which is now on its second printing. Since publication, I have been invited to speak at dozens of events ranging from green expos to college classrooms. A portion of the book’s proceeds benefitted The Conservation Foundation, a local nonprofit devoted to protecting farmland and open space that would otherwise be lost to development.

Agent for Sustainable Community Development

Class of 2004

I'm currently involved as a coordinator for an exciting project with Future Generations to map community successes in Haiti. We have a team of 8 skilled mappers roving both the countryside and inner-city areas, holding Focus Groups and documenting strengths and successes initiated by Haitian nationals. We will promote these successes via an online platform featuring an interactive map, as well as multimedia publications. The goal is to change the image of Haiti, from both a local and international perspective, from an impoverished country in need to a resilient, capable nation worthy of global respect.

Co-Founder and CEO at Gotham Greens

My Wild Gift supported social enterprise project was called Shesyon Solar Earthworks(SSE). SSE inspired sustainable development in Ladakh, India, a remote, high-altitiude region in the Himalayas. I pursued a self-designed project aimed at reconciling Ladakh’s rich solar power potential with its rapidly growing energy and infrastructure demands. With the assistance and guidance of a local NGO, I helped launch a green building and renewable energy company. The experience provided me with a unique lesson in the use of innovative technological solutions to address development challenges and sowed the seeds for a career in clean technology. With the Wild Gift's support it proved to be a hands-on education in small business and successful social entrepreneurship.

Assistant Professor of Real Estate and Planning

Class of 2004

Without the discussion sessions that occurred in the Wild Gift classroom, I might have missed a number of important components of literature and scholarship that help to provide a foundation for my research and consulting. Drew Sanderford is an Assistant Professor in the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture. His research and teaching focuses on responsible property investment and development, innovation, and both housing and commercial real estate. Previously, Drew was post-doctoral research fellow at the Virginia Center for Housing Research, a research center within the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech. Dr. Sanderford is also a junior member at Evergreen Advisors, LLC, a real estate development and investment firm in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Practicum Coordinator at University of British Columbia (UBC Farm)

Class of 2004

The Wild Gift was an invaluable component of my career trajectory, as I received it during a formative time in my life when I was debating different career paths. It helped me to move in the direction of my dreams and towards a career path in sustainable agriculture education. With the help of the Wild Gift, I made my documentary film, and then went on to show it at different colleges/universities/conferences. The film has served to inspire others along a path to developing projects similar to the PEAS Farm. Without the Wild Gift, I surely wouldn't be where I am today, pursuing a PhD in Horticulture at the University of Florida. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Wild Gift.

Associate Lecturer at UW-La Crosse

Class of 2004

Currently, I am teaching Environmental Studies and Environmental Writing at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and English courses focused on Environmental Literature at Viterbo University. I am a doctoral student at Hamline University, and as part of my EdD dissertation will study environmental education evaluation.

Ast. Director of the UCSC coastal science and policy program

Class of 2003

Founder of Tamarack Media

Class of 2003

Director of Community Solutions, Community Water Center

Class of 2003

Consultant & Coach

Class of 2003

Head of Communications, Render Network Foundation

Class of 2003