Month: September 2024

A fuzzy blue mascot in the shape of a water droplet greets the kids as they come off the bus, high fiving each one in welcome.

The kids—all Grade 5 students from southwest Illinois/St. Louis Metro East—are excited about a day of hands-on learning on the beautiful campus of Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, IL.

As they step off the bus, they hit the ground running, guided to station after station for a day packed with activities. Each one is designed to help them develop ecological literacy and connect with a different aspect of water education—science, research, preservation, usage, consumption, conservation, safety, and recreation.

“A lot of our stations try to show students the land-water connection,” says Jen Mandeville, the organizer of the annual Water Festival for fifth graders. “We want them to realize that what we do on land affects our water.”

Mandeville is the Director of Environmental Education at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC), an East Alton, IL-based research center dedicated to the study of great river systems and the communities that use them. In the state of Illinois, the Grade 5 science curriculum has a heavy water focus, she explains, adding that the festival’s activities are designed to meet—and often surpass—curricular requirements.

Since 2002, NGRREC has organized the annual festival in partnership with the college, helping thousands of kids expand their knowledge about water. In 2023, more than 900 students from 36 classes in five counties attended. The 2024 event, scheduled for Sept. 27, is expected to be even larger.

In preparation for the big day, teachers are invited to attend a free professional development workshop to help them develop classroom activities and worksheets to supplement what the students will learn at the event.

The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center’s Jerry F. Costello Field Station is located near the confluence of two of America’s great rivers—the Missouri and the Mississippi. Taking care of the rivers is integral to the well-being of the Riverbend community.

“We want every kid to go home with a new connection to water and a new appreciation for the water resources in the state of Illinois,” Mandeville adds.

Enbridge is proud to be supporting the 2024 Water Festival with a $10,000 Fueling Futures grant, awarded to the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation. The event’s focus on environmental education aligns with our commitment to strengthening the sustainability of communities near our operations.

Protecting the watershed in and around Godfrey helps not only the village and its citizens, but also every community and landscape those great rivers flow through.

On the day of Water Festival, each of the 40 stations on offer is led by community members—non-profit organizations, government departments, scientists and businesses.

At one station, kids might learn about the impact of salts on root systems. At another, they’ll explore groundwater through an experiment with shave ice. One exhibitor plays a water cycle game with kids every year, to demonstrate that water is finite.

“A lot of students are floored when they learn that the water we drink today might have been inside a dinosaur’s body,” Mandeville says.

She recalls one student from a few years back who had an “aha!” moment at Water Festival.

“(The girl) became fired up,” Mandeville remembers. “She felt empowered to have her community take action, so she sponsored community cleanups and led weekly trash walks in her neighborhood.”

Reflecting on this student, Mandeville observes that what the little girl experienced is exactly what they hope for all students at Water Festival.

“We believe as educators that when people experience a natural resource, they’re so much more compelled to protect it or at least help it stay healthy and available for future generations. Those moments have an impact,” she says.

“After Water Festival, students now have a story and a reason to be connected to our rivers.”

Mickey’s Popcorn, a Memphis-local business established in 2020 by Kenny and Dr. Penny Mickey, stands out not only for its gourmet popcorn but also for its significant impact on the community. Kenny, known as the “master crafter,” brings a wealth of experience in food manufacturing and logistics from his tenure with companies like Cargill and FedEx. Meanwhile, Dr. Penny, with her background in executive leadership in education and government, leads Mickey’s Popcorn with strategic vision. FedEx became acquainted with Dr. Penny through her participation in the Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab, an initiative to help small businesses expand in E-commerce.

Functioning as a social enterprise, The Gradus Project, Mickey’s nonprofit that functions alongside the business, plays a critical role in providing transitional employment opportunities for various underserved communities, including domestic violence survivors, autistic individuals, and opportunity youth. Dr. Penny recently spearheaded the inaugural ‘On and Poppin Teen Camp’ in collaboration with food scientist Ali Manning, supported by FedEx Cares. This initiative welcomed high school students from Youth Villages in Memphis for an immersive entrepreneurial experience.

Throughout the camp, students engaged in hands-on activities, learning about everything from the ins and outs of corn harvesting to the processes of product packaging and shipping at FedEx facilities. Under Ali Manning’s guidance, known from her role on Netflix’s “Snack vs. Chef,” participants explored potential career paths in agriculture and culinary arts. They then were given the opportunity to craft their own unique popcorn flavors, from “hot bacon and cheese” to “sour strawberry” and “birthday cake surprise” (I am still not sure what the ‘surprise’ was; the flavors were interesting to say the least), each packaged with creative labels designed by the kids themselves.

A highlight of the week was a session led by Brock Carlson, an HR manager from FedEx Logistics, who shared insights on networking and career development. The culmination of the camp saw teams pitching their popcorn creations to a panel of esteemed judges (one of them being myself, a FedEx intern) competing for a $1,000 prize. The winning team, ‘hot bacon and cheese’, captured the win in a tight race against ‘lemon cake surprise’(a mixture of sour cream & chives and lemon pound cake: it somehow worked).

The success of this inaugural camp went beyond entrepreneurial skills; it fostered confidence and professional exposure among the teen participants. Engaging directly with professionals like Ali, Dr. Penny, Kenny, and Brock Carlson, the students gained invaluable insights and mentorship. Looking ahead, Mickey’s Popcorn aims to expand this initiative, potentially enabling future winners to brand and sell their creations, further empowering Memphis youth to shape their futures through entrepreneurship.

In essence, Mickey’s Popcorn exemplifies how a small business can profoundly influence young lives in its community, equipping them with both practical skills and inspirational role models. As they continue to grow and innovate, Mickey’s Popcorn remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for the next generation of Memphis leaders.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.