Join us in welcoming Mikey Brooks to the Forest Park Conservancy team!
Mikey will be working as a Communications Intern alongside FPC’s staff and partner organizations to support efforts to share the work being accomplished and the issues affecting Forest Park. Mikey is a part of PGE’s Project Zero, which provides hands-on experience for young adults and students to create cleaner, greener, and more equitable communities.
As a nonprofit partner, interns are paired with the Forest Park Conservancy depending on the career interests of the participant and the needs of the organization. Mikey’s background at the University of Oregon and interest in environmental justice make him a great fit, and we look forward to working with him!
Mikey is primarily working remotely and has yet to visit Forest Park, so be sure to reach out with your recommendations for some must-see trails. Read below to get to know Mikey!
What brought you to interning here at the Forest Park Conservancy?
I applied for the Project Zero internship program in order to develop my professional skills and get a taste for the environmental jobs market. I really want to get out there and see how things are run and be a part of the Forest Park Conservancy.
What will you be focusing on while at the Forest Park Conservancy? What drew you to that type of “Green Job”?
While working at the FPC I will be acting as a communications intern. I am hoping to help spread the word about the park and stories related to it to the public. I was drawn to this position as good scientific communication and outreach I feel are two things that really need to be improved in this day and age. With issues like climate change and ecosystem conservation, the local community can be really important in helping make an impact when tackling these issues. Making the public aware of issues and getting their help in combating them can be really instrumental to successful conservation efforts.
Before interning at the Forest Park Conservancy, what was the most unusual or interesting job or volunteer activity you’ve had?
I haven’t had the chance to do many jobs but one of the most interesting things I’ve done was during my time in the University of Oregon’s Environmental Leadership Program. I was part of a team that wrote a research report about current scientific literature for the city of Eugene about potential ecological threats to Hendricks Park, primarily about climate change related threats. This was in order to provide more scientific background to city employees for the writing of a new management plan for the park and also to help educate the public about potential threats to the park.
What is your favorite quote?
“Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”
-Kurt Vonnegut
What is your personal favorite place in Forest Park? If you haven’t been yet, is there a part of Forest Park that you have heard about that you want to visit?
I haven’t had to chance to go out to Forest Park yet, but I’ve heard the Thurman Trailhead is a good place to check out. My dad also went to Forest Park a lot in his youth so hopefully, I can pick his brain for some good places to check out for when I’m able to get out into the park.