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You are here: Home / News / Community / High school students work on solutions to environmental issues

High school students work on solutions to environmental issues

May 2, 2022 by PrincessSafiya Byers Leave a Comment

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Students in Reflo’s environmental internship program came from six different schools and had to work in teams to complete a project. (Photo by PrincessSafiya Byers)

High school students from across the city spent the last year learning about and completing projects on environmental issues through an internship with Reflo Sustainable Water Solutions. 

They came together last week at Arts @ Large, 1100 S. 5th St., to share what they learned with their friends and family. Reflo is located in the same building.

Students worked about 10 to 15 paid hours a month. Reflo staff guided them through the process. 

The Audubon team studied sensory gardens; the Golda Meir team focused on community clean-ups; the team made up of Milwaukee School of Languages, Rufus King and North Division students examined native plants and pollinators awareness; and students from Bradley Tech studied overconsumption in fashion.

Each project produces either literature that students can share with their peers or an event planned by the interns. 

Reflo, a nonprofit, focuses on improving green spaces and sustainable water practices through education, research and the implementation of water projects. 

“We want to introduce students to careers they know little or nothing about,” said Wilniesha Smith, the intern and outreach coordinator for Reflo. “Green infrastructure is a rising career in the Midwest.”

Lily Wohlt, a Rufus King student, said she sought out the program because she cares for the environment. 

“I enjoyed being able to learn about a broad range of things and still being able to focus on what was important to our team,” she said. “And being paid just made it that much better.”

Other students said they got more than expected from the internship. 

“I had to learn to be open-minded,” said Azaria Kelly, an intern from Golda Meir. “Even when I thought people would agree with what I thought, they didn’t, and I had to learn to be comfortable with that.” 

“I never realized how much work it takes for us to have clean water,” added Oliver Rodriguez, an intern from Audubon High School. “We learned all about it when they took us to Jones Island,” the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s primary wastewater treatment plant.

Students earned certificates for their work, and many said they plan to continue environmental work after the internship is over. 

“I want to be a nurse,” said Kelly. “But this has become important to me, too, so I’m going to figure out how I can do both.”

Smith said the organization is always looking for volunteers and community involvement. 

“The best part of this work is the satisfaction students have once they finally understand what’s going on and how to work toward it,” she said.


For more information

Reflo will offer this program for Milwaukee Public Schools students in the upcoming school year and students can participate in the environmental internship throughout the summer as well. You can learn more here. 

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Filed Under: Community, Education, Health and Wellness, Neighborhoods, Public Safety Tagged With: Audubon High School, Azaria Kelly, Bradley Tech Wilniesha Smith, Environmental Justice, Golda Meir School, Lily Wohlt, Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee School of Languages, Reflo Sustainable Water Solutions, Rufus King High School

About PrincessSafiya Byers

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Princess Safiya Byers was born and raised in Milwaukee, and is a 2020 graduate of Marquette University, majoring in Journalism and Africana Studies. Her commitment to her community has led her to nonprofit work with local youth and families. She’s also interned with the Milwaukee Community Journal and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and joins Milwaukee NNS as a Report for America Staff Reporter looking to serve democracy by covering issues important to the community.

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