Written by René LaPointe Jameson, Roots & Shoots Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA Member 2014-2020 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” We cannot be silent about racial injustice. Roots & Shoots is committed to making the world a better place for people, animals, and the environment. To support all people, we must acknowledge race and how it impacts people by providing unearned privileges to some and oppression to others. Confronting society’s structural racism is uncomfortable but allowing discomfort to prevent…
Author: René Jameson
René Jameson
René is a sophomore at Tufts University and has been a member of the Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA for five years. Her favorite Roots & Shoots project was designing and building a community garden at her high school. The garden raised awareness about food insecurity and the produce was donated to a local food bank. Additionally, René has organized food drives, aided in banning plastic bags in her town, and takes particular interest in inspiring other youth to realize their leadership abilities. At university, René is working to make higher education more accessible and inclusive for all. She plans to use her environmental engineering degree to further address environmental and racial injustice. René has received her town’s Community Service Award three times, the President of the United States’ Volunteer Service Award, and is a 2016 HerLead Fellow.
