BLOG

Sydney Shaw is from Boise, ID, but grew up in Washington state and lived in Utah and Ohio before landing in Seattle, WA. In Sydney’s free time, you can find her rock climbing, skiing, hiking, going to the gym, reading, sitting in local coffee shops, or playing with dogs. She was a volunteer Ski Patroller in Spokane, WA for five years, and continues to volunteer with the Sierra Club and local community gardens. 

Sydney attended the University of Utah, where she received her B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with an emphasis in Ecojustice Education and a minor in Sociology. The courses she took in environmental policy, environmental justice, conservation biology, sustainability literacy, and social statistics fueled her passion for nonprofit work and grassroots organizing. She was also President of the Utah Climate Advocates– a campus club. While in college, she worked for Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance as a Public Outreach Intern where she recruited volunteers and tabled in the community at events to educate the public about Utah public lands and why they should remain public. She lobbied with them in Washington D.C. as well to advocate for the passing of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act. After college, Sydney worked as a Naturalist Teacher in Yellow Springs, OH to explore the world of environmental education and getting youth involved in environmental advocacy. Presently, Sydney is serving as a Harvest VISTA with FareStart as a Mobile Community Market Food Access VISTA in Seattle, WA. 

FareStart is a social enterprise nonprofit focused on job training and employment that will lead to economic mobility and personal stability for those overcoming employment barriers. The Mobile Community Market is a large part of FareStart’s food security initiatives, which entails collecting and purchasing fresh food from farms and community partners to sell and redistribute to communities around the Seattle area. The main focus is on neighborhoods with limited access to healthy and nutritious food. 

Sydney is focusing on assisting FareStart with volunteer and community outreach, as well as improving data systems for the organization. She will be largely engaging in volunteer outreach for the Mobile Market and the gleaning program, as well as outreach initiatives to increase the amount of SNAP customers and sales at the market. Sydney will also be researching and developing efficient data systems to improve food receiving processes. She is excited to be part of a program that prioritizes health, equity, and new beginnings.