Outstanding Young Environmental Leadership Award Recipient
- Erin Casey
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
In early July the SEF team learned that we have an award winner among us! This was no real shock but rather exciting that this person was being recognized for their greatness. Who is that person you may be asking? No other than Monse Estrada our Bilingual Programming Coordinator! In mid September Monse will be receiving the Outstanding Young Environmental Leadership Award from the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education and will sit on an Award Recipient Panel.
Maya, SEF's Manager of Operations and Programming, secretly nominated Monse, and I have added just a brief section below. To read the full write-up you can do so here.
"Monse's commitment to environmental education is palpable in everything they do. They approach each lesson with enthusiasm, imparting not just knowledge but a deep passion for sustainability. During Kepner Beacon’s Food Justice enrichment, where Monse works with a group of middle school students three times a week, students were learning about food insecurity and food waste. Monse took it upon themselves to reach out to Denver Community Fridges, who have a free fridge near the school, and ask someone to come in and speak to the students about this resource in their community. After students learned all about the purpose of the free fridges (to rescue food and to feed people), they led a food drive and took a field trip to clean and stock the free fridge. Students were able to see, firsthand, that they could have a positive impact in their community and on the environment. Whether it’s planting seeds, harvesting crops, or discussing the interconnectedness of food systems and social justice, Monse creates an immersive learning experience that brings students into the heart of environmental issues. Monse has fostered an invaluable sense of curiosity and responsibility within the students they work with."
To sum it up: Monse is awesome and we are all so grateful to have them be part of our year-round team! From funny and bizarre analogies to hard work and high standards Monse not only makes our gardens beautiful but they make our team stronger. The next time you see them make sure to offer your congratulations and thank them for all of the great work they do.
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