The Importance Of Youth Engagement In Water Conservation And Environmental Initiatives
By Kevin Westerling,
@KevinOnWater
In a recent episode of The Water Online Show, co-host Travis Kennedy and I had the pleasure of welcoming Moalie Jose, a dedicated board member of the Maryland Environmental Service and a talented engineer with Hazen and Sawyer. The conversation revolved around Moalie's impactful initiatives aimed at advancing water and environmental causes in the Baltimore community.
Moalie's commitment to engaging the youth in environmental and water-related programs was a focal point of the discussion. She passionately described her involvement in the Baltimore City YouthWorks program, an effort providing summer internships to inner-city youth aged 14 to 21, with the goal of offering over 8,000 high school students opportunities and keeping them engaged during the summer months.
Additionally, Moalie's participation in the YH2O+ mentoring program, a collaborative effort between the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW), the Mayor's Office of Employment Development, the Chesapeake Water Environment Association, and the U.S. EPA, targeting youth between 18 and 24, further underscored her dedication to education, equity, engineering, and the environment. Her past service on the Baltimore County Board of Education exemplified her commitment to these causes.
During the conversation, my cohort Travis, who is also Water Online’s publisher, expressed his admiration for Moalie's work in connecting with and involving the younger generation in environmental sustainability. He emphasized the crucial importance of sustaining life and resources, particularly in the context of water conservation.
Moalie shared a poignant experience from her mentorship journey, recounting an encounter with a 15-year-old boy who had never realized the opportunities that existed within his city until he visited the Hazen and Sawyer building where she works. This moving experience underscored the need to make such opportunities more accessible to the youth in Baltimore. The conversation shed light on the critical role of engaging young people in environmental and water-related initiatives. Moalie's efforts in providing mentorship and internships to the youth not only offer them valuable experiences but also contribute to building a more sustainable and environmentally conscious community.
Bringing in the youth and connecting them with initiatives focused on water conservation and environmental sustainability is crucial for creating a positive impact on the future of our communities. By involving and empowering the younger generation, we can work towards building a more environmentally aware and responsible society.
Listen to the full podcast, “Community Service Through Water Service”.