Jenna is a student at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs geography and environmental studies program with plans to graduate Dec 2020. She is part of the Students for Environmental Awareness and Sustainability (SEAS) on campus. SEAS is a gathering place for eco-minded students on campus to talk about how to create a more sustainable future, to educate the UCCS community and to be a critique for any UCCS unsustainable practices. She and other students are planning to start a podcast this upcoming semester to chat about how Colorado Springs is measuring up in the realm of sustainability. She is an Air Force veteran with a passion for social justice. Her assignment in South Korea she experienced first hand how unjust our current system is. She volunteered with a local group there picking up trash every other Saturday morning feeling like it was the same trash from the week before, it was never-ending. During her year in Korea, she spent all her free time learning everything she could about environmental issues and hasn’t stopped since. She has a passion for regenerative agriculture, our food system, and security.

She completed our internship program this past semester with over 120 hours. Helped with our 350 Colorado newsletter and with fundraising. She assisted local youth in organizing the climate strikes global day of action on September 20th. Pre-strike she helped host an art build and painted a 12-foot parachute which turned into an amazing visual on strike day  She is also an environmental education volunteer at Catamount Institute: teaching at field trips and after school clubs to connect children in her community to the outdoors. In the year of 2019, she committed over 200 hours between Catamount Institute and 350 Colorado. She has been an active voice in Colorado Springs Utilities’ Energy Integrated Resource Plan to close the Martin Drake coal plant. Not only has she spoken out herself but educated those in her community to empower them to do the same. We are so lucky and blessed to have had Jenna as an intern this last semester. We are grateful for her leadership skills that will continue to impact her community for a long time to come. 

This upcoming year she plans to be a driving force in the political/legislative realm of the environmental movement. She is planning on starting a local book club centered around social justice. Will continue to teach after school clubs with Catamount Institute and volunteer with 350 Colorado Springs. You can follow her @jem2118 on IG to keep up with her future community involvement.