Written by Russell Corbin
Hello!
My name is Russell and I am a seventeen-year-old rising senior in the International Baccalaureate magnet program at Richard Montgomery High School.
Since I was very young my parents have given me the opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors through activities like sailing, biking, backpacking, and kayaking. I have spent most of my summers learning about and enjoying the unique and beautiful ecology of the Chesapeake Bay and from these experiences I have developed my deep love for our natural environment and a commitment to protecting it.
Through past internships, I have focused on my love for nature and environmental protection. At ecoAmerica, I helped organize the National Latino Climate Leadership Forum and the American Climate Leadership Summit. During the 2016 elections, I interned for the pro-environment candidate Jamie Raskin and helped him to win his congressional race. Participating in a Spanish immersion program at school has also given me the fluency useful to build relationships with Spanish speakers in my community and globally. And now I am excited to be working for Maryland LCV’s Chispa where I will be able to work with Latino communities in Maryland on environmental issues.
The 2012 release of Tesla’s groundbreaking vehicle led to my immense passion for electric cars, an intersection of my passion for automobiles and the environment. In that same year, I successfully convinced my parents to become early adopters of electric vehicles. I’ve been lucky to be one of the first of my generation to learn to drive in an electric car and now I am a member of the Electric Vehicle Association of D.C.
In 2016, I began developing the Green Yellow Buses for Montgomery County Public Schools initiative, aimed at creating an electric school bus pilot program in the school system. I look forward to working on the Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign as it complements my past and future efforts to make sure we have #CleanRide4Kids in Maryland.
I hope you enjoyed my brief life story, now let’s get to work building our sustainable future together in Maryland!
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Chispa, meaning “spark” in Spanish, is a program of Maryland League of Conservation Voters launched in 2014. Chispa Maryland has been working to ensure that Maryland Latino families and community leaders are a powerful voice for protecting the environment, our health, and our future. Chispa works with Latino families, community groups, faith-based organizations, and legislators to identify and address unique environmental issues facing Latino communities in Maryland.