B y Jesoni “Fiji” Kuruyawa
Delicate Balance is a course designed to encourage students to execute a community-oriented project that promotes sustainability, and will result in a positive social impact. A recent Delicate project focuses on fostering a deeper connection within the town of Poultney. The members of this project are fund raising to contribute towards the installment of trash receptacles and park benches for the downtown area. The group consists of Michael Shulman, Ryan Rusch and Jesoni “Fiji” Kuruyawa. They are hard-working and exuberant students, who believe in a greener future. They each have a unique perspective on the environment that brings a diverse consistency to this project. The group has been collecting for four weeks, and has raised a reasonable amount of money. In order to reach their ultimate goals, they have turned to public organizations for support.
Mr. Jonas Rosenthal, the Town Manager of Poultney, informed the team that the idea for trash receptacles and park benches was already in process. He said that he was very excited to hear about the Delicate project idea, and was thrilled to have this group on board with assisting the town (the team members have also volunteered their services for installing the benches and trash receptacles). By integrating their Delicate project with the town’s efforts at revitalization, the team hopes to save much legwork in terms of purchasing and installing the items. The group now plans on mainly fundraising in order to contribute towards Poultney’s budget for this project.
The team members were invited to meet with the town’s Revitalization Committee at the Poultney High School, where the group was able to pitch the idea to them. Mr. Rosenthal introduced the team to the committee, in which he is also a member. The committee praised the ideas, and gave incentive as the group laid out their goals of the installment of these public amenities.
The town was able to secure a grant from the State of Vermont to pay for the majority of the project, but the Village of Poultney is still responsible for $5,000 as a local match. Mr. Rosenthal suggested that if the team were to contribute $1,000, this would be 20% of the local match, and any additional funds would be greatly appreciated and well received. With this in mind, the team decided that they would attempt to collect $500 through redeeming bottles and cans, as well as ask for donations from student clubs. As for the other $500, the group hoped to obtain a matching grant from Student Senate, with the reasoning that the college would help the town, build connections between students and town residents, and ensure that the town we are a part of remains clean and enjoyable for all future uses. Despite this, Student Senate did not approve the proposal, and denied the $500 match grant. Even in the face of adversity, the students of the Delicate Balance class, taught by Nathan Furman, continued to strive for excellence. Their goal is to collect as many recyclables as they can to help the town of Poultney raise money for installing trash receptacles and benches along Main Street.
The team collects mostly on the weekends, as it is during this time that one can find many recycables. You may have noticed the team in the early hours, collecting in the dorm hubs or knocking on doors in search for cans and bottles. Collecting is not an easy task, as they have to face students who throw back comments such as “I know you guys are not collecting the money for the town, but to buy your forties,” or “I know you are stealing from the school, but it’s cool.“ These remarks are given despite explaining the project to the students numerous times. The students turn a blind eye to the benefit of building a concrete relationship with the town. They proudly continue to promote a greener environment, sustainable living practices at Green Mountain College. This project will not only benefit the town of Poultney, but also students from the school who enjoy peaceful walks through the welcoming streets of downtown.
The team has been given the opportunity to be exhibitors, and have a table at the Poultney Fair. The event will be held on the 19th of April at the Poultney High School. They will be presenting their project to the community as a whole, and will be looking for necessary means to get the town involved, apart from being ambassadors to a greener and more sustainable future. The team is driven by hope and consistent dedication. This group of persevering young men will do anything to ensure that their project is executed correctly. They desire to reach their goal, no matter what obstacles they may face along the way.
