Kayla Ferguson (she/her)
The Same plate, owner/founder
Do you have a specific area of sustainability that interests you the most? Why do you CARE about that specific area? (i.e. energy, water, waste, transportation, etc.)
-Food access and food waste mitigation: I believe that access to healthy food should be a right, not just a privilege. Additionally, food waste is incredibly harmful as it relates to greenhouse gas emissions – and it can be so easy to mitigate with composting and thoughtful consumption!
-Ocean conservation: every second breathe we take (even in landlocked Colorado!) comes from the ocean. Protecting the ocean and keeping it alive is protecting ourselves and keeping ourselves alive.
What interests / excites you most about being involved in (Women in) sustainability? I absolutely love being involved in an inclusive community that cares about all aspects of sustainability. Community makes every initiative stronger.
Finish this statement: I CARE Because … we only have one planet and the opportunity to cherish and protect it in this lifetime is not just a responsibility to me, but an honor.
How do you like to give back to your community? Why is this important to you?
I try to give back to my community holistically through the three main resources I see constantly interplaying with each other: time, money and energy.
At any given time, one (or two) of these might be in more abundance than the other. If I commit to giving from all three of these resources pretty consistently, and then giving more from whatever resource might be overflowing when it’s available, I can feel like I’m consistently giving back in a way that is sustainable for me.
So, I do have a handful of organizations I donate to every month, and I increase the amount I’m able to give as I’m able. I also have a handful of organizations I consistently sign up to volunteer for, and pick up a few extra shifts when I find myself with a little extra time. And, when I have the energy, I love engaging in advocacy and inspiring others to get involved.
I do find that to give back effectively and consistently, I have to prioritize and plan for it like I would anything else of importance.
What is your favorite quote?
My (current) favorite quote is from the Dalai Lama and it says, “‘If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
I love this for a couple of reasons. For one, I appreciate the humor. Secondly, I think it really gets to the root of “every action matters.” This is important for people in their daily lives when they feel like they are stuck in the mud – every small step in the direction you want to go counts. And it’s also very relevant to sustainability; our climate challenges our huge and sometime’s a single person’s compost bin seems insignificant, but it’s not, and every victory, every action, every intention, it matters.
Connect with Kayla:
Email: kayla.ferguson@thesameplate.com
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