STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Aaron Nesser envisions a world where clothes are made from sustainable algae. Ki’Amber Thompson has thrown her weight behind an outdoor program in San Antonio, Texas, that offers healing for low income youth of color whose parents have been incarcerated.
These are among the five Wild Gift Fellows that will receive mentoring, fundraising support and other assistance in cementing their dreams in the unique Wild Gift Program designed by Ketchum’s Bob Jonas in 2003 to empower environmental leaders and entrepreneurs.
The community is invited to meet the 2019 Wild Gift Fellows at a reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Ketchum Innovation Center, 180 6th St. West.
They will be returning from a three-week trek in the Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness. And, for the first time, this year’s class will have a chance to connect with last year’s class before last year’s class finishes their fellowship with a float on the Salmon River.
In addition to Nesser and Thompson, this year’s class includes:
- Alex Bailey, who is trying to introduce transformative outdoor experiences to students of color in central Texas
- Anderson Barkow, whose BoxPower provides easy-to-assemble solar mini-grid kits as alternatives to diesel generators
- Nicole Chatterson, whose Zero Waste O’ahu seeks to cultivate a waste-free future in Hawaii through zero waste demonstration projects and other means.
Appetizers and drinks will be provided at Saturday’s meet and greet.