WaterStep couldn’t be more excited about the next generation of our leaders. These Millennials have discovered their passions and have found creative ways to imbed their knowledge of safe water into their everyday lives. Check out thier stories!
My name is Nathan Rider. I am the Regional Logistics Coordinator for the Philippines. My interest in water originates in my interest in food. It just makes sense to empower communities with safe water before teaching better farming methods. If water comes first, when they have great access to good food, community members wont starve from diarrhea caused by unsafe water. Currently at WaterStep I am mapping and tracking the sustainability of WaterStep’s Post-Yolanda Disaster Relief work in the Philippines. My communication skills, attention to detail, and interest in sustainability have proven to be essential for this task. Eventually, in finding communities successfully empowered with safe water, I not only see a healthier community, but I envision a perfect foundation for economic and agricultural empowerment as well.
CoraLyn J. Turentine here: I serve WaterStep as the Director for WaterStep Indy, Ambassador to Haiti, and Health and Hygiene Instructor. It’s not that I care about water, but that I care about the people consuming the water. I’ve been fortunate enough to live a life filled with hope, founded in the ongoing exchange of love, and fueled by empowerment. My deepest desire is for others to have this experience, also. Working with safe water provides one strategy that is relevant in every context. The entire world needs safe water. The entire world also needs hope, love, and empowerment. Thus, I use the tool of safe water to share hope, exchange love, and ignite empowerment. Millennials are said to be very big on transparency when interacting with others. I try to remain honest and transparent when connecting others with WaterStep. When people encounter WaterStep, they should have an experience that is meaningful for them, and it shouldn’t be fabricated. I allow myself to be vulnerable in sharing my experience with WaterStep and our work in hopes that as people recognize our humanity, they will connect with it, relate to it, and be willing to reveal their humanity as well.
Sean M. Vandevander is a volunteer, and associate with WaterStep, who through his consulting firm helps to oversee special initiatives for the organization. Vandevander is also an entrepreneur, and sees the value in building sustainable models of social venture for WaterStep to use in combating water issues globally. Some of these initiatives include the WaterBall, distance learning programs, and the marketing of disaster relief systems to Emergency Management Agencies domestically. Vandevander is also working to develop a sustainability themed incubator which will work very closely with WaterStep on multiple levels of social venture, and entrepreneurship.
Vandevander has always been aware of the burdens that are directly associated with water, and the greater needs for sanitation and access to safe resources. Water is often tainted in parts of Appalachia that are directly polluted by the coal industry, and its vendors, as we recently saw in West Virginia with the chemical spill. Being raised in Kentucky where coal provides 90% of the energy consumed sheds a light on the need for safe water. 3% of Kentucky currently does not have access to safe water, though Louisville is known as the water capitol of the world because of its reputable water utilities and the footprint of WaterStep in the community.
Vandevander specializes in business development and government relations. He uses his relationships and networks to raise awareness for WaterStep and its mission, as well as drives special initiatives that open up new resources and opportunities for WaterStep. Vandevander believes the millennial generation both sees and values the need for collaboration and cooperation in advancing both business and social venture. He works to bring this to fruition in the creation of progressive and beneficial partnerships that best position WaterStep, and other interests for future success.
My name is Josh Hardesty, and as a WaterStep Millennial, I represent a generation of young adults who are truly invested in making a difference in our world, particularly as it relates to the global water crisis. My specific title with WaterStep is an International Ambassador, which means that I focus on how WaterStep interacts with other individuals and groups across the globe to widen our influence and deepen our impact so that we can make meaningful progress towards a world without unsafe drinking water. With the use of social media and various other forms of technology, I am able to connect with individuals all over the world to form common bonds that allow WaterStep to make a lasting difference in communities where unsafe drinking water is not accessible. Currently, I serve as one of two WaterStep Ambassadors in Europe, working to form relationships across Europe and West Africa that Waterstep can partner with to fight the global water crisis as a united front. As a Waterstep Millennial it is my duty to use the tools at hand to ensure that my generation is aware of the crises that our world face and that we do all way can to stop them.
My name is Morgan Floyd and I am a WaterStep Ambassador to India. Currently I live in Kolkata and this whole year I will be attempting to address the problem of unclean water in the public schools of Udaipur. I am passionate about safe water because I know what difference it makes in children’s lives. Clean water for these students will result in fewer diseases, better overall health, and better brain development. Most of my life has been devoted to children, both at home and abroad. I believe all children have the right to health: to run and play and learn and become the successful and happy adults they dream of being. This should not be dependent on the circumstances of their birth. The greatest assets that I have to contribute to the Millennial Team are flexibility and networking. Aid across culture, customs, and language barriers sometimes can be very difficult and frustrating. Flexibility has allowed me to overcome most of the obstacles I have faced while my networking skills connected me to individuals who have helped change happen. Both of these assets have allowed me to take on projects bigger than I thought possible.
My name is Katie Jaggers and I am Social Media Coordinator for WaterStep. Water is important to me because I believe access to safe water is a basic human right that should not be denied because of where and when someone was born. I believe that in my lifetime, the world water crisis can be solved. As Social Media Coordinator, I am able to connect with people through different digital networks and empower others to take steps that make a difference. Along with the team of WaterStep Millennials who work to reach out through social media, I can give a voice to global issues and represent my generation’s desire to end the water crisis. Universal communication and advocacy are essential to advancing WaterStep’s mission.
My name is Victoria Shover and I am an Ambassador for WaterStep. I care about improving the world water crisis because I am concerned about the amount of human potential being lost to unsafe water. As a part of the Millennial Team, I utilize social media to raise awareness about the water crisis, make connects for potential partnerships in community development and learn about how others are engaging in social entrepreneurialship. While living abroad in Spain as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, I am working to increase my knowledge of globalization and how societal trends will dictate equitable access to education. I believe safe water saves lives and a healthy child will be a more successful student, more equipped to contribute to society, and ideally, able to empower others
