Redesigning Our Future

Designing the Future: Environmental Summit campers know this guy. He is the fellow who makes stopping by the cafeteria for meals a really good time. No matter how your day is going, his big smile and warm welcome perks us up. So, who is Jay? (Well, let's let him tell everyone.) Hi, my name is Jay. I am a current Catawba College Senior, majoring in Communications with a minor in Business Administration. I grew up in Lexington, NC and decided Catawba was the right fit for me after visiting! I decided to work in the dining hall this summer and with the camps because of the people! I absolutely LOVE meeting new people and getting to share my stories and adventures with them as well as getting to know them a little bit and hear about their stories and adventures!   I thrive on getting to know people. I enjoy doing camps, because in my experience, the people you meet at camp are some of the most amazing and interesting people you will ever meet! You realize how much in c...

Robin Emmons opened up the annual Redesigning the Future Environmental Summit at Catawba College. She explained that having a homeless brother with a mental illness inspired her to work to help feed the hungry with high quality foods. You can read more about what we learned from Emmons and about the huge issue of hunger for the poor, homeless, mentally ill, and working poor. High school students from the Environmental Summit moved out to the atrium outside the Tom Smith auditorium at Catawba College to talk about the excellent opening program and to get acquainted and enjoy some cookies, goldfish crackers, and lemonade. It was nice to process the information which was pretty serious while taking a break. Students were surprised at some of the concerns that are not often addressed. The "down" time gave them a chance to think about the keynote speech and share the experience.   High school students from around the country took some time to think about this new...

Robin Emmons, Founder and Executive Director of  Sow Much Good  By Payton Coleman & Alia Dahlan On the first day of the National Environmental Summit 2014 , Robin Emmons spoke to around 50 excited campers on Catawba College campus.  After an introduction from President Brien Lewis and Dr. John Wear, the founder and executive director of Sow Much Good spoke about the start and success of her non-profit organization.  Her journey began when she realized that the homeless condition of her brother was detrimental to his health and well-being. After he was arrested for having a schizophrenic episode in public, Emmons gained guardianship of him and enrolled him in a mental health institute. This organization did not have enough funding to provide healthy food for its patients, which gave Emmons' brother physical health problems.  Emmons decided to quit her job in the finance industry, telling her husband that she had a plan, although she did not at...