State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
IN-25: Innovation B

On September 21, 2017, 30 ESF students, faculty and staff gathered together. The room was solemn and still shaken by the recent natural disasters that had taken place in Antigua, Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Florida, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Texas, Turks and Caicos, the US Virgin Islands, and other areas. Some students were from these places, some had family and friends there, and others had no connection at all, but they all had the same question on their minds: “What can we do to help?” Acorns2Action (A2A) was the outcome. A2A is an ESF student-run organization, with administrative guidance, with the goal connect to effected communities and help them rebuild in a way that is culturally appropriate as well as sensitive to their needs. Rather than sending water and food to these countries, A2A provides the resources requested by the communities, and the tools/knowledge required to rebuild their communities in a sustainable and socially just manner. Currently, A2A is addressing hurricane relief in the Virgin Islands (US & British), Dominica, Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican island municipality of Vieques, other Caribbean islands, and states in the Southeast US, as well as responding to the earthquake in Mexico. Fundraisers, cultural events, collection drives and informational sessions have been held on campus to increase awareness of the need for disaster relief, and push for increased academic involvement, and research in communities impacted by disaster. A2A is also working with relief and aid organizations from those impacted areas to help them by collecting money and materials.