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GREEN WORKS IN KANSAS CITY
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April 3, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I have been associated with Green Works in Kansas City for the last 3 years as a Board Member and the last year as Board Chair. During this time, I have had the opportunity to interact with a fabulous program that educates our teen youth regarding important environmental matters. It is amazing to observe the growth in these children each year. Green Works in Kansas City is truly making a difference in these children's lives and providing an opportunity to add additional skillsets to their personal development.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
August 23, 2011
Greensworks KC is working collaboratively with a suite of volunteers from the private sector, the business community, other not-for-profits, and government agencies to accomplish what few have attempted, much less succeeded in doing in the urban core.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
making positive environmental changes in a long-neglected area of the city.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
expand the scope of it's work to include additional environmental and educational projects in Kansas City.
August 23, 2011
Rusty Smith
During the 3 years I followed Greenwworks, I’ve witnessed 1st hand its effectiveness and growing momentum. Greenworks is clear about its mission, and its founder knows how to execute. I feel good about devoting my time and effort to support the organization because I see real and substantial results, year after year.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Direct participation
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I believe no changes are needed at this time - the organization is on track.
May 18, 2011
Greenworks is a strong and relevant organization for our community. Kate Corwin is dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities and mentorships for students. This visionary program invests in youth in our community by introducing them to mentors, new ideas, and career opportunities related to the environment and sustainability. Through 2010, Greenworks interns worked at the Metropolitan Energy Center's Project Living Proof demonstration residence. With the guidance of engineers, landscape architects, and energy professionals, the students installed the initial phase of a Sustainable Sites Initiative pilot landscape. They were interested in the design and intentions of the project - and they brought fun and energy to the installation.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
our work at the Metropolitan Energy Center's Project Living Proof, a demonstration of smart grid technologies, sustainable renovation strategies, and innovative landscaping at an historical Kansas City home.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
get more students involved in the Greenworks program!
May 13, 2011
I have worked with Kate Corwin and Green Works for the past several years as a part of Kansas City's sustainability initiatives. I have spoken with the students about our sewer overflow control plan and they were very knowledgeable about the implications of waste water on our environment. I also went with the class to tour the waste treatment facility and was impressed by their questions and interest in the treatment processes. Green Works has done some incredible work along Brush Creek -- taking the stream bed back to its original vegetation and bed. These students have an impressive knowledge and enthusiasm for improving our community's environment. I applaud their efforts.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have spoken with the students about our city's EPA-mandated sewage overflow control plan. I accompanied them to the waste treatment plant of our Water Services Department and saw first-hand their knowledge of water quality issues and science. The Director, Kate Corwin, has been an important advisor to the City's sustainability initiatives.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would like to ensure that Green Works has the resources it needs to continue to educate young people about environmental issues, conduct environmental remediation programs, and be advocates for a more sustainable Kansas City.
My Role: Professional with expertise in this field & We sponsored a student intern for summer 2010; we taught a hands-on class in urban stream habitat and aquatic life; we taught a class on making straight-to-web videos from "person-on-the-street" interviews about how people feel about their water bodies';.
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May 13, 2011
Our Region 7 EPA Urban Waters team has and will continue to collaborate with Green Works in Kansas City because we value their work in engaging urban youth in not only understanding their environment better, but in developing as people and professionals through informal and formal mentoring, and internship placement. The student's eagerness to learn and participate is inspiring, and the liklihood that regardless of the career they choose, they will be good stewards is encouraging. One important aspect of successful collaboration is the degree of organization, preparedness, and commitment on the part of our partners. We can always count on Green Works KC's director, Kate Corwin, to plan well, follow through, and be creative, responsive, and visionary.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
How the work they are doing tracks well with our Urban Waters goals of connecting urban people with their waters, furthering their understanding of their water bodies, and connecting water qualtiy improvement to overall community revitalization.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would love to see Green Works in Kansas City expand to engage more students and to even broaden the curriculum to include parallel tracks of leadership development through civic engagement, possibly with older students leading and mentoring younger ones.
May 12, 2011
I am the Volunteer Manager at Habitat for Humanity KC ReStore. We have hosted Green Works interns and they have done a great job. They have helped in the warehouse and learned some helpful job skills. Kate has done a great job in educating the students and preparing them to work in the enviornmental industries. We have also given tours to all of her classes of our 33,000 sf facility where we recycle over 20 differnet materials and where we have raised over 2 milloin dollars for Habitat for Humanity Kansas City and kept 20,000 tons from going into the landfills. Keep up the good work Green Works. Thanks, Hayley
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Yes I have been a mentor to one of the Green Works and am proud to say her is a local community college on a full scholarship.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would like to see it expand to be able to serve more students in our community.
May 12, 2011
I am highly impressed with the incredible experiential learning and achievement created through Green Works of Kansas City. I served as the formal evaluator of the program. This evaluation was a research study of participating Green Works students compared to their matched peers taking the same science course in their alternative high school in Kansas City, MO. While there were no statistically significant differences between the groups on the pre-test, the Green Works students made highly significant post-test gains, compared to the students in the control group, in science vocabulary and concepts based on Missouri State Standards. Examples of gains are listed below:
1. Acid rain: Droplets containing pollutants that are products of burning coal, other fuels and industry. 1% correct on post-test by control group; 70% correct on post-test by Green Works students completing the ECOS curriculum and hands-on experiences.
2. Ecosystem: Living things all interacting as a group and with the surroundings in which they live. .05 – less than 1% correct– control group students; 70% correct Green Works ECOS students.
3. Environment: The air, water, light and land and their conditions that affect the living things in their surroundings. .06 – less than 1% correct control group students; 60% correct - Green Works ECOS students.
4. Erosion: Eating away of a surface. .06 – less than 1% correct - control group students; 40% correct - Green Works ECOS students.
5. Humus: Decayed matter that provides nutrients for plants and makes soil able to retain water. .06 - less than 1% correct - control group students; 40% correct - Green Works ECOS students.
6. Hypoxia zone: An area of oxygen-depleted waters. .03 – less than 1% correct - control group students; 70% correct - Green Works ECOS students.
7. Natural resource: Materials from the earth like timber, fresh water, coal or oil that have economic value. 12% correct- control group students; 70% correct - Green Works ECOS students.
8. Organism: Individual forms of life and living things, such as plants, animals, bacteria, or fungus. 16% correct - control group students; 70% Green Works ECOS students.
9. Soil compaction: Land in which the air and water is squeezed out through pollution and development. .05 – less than 1% correct- control group students; 40% correct - Green Works ECOS students.
10. Watershed: The specific land area that drains water into a river system or other body of water. 12% correct - control group students; 70% correct - Green Works ECOS students.
11. Wetland: A lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp, filled with moisture and the natural habitat of wildlife. 8% correct - control group students; 50% correct - Green Works ECOS students.
12. Bio-retention area: Places with high water run-off that are built with sand, soil and native plants to reduce drainage .06 – less than 1% correct – control group students; 20% correct - Green Works ECOS students.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
1. Correlating the ECOS curriculum to Missouri State Standards and recommended national science standards. 2. Researching and comparing Green Works experiential learning systems and strategies (e.g., hands-on science, mentorships, internships and lessons) with evidence-based research and best practices in teaching and instruction. 3. Evaluating and assessing the learning outcomes and changed student behavior patterns and consequences of the Green Works ECOS program.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Expand the organization's capacity to reach more students and bring the curriculum, workforce development training and internships to more high schools.
April 7, 2011
Kate Corwin, Founder and President has done an outstanding job of bringing her business expertise and entrepreneurial vision to Green Works. Green Works has grown and thrived in a very difficult economic period through Kate's leadership, partner/funder development, and her consistent physical energy and presence. Green Works has done a terrific service to the Kansas City community by being an integral part in turning around the lives of some of Kansas City's most "at risk" youth by providing them guidance, structure, encouragement, education, and skills they can put to work as they mature into positive, confident, and optimistic adults. Kate has personally invested considerable extra time and effort to ensure the programs offered provide significant learning and hands-on experience for the students. The only issues that I have witnessed relate directly to having enough funds, materials and volunteers to assist Kate in implementing programs. The students often need rides, may not have gloves - necessary for working outside in the fall, etc.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My primary role has been to provide marketing support. However, as there were other needs that arose, Kate extended a request for assistance to the network of Green Works advisors and volunteers. Therefore, I have participated by providing materials (stack of magazines) for a program, along with gloves and scarves for students. I also was able to play a small role in updates of the Green Works website.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Ensure the board members are actively seeking partners and funders for Green Works. Each board member would view this as a key responsibility.
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