The RCE SDG Fellowship has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I have truly enjoyed partnering with the non-profit My Green Earth on this project! I entered the fellowship with little knowledge of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but I now recognize their importance and am motivated to integrate them into my future professional work - particularly SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of local sustainability initiatives in the Atlanta area and the critical role that pollinator species and native environments play in creating resilient urban ecosystems. This knowledge is especially valuable as a Master of City and Regional Planning student at Georgia Tech, specializing in Environment, Climate, and Design.

Collaborating with my teammates, Cassandra Ortiz-Nelsen and Nate Atkins, and My Green Earth representatives, Dajawn Williams and Bethany Mashini, has been both engaging and inspiring. One of the most meaningful aspects of this project was seeing its tangible impact on the community and environment; through our partnership, Dajawn led the creation of pollinator gardens at Garrett Middle School and the Terrell Community Garden in Austell, Georgia, allowing us to contribute to real environmental change. This experience reinforced the importance of community-based action and demonstrated how small, localized efforts can support broader sustainability goals!