AdkAction creates projects that address unmet needs, promote vibrant communities, and preserve the natural beauty of the Adirondacks for all. Our work seeks to improve the social, economic, and cultural lives of local residents and enhance the long-term natural resources of the Park. We find common ground, build capacity, and work collaboratively.

As a Fellow, I studied the history and current practice of conservation in the Adirondack Park in order to generate more equitable processes and outcomes of conservation in rural landscapes across New York State.

The Blue Mountain Center is a premier artist residency and working retreat program for artists, activists, and scholars advancing progressive movement building and cultural work. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have led the Hamilton Helps Project, a partnership-focused relief initiative dedicated to supporting frontline departments, existing agencies, and local organizations who care for the Hamilton County, New York community - a rural food desert in the Adirondack Park. This includes:- Technical grant writing assistance- Fundraising, gift tracking, and donor appreciation - Collection and distribution of essential information- Coordination of community-wide donation projects- Connecting vital programmatic support to local organizations and county agencies- Building capacity for future resilience and food security

In this role, I directed the stewardship of MHLC protected lands, including fee-owned properties and conservation easements, and the recruitment, training, and management of a wide variety of volunteers to improve our public access opportunities across 18 nature preserves. This included assistance with baseline documentation for new conservation easements and the monitoring of over 5,000 acres of preserves and easements annually. I worked with multiple stakeholders to further conservation priorities to protect land and increase the organization's efficiency as greater acreage was conserved.

As a Team Leader, I supported 20+ AmeriCorps members across Vermont, encouraging professional and personal development throughout their service term. In this role I provided support to AmeriCorps members, conducted site visits, assisted in conflict resolution and goal-setting. I helped created a community of service and mutual respect among members and assisted in planning, facilitating, and organizing monthly professional development trainings. I was responsible for created and distributed quarterly newsletters using Adobe Photoshop and maintained social media and web presence to promote the AmeriCorps program.

As a Corps member, I completed 1,700 hours of service in Barnstable County through natural resource conservation, environmental education, disaster preparedness and relief, and community engagement. Projects including trail building, invasive species removal, aquaculture and shellfishing, cut and pile burning, Red Cross disaster sheltering, water quality education days, herring run maintenance and other habitat restoration, as well as other coastal land and animal conservation efforts. Served as project lead in maintaining a coastal mitigation nursery organizing 14 AmeriCorps members in restoring the beds, pathways, and fencing in the beachside nursery.Steward to 1,380 acres of conservation and land bank land and 89 coastal and freshwater access properties. Created land management plans to identify challenges specific to each parcel's natural landscape and make strides to meeting them in the future. Caring for parcels to remove invasive plant species, trail overgrowth, and manmade debris while preventing erosion and habitat disruption. GIS mapping and tracking the progress of this maintenance as well as new trail development. Wilderness First Aid and Red Cross CPR certified. Chainsaw certified and trained to operate other related power tools. Experiential education in horticulture, invasive and native plant species, and sustainable land management practices.

As a fellow, I authored a grassroots guide to citizen participation in NYS Public Service Commission Article VII major utility transmission citation processes. This guide provide informs and equips interested citizen about the power line citation process and the public's role in order to help facilitate a collaborative decision-making toward the common interest. I spoke with landowners, activists, engineers, public officials, environmental scientists, and alternative energy professionals to develop my own expertise in advocacy, natural resource conflicts, energy-related fields.

As an intern for Congressman Paul Tonko's Albany District Office, I assisted with administrative duties, constituent casework, press scheduling and correspondence. This position was a real-time introduction to legislation and policymaking. My responsibilities progressed throughout course of the summer.

As a Teaching Assistant, I supported Professor William Coplin's famous PAF 101: Introduction to Policy Analysis course in cooperation with 17 fellow Teaching Assistants. I focused on the course's community service requirements and grading guidelines, recommended appropriate improvements, and trained other TA's and students on the community service components of the class.