Kennedy’s work makes global impact
Kentville resident works as municipal climate change co-ordinator
Her ideas have made a global impact and she continues to work locally to positively impact the climate crisis.
Emily Kennedy, of Kentville, said she began attending Acadia University with the goal of securing a federally-funded International Youth Internship Program position. Into only her second week, the program was cut. She continued her studies and, while completing her master’s degree, the federal government reinstated the program.
“It was the last year that I would have been eligible for it, so I snagged one of those positions, which happened to be in Uganda,” Kennedy said.
While there, members of various organizations travelled what they called the Learning Route. Kennedy worked for an organization dealing with food security. They travelled around the country in an old van, gathering stakeholders for town hall-style meetings.
Kennedy said the purpose was to better understand the challenges and successes of agriculture. Following these meetings and debriefings, Kennedy and her colleagues drew the conclusion that while young people were present in agriculture in Uganda, they didn’t feel they had a place, whether this was due to a lack of knowledge, skills or financial capacity.
Kennedy suggested it would be great if they could buy some land and start an agricultural school to provide formal education to Ugandan youths ages 18 to 25.
Although they were well into the process of establishing the school, it never came to fruition, partially due to sponsorship challenges and the withdrawal of the Ugandan government. However, she said it was a great learning experience and she remains in touch with many of the people she met there.
The project concept led to Kennedy winning the Nudge Global Impact Award in 2017. Based in the Netherlands, Nudge puts on a three-day conference where participants come with a project in mind and leave with a plan to implement it. She hoped the award would lead to funding opportunities but, unfortunately, it didn’t.
Kennedy remains involved in Nudge and will be participating in this year’s virtual conference as a coach, mentoring 10 of the participants. Although she has given up on the dream of opening such a school in Uganda, she still believes the concept has value and could be implemented elsewhere.
Originally from Porters Lake, Kennedy has lived in Kentville for two-and-a-half years. She spent a lot of time in the Valley growing up and said there are many things she loves about the area, including the people.
Her academic background is in environmental community development. For the past year, she has been working as the climate change co-ordinator for the Municipality of the County of Kings. There are four of these federally-funded positions across Nova Scotia and Kennedy’s focus is on adaptation.
“The main objective of my role is to create a climate change adaptation plan for the municipality, which seems daunting some days but is really exciting,” Kennedy said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed community engagement work that was to take place over the past six months but Kennedy hopes to get these efforts back on track in October.
She said the job has provided her with an opportunity to make a positive impact with regard to climate change. The municipality also has an internal “green team.” They recently opened an access point for the Harvest Moon Trail by the municipal complex in Coldbrook.
Kennedy recently participated in a Q&A session. Q: What is your full name? A: Laura Emily Kennedy. Q: Where and when were you born?
A: Halifax, Nova Scotia. Q: Where do you live today? A: Kentville.
Q: What’s your favourite place in the world?
A: I think my grandmother’s. She lives on the South Shore on a nice little property… there’s something about that spot that as soon as you pull in the driveway, you feel like you need to have a nap. It’s just so calming.
Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
A: So many things! I would say being the first Nudge Global Impact Award winner.
Q: What’s your greatest indulgence?
A: Potato chips. Any variety. Q: What is your favourite movie or book?
A: There are so many. I have too many favourites - all of them! Two Crows Sorrow by Laura Churchill Duke was the last book I was able to read cover-to-cover.
Q: How do you like to relax? A: Hiking and kayaking. I love being under trees and being near the water, as long as I can see land.
Q: How would you describe your personal fashion statement?
A: Comfortable, but I think it depends on the setting. For work, I’m fairly professional. Colourful, I think, is how some people would describe it.
Q: What is your most treasured possession?
A: I have a letter that my mom wrote when I graduated high school but she forgot to give me… she has since passed. When we were cleaning out her house, it was something that I found and I have it framed on my wall so I see it every morning when I wake up.
Q: What three people would join you for your dream dinner party?
A: My mom and my grandfather, her father, who I was close with. If we can make it four guests, I would invite my brother and my grandmother as well.
Meet Your Neighbour is a regular feature that profiles area residents. Want to suggest someone that should be featured? Email your idea to scott.doherty@saltwire.com.