Meet RIEEA board member James Tzul!
James is the Youth and Community Program Coordinator for Groundwork Rhode Island and coordinates the Green Change Makers, a program for Pawtucket/Central Falls high school aged youth. Through his work, James leads and teaches youth in various ways through garden stewardship, tree stewardship, composting, environmental literacy, advocacy, and more! He also works with many community members and partners in both English and Spanish. James is currently attending Community College of Rhode Island majoring in Environmental Sustainability and Agriculture Management with plans to transfer to University of Rhode Island. With his current and growing knowledge, James hopes to help, support, and create a more sustainable environmental for community members similar to him.
Q&A
What’s your favorite outdoor place in Rhode Island, and why?
I love visiting Prudence Island in the summer, observing all the wildlife and plants in the salt marshes!
How did you get involved in the environmental field?
I first started working with Southside Community Land Trust’s and Groundwork RI’s Youth summer program back in 2022 and have grown to be more knowledgeable in many injustices our community faces and how we can help tackle those injustices.
Why did you become a RIEEA board member?
As part of my growing interest in the environmental field, I love being apart of multiple networks and partners that help our community grow and become more sustainable.
What are you most looking forward to in serving on the RIEEA board?
I’m looking forward to meeting people similar to me, and helping create more connections, especially with younger folks!
Anything else you want us to include in your profile?
I love learning about medical properties in plants and hope to become a more knowledgeable herbalist!
Do you have a favorite environmental “fun fact” or interesting tidbit to share?
My all time favorite flower, Maypop passionflowers (Passiflora incarnata), can be used in teas and tinkers for medicinal purposes to help treat insomnia, nervous tension, anxiety, and promotes overall relaxation!