Alumna sows seeds of change
Becky Keys
Issue date: 4/3/07 Section: News
Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) planted their two millionth tree recently, according to founder and president Florence Reed.
Reed, a UNH graduate, came back to New Hampshire to visit and speak to students about her experiences at UNH and how they helped her begin her own non-profit organization.
"I was really a better activist than a student," said Reed, chuckling. While at UNH she campaigned with others to help save the rainforests, which was the environmental crisis of the time, similar to today's issues of global warming. She organized buses to protests and brought speakers to UNH to spread awareness about the problem.
Reed was a member of the Progressive Student Network at UNH and was an activist for SHARPP, participating in a sit-in on the Dean's office following a rape incident that the University tried to cover up. The sit-in gained widespread media coverage and resulted in several arrests of UNH students. Reed admitted to being arrested for activism in the past.
"Yeah, I've been arrested before," she said nonchalantly. "But if it's for a good cause, I don't think people will ever really care." She smiled at the 26 students and faculty in attendance.
After graduating from UNH with a B.S. in Environmental Conservation and International Affairs, Reed joined the Peace Corps and lived in Panama from 1991 to 1993, planting trees and working on reforestation projects.
"The Peace Corps forces you to figure out what needs to be done," said Reed. She explained that her experiences at UNH and her time in the Peace Corps inspired her to begin her nonprofit organization.
Ten years ago, when she was living in her parent's house, Reed got the idea to create Sustainable Harvest International. However, she had no money and no means to do so. She needed a miracle, and she got it that day. An old friend from Switzerland unexpectedly called from overseas and donated $6,000 for her to work with.
"If you have a dream to make a positive change in the world, the universe will conspire to make it happen," said Reed. "Don't feel like you can't do it. Surprising things will happen."
Reed, a UNH graduate, came back to New Hampshire to visit and speak to students about her experiences at UNH and how they helped her begin her own non-profit organization.
"I was really a better activist than a student," said Reed, chuckling. While at UNH she campaigned with others to help save the rainforests, which was the environmental crisis of the time, similar to today's issues of global warming. She organized buses to protests and brought speakers to UNH to spread awareness about the problem.
Reed was a member of the Progressive Student Network at UNH and was an activist for SHARPP, participating in a sit-in on the Dean's office following a rape incident that the University tried to cover up. The sit-in gained widespread media coverage and resulted in several arrests of UNH students. Reed admitted to being arrested for activism in the past.
"Yeah, I've been arrested before," she said nonchalantly. "But if it's for a good cause, I don't think people will ever really care." She smiled at the 26 students and faculty in attendance.
After graduating from UNH with a B.S. in Environmental Conservation and International Affairs, Reed joined the Peace Corps and lived in Panama from 1991 to 1993, planting trees and working on reforestation projects.
"The Peace Corps forces you to figure out what needs to be done," said Reed. She explained that her experiences at UNH and her time in the Peace Corps inspired her to begin her nonprofit organization.
Ten years ago, when she was living in her parent's house, Reed got the idea to create Sustainable Harvest International. However, she had no money and no means to do so. She needed a miracle, and she got it that day. An old friend from Switzerland unexpectedly called from overseas and donated $6,000 for her to work with.
"If you have a dream to make a positive change in the world, the universe will conspire to make it happen," said Reed. "Don't feel like you can't do it. Surprising things will happen."
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Hector Perez
posted 7/03/08 @ 4:30 PM EST
Hello, my name is Hector and I'm happy 'cause I found this article of my friend Reed. I knew her in Panama city but I lost contact with her.
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