New York, November 16, 2011 – Restoring acres of cornfield to native prairie in Iowa. Creating a greenhouse program at a prison in Portland. Providing green jobs training for Oakland at-risk youth. Bringing the healing power of the natural world to patients with dementia. These are just a few ways in which 40 promising conservation leaders will advance their environmental vision and leadership skills as recipients of the 2011 TogetherGreen Fellowships.

 

The TogetherGreen Fellowship Program invests in high-potential individuals from all backgrounds, providing them with the tools, resources, visibility, and a peer network to help them lead conservation actions that will help shape a healthier environmental future. Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to fund innovative community projects, build conservation leaders, and offer volunteer opportunities across the country to benefit the environment.

 

“We are thrilled to award TogetherGreen fellowships to another talented and diverse group of environmentalists who have the passion and skills to inspire and lead others,” said Audubon President David Yarnold. “They are the talented leadership the environmental community needs to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us.”

 

Each year, 40 TogetherGreen Fellows are selected to conduct projects in a community or region focused on engaging diverse audiences in habitat, water, and/or energy conservation. Sample fellowship projects that will receive 2011 funding include:
 

This year’s Fellows class vies from 38 cities in 27 states. Fifteen professionals are from within the Audubon network and 35 are aligned with outside organizations. Fellows receive a $10,000 grant; assistance launching a conservation action project, specialized training, and the opportunity to become part of an exciting alumni network of conservation professionals.

 

TogetherGreen Fellows participate in a weeklong professional development course at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife’s National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia focused on enhancing conservation skills and sharing the latest thinking on achieving sustainable conservation success. Near the completion of their 18-month fellowship, Fellows attend a multi-day retreat focused on sharing best practices, fundraising, diversity, evaluation, and strategies to sustain their conservation action projects over the long term.

 

“The results from the first three years of the Fellows program brought to life everything that TogetherGreen sought to accomplish," added Pat Pineda, group vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor North America. “I’m confident that the next group of Fellows will continue that success and make a difference for years to come.”

A complete list of the 2011 TogetherGreen Fellows and details about their conservation projects can be found at http://www.togethergreen.org/fellows.

 

If you or someone you know has a creative environmental project and would like to apply for a TogetherGreen Fellowship, applications will be available online beginning in early 2012 at http://www.togethergreen.org/fellows.

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