April Hillman
I am a solidarity faster and supporter in Copenhagen.
l was born in Shelburne, Vermont and just started my sophomore year at the University of Vermont in Burlington. I am dual-majoring in Environmental Science (with a concentration in Conservation Biology) and Environmental Studies. I grew up being taught by my parents to have a deep respect for nature and ecosystems. A few years ago I started paying more attention to the Bush Administration's failures in environmental protection and policy, so I became involved with my high school's Environmental Action Club. There were some local issues that came to my attention and required me to connect with my town legislator, whom I still meet and remain close with. Then last summer, I worked for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps doing outdoor trail work and improving environmental issues. In the fall, I went to university at Castleton State College where I helped jump start their EcoRep program. The university wasn’t the best place for me, so I headed to Washington, DC for the spring semester to participate in the Greenpeace Organizing Term. While there, I received school credit for being trained in grassroots organizing and activism. Having spent this past summer as a fellow with the Avaaz Action Factory in Europe working to pressure politicians to come up with a successful treaty in Copenhagen, I’m excited to attend the actual negotiations in December. I am currently an Agent of Change with SustainUS, working with Greenpeace Vermont to shut down our state’s nuclear power plant, living in my university’s sustainability dorm, and getting involved with other environmental groups on campus.
