MyRWA is happy to welcome ShaSha Kingston as our new Engagement Associate. As Engagement Associate, ShaSha will support our community engagement efforts, including planning keystone events like MyRWA’s Herring Run & Paddle, and will play an integral role in outreach, stewardship, and fundraising.
Join us in getting to know ShaSha with this fun Q and A:
Q: Tell us about an experience that has led you here:
I think a culmination of experiences led me to where I am now. I grew up in Boise, Idaho — a city that prioritizes the integration of urban and natural space, with a strong ethos of stewardship. I was also engaged in the youth activism sphere and was able to dive into social change theory and have real-world experience combating social injustice issues. Before leaving for college, I knew that civic engagement would remain a top priority for me.
I moved to Boston to attend Tufts University where I studied Biology, Psychology, and Environmental Studies. After the first year being part of the environmental scene on campus, I saw the opportunity for progress and change. Therefore, in my last two years I worked with the Office of Sustainability to co-create and implement three new sustainability programs to further integrate equity, inclusion and institutional change into student programming. This experience allowed me to engage more meaningfully with the local community as well as nonprofits like MyRWA. This, along with various environmental internship experiences throughout college, led me to the role of Engagement Associate.
Q: What do you like doing outside of work?
I am involved with a couple different projects outside of work. I am a research assistant for the Tufts’ Racial Equity and Diversity Lab putting together a study that explores how to diversify and maximize the retention of BIPOC individuals in the environmental career space. I am also on the board of two nonprofits — Our Climate Common and the Boise River Enhancement Network.
Besides that, I love to create art! I draw portraits, make jewelry, watercolor, and am up for any craft projects. I hope to start working with glass more, such as glass blowing and stained glass. I also enjoy being outdoors — biking, paddleboarding, and exploring botanical gardens.
Q: What is your favorite thing in nature?
I love flowers (and plants in general)! I visited the Atlanta Botanical Gardens a couple years ago and was amazed with the diversity of species they grew, such as pitcher plants, spider orchids, and cacti. I think that plants are spectacular, from their physiology and adaptations, to their beautiful floral displays.
Q: What’s something interesting about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone?
I attended circus camp in elementary school and can still spin a plate and walk on stilts!
Q: What part of your job are you most excited about?
I’m excited to meet and work with people in the watershed. I think safe, inclusive, and equitable access to the outdoors is an important part of wellbeing and community building. I’m looking forward to listening to people’s stories, building connections with community and corporate groups, and figuring out how to expand outdoor opportunities for underrepresented communities and those that are new to the watershed and outdoor scene.
Have any questions for ShaSha or want to introduce yourself? Feel free to email her at shasha.kingston@mysticriver.org.
