Students engaged in local community planning projects
 
(Long Island, N.Y.) Sustainable Long Island is pleased to announce the start of its 2nd Annual High School Fellowship, where numerous high school juniors and seniors across Long Island have been hired to work closely with staff on community planning and revitalization projects within the organization.  

Funded by the Levitt Foundation, this program will have students engaged in a local community planning project, develop creative, fun outreach methods targeted at young adults, and learn about local and regional food systems while helping with Sustainable Long Island’s youth-run farmers’ markets.

“This fellowship gives the chance for students to see what it’s like to work at a nonprofit organization, complete day-to-day tasks, while focusing on numerous projects and planning processes” said Sarah Lansdale, Executive Director, Sustainable Long Island. “Students will be active in and learning about issues of sustainability, community planning, and development and civic engagement.”

Students including Sarah DeGray of Sachem High School North, Ibeth Escobar of Roosevelt High School, and Matthew Lippertshauser of Bethpage High School receive a stipend for their work, which entails a one year part-time commitment including 20 hours a week in the summer and five hours a week during the school year. This program will help students build different skills, while providing experience to those who will soon be off to college looking for more part time, and eventually, full time jobs.

“It’s important to me to get younger people involved in issues that our communities face on a daily basis,” said Matthew Lippertshauser. “I hope to learn from this experience and educate others along the way.”

After a tremendously successful inaugural year featuring student’s developing and holding a Bethpage youth-visioning and meeting numerous elected officials, the organization interviewed dozens of young adults in different Long Island communities for this program. Youth are integral to Long Island’s future growth and with their help Sustainable Long Island believes they can reach a broader audience and engage more young adults in thinking about and planning for the future.

About Sustainable Long Island:
Sustainable Long Island serves as a catalyst for creating a better quality of life for all Long Islanders, now and for future generations through economic development, environmental health and social equity. Sustainable Long Island connects public and private resources and expertise with communities that need them. Sustainable Long Island is located at 45A Seaman Avenue, Bethpage, NY, 11714. For further information, call (516)873-0230, or visit www.sustainableli.org.

Pictured from top to bottom: Matthew Lippertshauser, Ibeth Escobar, Sarah DeGray