FPC is proud to be a part of Roots of Change, formerly Project Zero. We are working in collaboration with POIC to host two interns, Alex and Kenny, who will be working with us for the next six months in order to obtain experience and training as paid interns working to support our regular work in Forest Park and Marquam Nature Park. We are excited to have them on board to take part in this work and learn more about the ins and outs of our conservation and management efforts.
As Alex and Kenny will be joining us for most of the remainder of 2025, we hope you will help us welcome them to the team when you see them at events! To get to know them better, we asked them a few questions to learn more about why they were interested in Roots of Change and what they are looking forward to during and after the program.
What did you do before joining Roots of Change and why did you choose to join the program?
Alex: I completed an Associate’s degree at Portland Community College, finished a certificate program for an electrical pre-apprenticeship, and have traveled to Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands. I haven’t worked in the environmental field before, so this internship was an ideal opportunity for me.
Kenny: Before joining Roots of Change, I had been working on various projects with different non-profits, and I decided to join Roots of Change to learn new skills and become more familiar with Portland’s flora and fauna.
What are you looking forward to most while working at FPC?
Alex: I’m excited to explore Forest Park, and getting to know our volunteers!
Kenny: New experiences with a new job and coworkers, and getting to do work for and within Forest Park.
What are your plans for after Roots of Change?
Alex: I’ll wait to see how I feel moving forward once I’m near the end of the internship.
Kenny: Whatever life throws at me! I am fine with trying even more things, but I do hope to get work in a similar field afterwards.