Dear Environmental Forum Readers: Environmentalism can be ignited in many ways: through hands-on learning, direct experience with nature, processing scientific data, and more.
Today, I'm pleased to introduce you to Charlene Jung, Asian Segment Marketing Program manager here at Wells Fargo. Charlene believes that professional success begins with finding passion in what you do every day, supporting the communities where we work and mentoring as a key component of professional development. She has joined us to share some of the work she's doing and show us how art can be used to spark environmental passion. (—SR)
How we care for our environment affects everyone, everywhere. That's why Wells Fargo was so excited to help launch a new program with the Asian Pacific American Heritage Association
of Houston (APAHA) to promote green awareness and conservation to Asian/Pacific American youth.
Wells Fargo served as legacy sponsor for this first-of-its-kind "Go Green" Art Contest and Expo that works with students to promote Asian American environmental stewardship. The program involves young people creating art to educate and engage the community on sustainability and conservation. Over 30 students from three Houston-area school districts entered in two categories: drawing/2D design and 3D design.
Students were encouraged to be creative and show their passion and commitment to "green" stewardship through their art. The results were amazing! Winners were awarded up to $1,000 in cash scholarships, and top art displays were also featured in a special exhibit at the The Art Institute of Houston (AIH) during June.
APAHA has been serving the Houston area community for 20 years, fulfilling its mission to "promote awareness and increase understanding of the Asian/Pacific American culture and its diversity."
It's everyone's responsibility to care for our environment. That's why at Wells Fargo we're continuing efforts to strengthen the environmental well-being of the communities we serve. With partners like APAHA and programs like the "Go Green" Art Contest and Expo, we hope to promote a healthier, more sustainable world, one community at a time!
July 10, 2012 9:23 AM | Reply
As a team member, I am proud to see our company's partnership with Asian community groups such as APAHA to support a green, sustainable community! The students' work is amazing!!
July 11, 2012 7:18 PM | Reply
Wells Fargo is a wonderful example of a corporate organization supporting a community, especially in teaching and promoting in "green" stewardship to youth. This pilot project with APAHA has developed into a youth art program that could be replicated in other communities. The program logic model of the Go Green Art Youth Program will be published in the fall of 2012. Our heartfelt thank you to Charlene Jung, for her leadership and mentoring of this successful new age program.
July 13, 2012 10:00 AM | Reply
Charlene did a fantastic job in leading the planning efforts and managing the benchmarks and expectations that were set by APAHA for the project. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Charlene in this effort and with APAHA for activating this project. What a wonderful way to get students involved in thinking about the environment through artwork. Every single piece was awe-inspiring. Great job, Charlene, on the project's success!!!
July 13, 2012 2:41 PM | Reply
This was an outstanding contest. I was very impressed with the talents of the young artists. It is truly remarkable to see their artistic detail as it relates to our environment. Congratulations to all!
September 7, 2012 10:26 AM | Reply
My son Peter participated in the contest. Eventhough he did not win, but the experience and what he learned was very helpful. He is now more conscious about the need to preserve our environment. As for me, I was in awe at how beautiful some of these art works were and how talented our kids are. Very proud of what I saw. Thank you APAHA and Wells Fargo.
September 7, 2012 5:26 PM | Reply
I thank APAHA and Wells Fargos for giving me this amazing opportunity to create something out of the ordinary. What really inspired me is i honestly throw away old magazines and newspaper. You dont know what to do with them! Everything can be reused and become something better. With art it is expression. For the future participants, I wish you best of luck. Get Creative!! :)