Jonathan Cohn, a junior majoring in English and History at Georgetown University, is a busy guy. He is a central member of Georgetown’s EcoAction, Ambassadors Program, the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, Mission Three Ethical Consulting, the Mask and Bauble Dramatic Society, and the D.C. Youth Environmental Alliance.
What got you to where you are today? What go you started with environmentalism?
My involvement in environmentalism began back in tenth grade of high school. My ninth grade history teacher was one of my favorite teachers, and I wanted to join one of the clubs that he ran. He was the faculty adviser for my high school’s Environmental Action Club (EAC). He had worked at the Sierra Club and had taught history at Drexel and Penn in the past as well. At the first meeting, being the type of person that I am, I signed up on all of the sheets for committees, one of which was the recycling committee–which a junior was just starting that year. For recycling, we met every Wednesday to collect all the paper from the bins across the school. The program evolved a lot over the years—from not having gloves to having gloves then to the bins (gasp!) actually having lids (thanks to the math department’s initial endeavors). Through this club, I made some close friends and became much more actively involved and aware of the issues surrounding the club. When I came to Georgetown, one of the first clubs I sought out was the environmental club, and I am happy I did so!
Describe your work at GU and beyond:
My commitment to environmental causes manages to filter its way into many parts of my experience inside and outside of college. Through EcoAction, I have led Georgetown’s efforts in Recyclemania, coordinated panels and speaker events, helped run fundraisers, worked on lobbying and awareness campaigns, and have worked with our dining hall to help make it more green, including an effort to reduce the use of plastic bags. I also serve as a chair on the board of Mission Three Ethical Consulting, a recently formed student-run CSR consulting firm on campus. I also serve as a sustainability program associate with the Sustainable Business Network of Washington, where I help with grant inquiries, networking events, and research. Moreover, I have a concentration in environmental history, complementing action with historical and cultural knowledge.
What keeps you motivated?
I am a perfectionist at heart, and I am also incredibly persistent. I was raised not to give up because, with a little more hard work and a drop of patience, you can see the results of your efforts even in the most daunting of tasks. I find that the environmental concerns facing our country and our globe deserve far more attention than they get in the media, and one goal I have for the future is to be able to see the environmental movement root itself in the concepts of American ideals (from moral leadership to work ethic to a powerful balance of individualism and duty to community) that have fueled so many successful nation-wide efforts in the past.
Why is it important for young people to get involved?
Well, the simplest reason is that today’s youth are the changemakers of the future–the lawyers, the businessmen, the policymakers, etc–who will be in charge of the country. High schools and colleges across the country and across the world are mini-think tanks, forming the ideas that will change our future. Plus, we have the energy and the idealism to try to make it happen.
What are your goals for 2009?
I have many goals for the year, but here are a key few (in chronological order):
1) To get a good turnout from Gtown at Power Shift ‘09 [Done! Georgetown University brought over 40 students to Power Shift]
2) To have Georgetown do as well in Recyclemania as it does in basketball ( a long shot, I know)
3) To be able to work with as many campus groups as possible
4) To figure out what I want to do with my life that can make use of my skills and make me feel genuinely good about what I do
5) To be able to use /participate in the political climate in Washington for some long-awaited social and environmental change–on many levels
Any words of advice/wisdom for young people looking to make a difference?
Be persistent–it’s the only way things every get done.
