The Impact of Hosting International Fellows – Fall 2025

Fall 2025, our office had the privilege of hosting two International Fellows through the U.S. State Department’s Community Solutions Program, from Costa Rica and Solomon Islands. Their time with us brought a level of energy, curiosity, and global perspective that made a real difference in our work and in our region.

Both fellows came with deep experience in conservation and community resilience. They jumped right into field work, met with partners across Northeast Ohio, and shared how the challenges we face here connect to the issues in their home countries. Those conversations reminded us that clean water, healthy habitats, and strong communities are shared priorities everywhere, not just in the Tinker’s Creek and Brandywine Creek watersheds.

Their presence pushed us to think bigger and look more closely at what we can learn from other parts of the world. They also helped us appreciate what we often take for granted in Ohio: our biodiversity, our natural areas, and the many people working hard to protect them.

Most of all, having them here reminded us that environmental work is about people. Building relationships across cultures strengthens our ability to lead, adapt, and support communities through change.

We’re grateful for the time they spent with us and for the lasting connections they helped create. Their impact will stay with us long after the fall season ends.

We love to create lasting connections with our community at events by sharing stickers, t-shirts and other fun items! If you love the giveaways we use, check out Sticker Mule’s “Give” page. It’s a simple way to grab discounts and try out new products. You can find out more here.