Partner: Sustainable Tallahassee 

Project: Position Statements 

Student: Samantha Kaddis 

In the spring of 2023, Samantha Kaddis, a senior double majoring in Environment and Society and Psychology, worked as a Sustainability Fellow on the Position Statements project. Collaborating with Sustainable Tallahassee, a volunteer-run organization dedicated to building a sustainable community, Samantha played a pivotal role in crafting accurate and compelling position statements that educate the community about sustainability issues and proposed solutions. 

With a deep passion for sustainability and environmental protection, Samantha's academic pursuits in Environment and Society and Psychology complemented her commitment to making a positive impact on the environment. As an intern for the Al Lawson internship program, she gained valuable experience and developed a strong desire to pursue a career as an environmental lawyer. Samantha's combined major and her dedication to sustainability formed a strong foundation for her role as a Sustainability Fellow. 

Sustainable Tallahassee is a volunteer-driven organization that collaborates with local governments, non-profit organizations, businesses, and community partners to build a world-class sustainable community. Their work revolves around position statements, which serve as a platform to inform public opinion and ensure responsible actions from institutions. Samantha's role was crucial in ensuring the accuracy and effectiveness of these position statements. 

The primary goal of Samantha's project was to produce position statements that would educate Sustainable Tallahassee members and residents of Tallahassee about sustainability issues and proposed solutions. Each statement required meticulous research, communication with various stakeholders, and drafting board proposals. The process involved multiple iterations, incorporating feedback from the Sustainable Tallahassee board.  

“I loved learning new things about sustainability in our community. It was really eye-opening to research different initiatives the city has taken and ones that I thought the city should be utilizing to make our city more sustainable", expressed Samantha. 

Sustainable Tallahassee's organizational infrastructure is designed to amplify community voices through a formal process of peer review, collaboration, and accountability, resulting in the production of position statements. These statements serve as written declarations of the organization's intentions, objectives, or goals on specific sustainability topics. Position statements provide a vital framework for Sustainable Tallahassee's operations and serve as a representative voice for the community in crucial conversations about sustainability and resilience. 

As a volunteer-driven organization, Sustainable Tallahassee plays a unique role alongside government, education, healthcare, and business sectors in developing better policies for sustainability. Samantha's contribution to the position statements project helped ensure that the community's voice was heard and reflected in the ongoing sustainability discourse. 

“This fellowship really improved my leadership and research skills to the point where I was hired by The CLEO Institute as the Tallahassee Regional Manager. I am managing their FSU and new FAMU chapter to empower our youth in becoming environmental advocates”, explained Samantha. 

Through her dedication, leadership, and research skills, Samantha not only contributed to the production of impactful position statements but also secured a role as the Tallahassee Regional Manager for The CLEO Institute, empowering youth to become environmental advocates. 

Position statements serve as catalysts for change, providing a framework within which organizations and communities can operate sustainably. Samantha's journey as a Sustainability Fellow demonstrates the transformative power of collaborative efforts in shaping a more sustainable future. By amplifying community voices and fostering meaningful dialogue, Sustainable Tallahassee and passionate individuals like Samantha continue to inspire and drive positive change in our society. 

To learn more about the Sustainability Fellows program, visit sustainablecampus.fsu.edu/sustainability-fellows.