Tag: West Atlanta Watershed Alliance

Wrapping Things Up

by msabree6

Reflecting back on my time with WAWA, I recognize that I have had a chance to do quite a few different things. One of the projects I really enjoyed was working with Wawa on service Saturdays where volunteers like myself got to remove invasive species or pick up trash in the forest. During my first service cleanup, we removed over 60 tires from the forest off the highway in the West End. It was demanding work, yet it was very fulfilling. We also removed a couch, a mop, a broom, what looked like a refrigerator filter, a wheelbarrow, and yards and yards of thick wire.

This project in particular definitely felt meaningful. Even though there was plenty more trash we were not able to get, moving such harmful materials from the forest was like a “quick fix” of satisfying impact. I think we played a part in furthering the mission of WAWA, protecting urban forests by playing that small role on a daily basis — just picking up trash. There is definitely more that can be done and more I want to do. Nonetheless, if small service days like that are a part of the journey, I’ll be happy. 

 

On another service day I participated in, we removed English ivy from a large portion of the urban forest at WAWA’s outdoor activity center. This was fulfilling, however, in a slightly different way as I could not help but remember the different perspectives around invasive species discussed at the beginning of the semester in “Believers” by Lisa Wells. I recall the arguments made by Ron Good, an Indigenous man working in land restoration who claimed there is some benefit in embracing a new normal with invasive species. Thus, I found myself feeling a bit “blurry”, for lack of a better word. Residing in the grey area regarding positive impact because claiming that it was positively impactful depends more heavily on perspective than a trash cleanup does. Regardless, it was still enjoyable. Trusting the authorities there by simply following directions still allowed for a level of satisfaction in the work. That and, again, I simply enjoy being in nature.

Additionally, the project that my teammate and I are working on for this class definitely feels impactful. As I have mentioned in previous posts, so many people do not know about the Public Service Commission and its impact as well as local bills. Seeing that WAWA encouraged us to advocate for the PSC and HB 644, it is clear that we are aligned with their mission. With this project we have been able to advocate for what we want to see in our environment and how we want to protect Georgia. HB 644 would allow the environmental protection division in Georgia to reject applications for permits by companies or entities that have a history of violations. Advocating for people to be civically engaged and advocating for the environment is something WAWA and I find to be very important.

Our final project can continue to contribute if we continue to raise awareness after the technical completion of the program. Because our project revolves around advocacy work, it needs the people to do the advocacy. With that, I would consider our project relatively self-sustaining as our canvassing flyers will be used by the organization in Instagram posts and for tabling at future events! This way our project can continue to serve WAWA and broader communities of Georgia as a quick source of facts and action steps. 

Not only does this work feel impactful in general and in furthering the mission of the organization, it also feels meaningful in the realm of my interests and my life journey. As a public policy major, I really believe in the importance of everyday people taking their stake in America as we have this opportunity to affect the governance of our own country and our own localities. I believe we should take that opportunity and it has been fulfilling to work with an organization that shares this passion.

Winding Down

by msabree6

As the semester ends, I am excited to continue working with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA). Getting an inside investigation of the work that they do and being on-site on their premises has been a wonderful experience. Additionally, I am enjoying our final project as it brings together two of my passions, environmental sustainability and policy and advocacy. While it did not come as a surprise that WAWA has an environmental justice division that was able to give us a lot of direction and options in terms of our project, what was a bit unexpected and exciting was their promotion of the Public Service Commission and how utility bills connect to the work that Wawa does. So, as a part of our project, we are advocating for widespread understanding of the Public Service Commission as well as some environmental bills that recently did not pass. 

It is cool to hear how this all connects; it gives me a better understanding of the overlap between environmental justice and all aspects of our life, including something as tangible as our utility bills. WAWA particularly serves people who are energy dependent or energy vulnerable by being in a watershed area. For those who may not know, energy burden refers to the percentage of household income spent on utility bills that exceeds or nears 6%. In Atlanta high energy burdens disproportionately affect African American and low-income households. 

I would recommend that others volunteer with this organization. Not only because they have a wide range of cool and interesting events, but also because this organization is addressing the dynamic overlap between environment and community in comprehensive and impactful ways.  

 

 

Introduction: Maymuna Sabree

by msabree6

Introduce yourself to the GSU community beyond this class. Tell readers a little bit about yourself, how you selected the course, and what you’re learning so far. Include a picture of yourself if you want! That will make the post more visually engaging. 

  1. Hello everyone! My name is Maymuna Sabree. I am a second-year student at Georgia State studying Public Policy. I grew up here in Atlanta and even went to Highschool near GSU’s Atlanta campus. One of the biggest reasons I was drawn to this course and this organization is the opportunity for hands-on work in non-human natural habitats. I want to get my hands dirty—literally. I have a deep emotional attachment to all living creatures and ecosystems, and I am eager to play an active role in conservation efforts. I am interested in seeing and partaking in actionable projects that expose me to best practices and ideologies surrounding “nature” and the environment in the context of the human world. 

 

Tell readers a little bit about your community partner. Why are you interested in them and the work they do? What have you learned about your organization so far? Are there any service projects or particular goals with which you’re excited to help your community partner? What do you hope to learn from your service assignment? (You can borrow some language from your matching survey responses if it’s helpful here.) 

2. I am excited to learn anything and everything I can from this experience. I am a firm believer in unexpected blessings and lessons. Seeing that this opportunity is already in a field of interest to me, I am sure that anything I grasp while working with any of these organizations will be beneficial. However, I must admit that I am romanticizing the idea of working boots on the ground, hands in the soil -for environmental preservation with community. This is exactly what WAWA does with their community education programs, when they tend to urban forests and conduct research on the urban natural landscape. 

Introduction: Freya Shah

by fshah3

Hello everyone!

My name is Freya Shah, and I am a senior majoring in political science with a minor in economics. My academic and professional interests are based on policy, advocacy, and nonprofit work, particularly in helping marginalized communities through both government initiatives and grassroots organizations. This semester, I enrolled in Honors 3280: Service-Learning Seminar in Urban Ecology and Environmental Conservation with Dr. Finck because I wanted to explore how my background in policy and advocacy can be applied to urban environmental issues. As someone who has lived in a city my whole life, I’ve experienced firsthand the intersection of urban development and nature. Cities can often feel disconnected from the natural world, but despite their concrete landscapes, they can still be spaces where sustainability and conservation efforts make a tangible impact.

Our reading in class of the book Believers: Making a Life At the End of the World by Lisa Wells further helped me understand this perspective, particularly the idea that sustainability does not have to be an all-or-nothing pursuit. The community at TiLT exemplifies this, demonstrating how sustainable practices can be adapted to specific environments without drastic sacrifices. Todd Wynward, the founder of TiLT, stated this idea that for change to succeed in any community, it cannot rely solely on human willpower but must be driven by a deeper commitment rooted in community (Wells, 125). TiLT’s community shows that sustainability isn’t about severing ties with modern life but rather about encouraging resilience, relationships, and a more intentional existence. This idea really resonated with me, especially as I try to live more intentionally and interact with nature in meaningful ways within the city. I’ve realized that living intentionally not only helps preserve our green spaces but also helps build community through united efforts. My work this semester with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) is a step toward this kind of engagement.

For my service-learning project, I am partnered with WAWA, a community-based nonprofit focused on protecting and restoring the natural resources of West Atlanta, particularly in neighborhoods historically affected by environmental degradation. They host events, advocate for policy change, and educate the community about the importance of preserving green spaces. I believe these are essential because they not only highlight the historical challenges faced by these communities but also bring awareness to the policy changes necessary to preserve spaces that matter in our urban environment. I’m excited to contribute to their efforts, particularly through their photo archiving project, where I’ll digitize and categorize historical photographs that document Atlanta’s urban landscape and environmental changes over time. This project involves working with community members to organize and preserve these images, ensuring the history of Atlanta’s green spaces is accessible for future generations. I’m also excited to participate in restoration programs and events, where I’ll help restore spaces through beautification efforts, removing invasive plants, and working hands-on with the community. Through this work at WAWA, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Atlanta’s natural spaces and history, especially by engaging with community members and living intentionally through sustainability and community-driven efforts.

I look forward to sharing more about my experiences throughout the semester!