2021-2022 Internship
Melissa Sabitov
Projects
Throughout the duration of my time with IDEAS For Us, I have been able to take up various projects. Some of those projects included very hands on work such as reforestation and planting, while other times I got to create digital media that informed our readers on environmental matters. The experience and skills I gained through the events we were able to curate are vast, from creating social media posts to hosting events for local environmental activists to speak at. Here is just a peek at what I was able to accomplish in my time with this amazing organization.
Reforestation Project ​
On September 15 of 2021, IDEAS For Us partnered with One Tree Planted, Conservation Florida, and Ismaili CIVIC to plant well over 1 thousand native trees in a retired cow pasture near Osteen, FL. Prior to this reforestation project, all 474 acres of D Ranch Preserve were barren with no trees or shrubbery surrounding its borders. After the hundred of volunteers were done planting, every border surrounding this pasture was covered in young pine trees. Not only did this amazing feat help restore a local ecosystem and improve the biodiversity within the area, but it will also prevent future critters from running into the nearby state road!
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For this event, I was able to retrieve shovels from donors, collaborate with the fellow organizations that worked alongside us, and seamlessly pick up where the previous interns left off in organizing this incredibly impactful project. Additionally, I was able to participate in the selection of the catering that was provided to the volunteers and plant trees myself, as seen in the image to the left.
Hive Events​
Every month, IDEAS For Us hosts one environmentally well versed individual to educate the masses at a public forum. After their presentation, we jump straight into eco-action and start formulating potential solutions to the local environmental detriments we were just informed of as a group. A very exciting aspect of these events are the leadership opportunities given to me wherein I am able to lead the group discussions and then present our solutions post discussion. A couple notable speakers that we have hosted include Karolyn Campbell of the Orange County Water and Soil Commission, the executive director of Conservation Florida, Traci Deen, and Dr. Charles Rolsky, the Plastic Oceans International director of science.
To aid the perpetuation of these Hive events, I have contacted and collaborated with several potential public speakers to participate in future Hives. Some of those speakers include Dr. Su Young Choi, a professor of communication and media studies specializing in environmental communications and Dr. Tara Schuwerk, a professor of communication and media studies specializing in food sustainability.
Social Media
While we do a lot hands on work, we understand that social media is one of the most accessible mediums in this day and age. IDEAS For Us fortunately has the capability of reaching thousands of people in one click of a button, this allows for very effective communication to our large audience about things like upcoming events or educational holidays.
I was fortunate enough to be given tasks that involved creating Instagram posts for concepts of my choosing. Not only did this give me the opportunity to acquire skills on the software Canva, but it also taught me how to communicate effectively through social media and be creative in doing so! I have attached an example of one of the many posts I created to the left of this text box, click on the image, click "go to link" below the image, and it will take you to the post itself on the IDEAS For Us Instagram page.
Workshops
One way that IDEAS For Us ensures the capability of the public to engage with environmentally sustainable actions is through workshops. An example of one of our workshops would be one of our biggest ones of the year: the sustainable holiday gift workshop. Every year around the holidays, IDEAS For Us sets out several different tables in Audubon Park Covenant Church that welcomes anyone to come in and participate in making gifts such as tea bags, candles, Epsom salt mixes, essential oil mixes, flower presses, and more. In the picture to the left, I am holding a bag of tea leaves I had just put together.
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For events like these, I am given the opportunity to reach out to vendors in the area that would be willing to donate to our workshops in exchange for free marketing and a tax reduction. This is always an exciting task for me as I love to get in touch and connect with the local small businesses in the greater Orlando area.