Get a behind-the-scenes look at some of Hot Dish's top scorers! These folks are keeping us on our toes with all of their great actions for the environment so we wanted to know more about them - and thought other Hot Dishers might too!
So, who wants to be a backpack journalist and recently got her letter to the editor published in a local paper? What leader says everyone should go veg, and is gunning for the Arctic trip even though her first thought was, "Wow. That would be cold"? FInd out below...
Allison C. (23,000+ points!)
Kelly Cos (8,500+ points!)
Jamie Nicole Jinx (18,000+ points!)
Dave Scott (21,000+ points!)
What are your professional goals?
My professional goal since high school was to be a journalist after I took a journalism elective class and met my mentor who I still talk to and meet with on a regular basis for advice on school and life in general... she actually helped me stay on the print track rather than online)...and then in university it turned into being a backpack journalist (we are being taught in school that the more you can multi-task and the more aspects you know about this struggling profession the more permanent job offers you'll have) and as a backpack journalist my dream goal is National Geographic or Frommers or Time so I can travel the world and write about people's lives...and now it is even more focused into environmental journalism...this area of our profession is growing exponentially at a tremendous pace and will only continue to do so, because let's face it...we all know this: no one likes to hear anything happy in the news, if you realize that...we're also taught that...people are only intersted in the bad...and right now, that's where the enviornment is....and if I can travel and report, photograph and create multimedia projects on people in their environments being effected by all these climate changes, scarce resources, and conflicting opinions...then I feel I can be their lifeline...a voice for the voiceless.
What's your favorite Hot Dish challenge?
My favorite challenge on Hot Dish has been the letter-to-the-editor, because it has allowed me to step outside of my regular journalistic values of being objective. I was allowed to take a stance on a subject matter and let my opinion out. It was actually published in The Arizona Republic newspaper in print and online, and online you can see the opinions others actually wrote back in regards to my letter and so far...they have all been against it, calling me out and everything, so that's been really cool cause I know that people are actually out there reading what I have to say, even if they do disagree.
How did you hear about Hot Dish, and what did you think?
My favorite challenge on Hot Dish has been the letter-to-the-editor, because it has allowed me to step outside of my regular journalistic values of being objective. I was allowed to take a stance on a subject matter and let my opinion out. It was actually published in The Arizona Republic newspaper in print and online, and online you can see the opinions others actually wrote back in regards to my letter and so far...they have all been against it, calling me out and everything, so that's been really cool cause I know that people are actually out there reading what I have to say, even if they do disagree.
How did you hear about Hot Dish, and what did you think?
I heard about Hot Dish in an e-mail sent out from my school. When I saw it I clicked the sign up now link because I am a regular Facebook user and wanted to see how an application could do this. This has actually been the only application I use on Facebook because it's doing more than say...crossing the river on the Oregon Trail, or sucking my friend's blood because I'm a vampire instead of a werewolf...it's educating me and making me feel like my time online is doing something good...and it's even getting me out into my community more and making me re-connect with old friends on these topics.
Do you feel like one person really can make a difference?
Of course! I'll admit that occasionally I'll become discouraged and feel like it's impossible for me to make a difference, but then I remember people like Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Theresa. People have so much influence on one another that if someone is working towards changing something in the world, they will no doubt establish followers who are all working towards a common goal. It's all about doing your part and influencing others to do the same.
What prize are you gunning for?
The trip to the Arctic of course! When I first heard about it, I was like "Wow. That would be cold." But as I thought about it further I realized that it's a once in a lifetime opportunity that I would love to experience (especially since it might not be around much longer...).
What’s one thing everyone should do to help the environment?
Go Veg! Seriously... It's the best thing you can do for the environment as well as your health. The production of meat is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than transportation.
Of course! I'll admit that occasionally I'll become discouraged and feel like it's impossible for me to make a difference, but then I remember people like Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Theresa. People have so much influence on one another that if someone is working towards changing something in the world, they will no doubt establish followers who are all working towards a common goal. It's all about doing your part and influencing others to do the same.
What prize are you gunning for?
The trip to the Arctic of course! When I first heard about it, I was like "Wow. That would be cold." But as I thought about it further I realized that it's a once in a lifetime opportunity that I would love to experience (especially since it might not be around much longer...).
What’s one thing everyone should do to help the environment?
Go Veg! Seriously... It's the best thing you can do for the environment as well as your health. The production of meat is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than transportation.
Do you feel like one person really can make a difference?
I feel like I can make a difference! Especially with facebook and all of the ways to communicate on the internet, it is a lot easier for people to see what others are doing and get inspired.
How did you hear about Hot Dish, and what did you think?
How did you hear about Hot Dish, and what did you think?
I first saw hot dish on Grist's home page. It said something about facebook, so I thought I would check it out. When I saw that I could win a trip to the Arctic, I got super excited and thought I'd give it a shot. Now there is no turning back!
What are your professional goals?
What are your professional goals?
I am a K-12 art teacher, but after working in outdoor education at Ferry Beach Ecology School in Maine, I have been seriously considering outdoor education. I'm not a scientist or biologist, I'm just a teacher who loves everything about nature. Right now, I'm traveling and doing seasonal work, but in the future when I "settle down", I will be happy doing anything related to education and working with kids.
Do you feel like one person really can make a difference?
I feel like one person can really make a difference only under extraordinary circumstances, as with Rachel Carson or Ed Muskie. For most people, and most of the time, no, I don't.
How did you hear about Hot Dish and what did you think?
When I first heard about Hot Dish, I didn't think much of it, until I saw that it was being co-run by Grist, which impressed me.
What prize are you gunning for?
I don't gun for prizes, or gun for things. That's not a mindset I enjoy.
What are your professional goals?
My professional goals are to work connecting people with place, in a setting where I can educate people without lecturing them or talk at them.
What's your favorite Hot Dish challenge?
My favorite challenge... write your local lawmaker. When pols know enough of their constituents are calling for something, they do it.
What's one thing you think everyone can do to help the environment?
One thing everyone can do for the environment... make their homes efficient. Simply switching off, turning down, and unplugging saves people money while helping the environment. Saving money is something everyone can get behind, even non-treehuggers.
