Organizing is best learned through action. Thanks to generous people like you, our Food & Water Watch interns do just that and gain the skills they need to become future leaders in protecting our planet. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’re excited to share reflections from our interns, the activists of tomorrow, who will keep our movement strong for the next 20 years.
FELEECIA GUILLEN Tackling Factory Farms in New Mexico
While New Mexico faces severe drought, factory farms are endangering people's access to water by overcon- suming and contaminating groundwater. Feleecia gath- ered support for a statewide factory farm moratorium. “I’m most proud of the skills I gained from phone banking and petitioning, which really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I learned to better communicate with different types of people, listen actively, and build rapport quickly. These skills are essential for effective organizing and advocacy work.”
FRANCESCA ROSSI Protecting California’s Water from Big Ag and Big Oil Big Ag and Oil are guzzling water despite a devastating, climate change-driven drought in the Western United States. Francesca built support for our Protect California Water campaign to rein in corporate water abuses. “The most enjoyable part of the internship was engaging directly with people. I loved learning about people’s stories and values and talking about environmental issues and social inequities. And in attend- ing coalition meetings, I got to really understand the work that goes on behind the scenes and figure out how I could support other organizers.”
TASFIA AHMAD Getting New Jersey to 100% Clean Energy Tasfia poured her energy into several campaigns in New Jersey, including work to prevent
water privatization, oppose the New Jersey Turnpike expansion, and advocate for 100% clean energy. “I enjoyed petitioning, phone banking, the statewide and regional meetings, and any event that got me engaged with community members hands-on. It helped build perspective on what the community is looking for, and it put my skills to use and introduced me to new people and ideas.”
Young Activists - continue on Page 3 >
FOOD & WATER WATCH / ACTION — LIVABLE FUTURE NOW | 2
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